Hilary Bravo: 2023

Sunday, 19 February 2023

Making Paper Mache Board - it can be used for many projects.

I am making a form of paper mache board from recycled papers - in this case to use it for making paper mache trays and bowls and as bases for moulds for making more bowls of the same size. It can be used to form the bowls and various objects - it can be used for many things - I use it to make jewellery, cut out silhouettes for decorating and whatever comes to mind. This board is a relatively flexible version for bending onto shape. I am working on a grass Beach Mat on an Ikea table top that I originally painted to make a Backdrop for videos and photography - there is a video showing how I made that too. I placed a plastic sheet on the table and under the beach mat. It works perfectly. It can be made over a few days or in one go with the aid of an iron. During the 18th Century Paper Mache Board was made commercially and used to make large strong 'canvases' to paint on. Also trays, furniture, clocks etc. The history of Papier-Mache is fascinating. A pocket watch that kept perfect time, a church that stood for decades where people worshipped, a yacht that sailed on the lake of a wealthy eccentric and a complete village including a school that was shipped to Australia from England. So this is easy stuff. Materials; Table. Plastic Sheet. Grass Beach Mat. Tissue Paper. Brown Paper Bags, packing paper, carrier bags etc. Brush - wide. Water. PVA Glue. Or Flour and Water Glue. Iron.

Thursday, 26 January 2023

Paper-Mache 'Flowers' - 2

Air dried Paper-Mache 'Flowers' almost finished. Ready to have findings added. You can scorch and gild paper mache quite easily. I am playing with the colours of winter when the colour has gone and we are left with dried stems and seed heads - burnt in sooty carbon with a Pyrography tool or with a light touch to give various shades of Burnt Ochre and Umber. Then gilded with Imitation Gold Leaf or the real thing if you prefer. It will echo the glimmer of sunlight breaking through on a cold January morning - perhaps. They resemble seed heads and sea shells in some ways. Memories and hope for the coming of spring again. Apologies for the sound level - listening through headphones seems to fix it. These are quite old videos now though I think that they are still well worth watching. Either way you are all invited to Subscribe - if you wish - I wish you would - it helps me enormously.

Sunday, 8 January 2023

How to Make Papier-Mâché 'Flowers' - Drying in a Microwave Oven

How to make papier-mâché 'flowers' by drying them out for 20 seconds at a time in a microwave oven. This method really speeds up the process. Do work out for yourself exactly how long the paper mache actually needs to dry out. Start with 5 seconds and see how your microwave and your paper mache responds. My suggestion of 20 seconds is only meant to be a guide. These components can be made into jewellery and as additions to bowls etc. Plenty of room for experimentation.

0.00 Intro 0.15 Porzella papier-mache clay by Rayher - other ingredients 3.50 In to the microwave for about 20 seconds or less - try less first to gauge your microwave 4.35 Out of the microwave 5.20 Using the pyrography tool to scorch marks on to the surface of the 'flowers' 6.40 Applying Acrylic Gold Size 7.30 Applying Gold Leaf or Artificial Gold - Silver or Copper Leaf 8.00 The central disc or flower whorl 8.30 Adding epoxy resin - describing how to briefly

Friday, 6 January 2023

Papier-Mache Bowls (etc) Tutorials - 2023.

Making a Modroc Bowl.

Modroc also known as Paris Bandage is so good for building form and structure. I am re-structuring my YouTube Channel one video at a time and as I have a few working with Modroc I will bring them here on one Blog Post.

A very simple way to either make a bowl or to begin making on.

I often use this method to make the form and a surface to work on to with more delicate layers of white tissue paper - I use the best quality tissue paper I can fine rather than the thin grey/white variety as it holds together for the time I need it to do so whilst working. I buy mine by the ream from Amazon nowadays.