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i just bought some washi paper to experiment with
for papier mache. while i was in the store i came upon rice paste
and i asked the staff if they think it could work in place of
wallpaper paste (which is hard to come by here).
they seemed to think it would be fine, so long as i seal the project
well once finished because water can reactivate the paste.
i said i would be sealing it with gesso and then acrylic paints, so
they seemed to think it would probably work quite well.
what do you think? has anyone had any experience with rice paste
for papier mache?
thank you.
edit: i was also thinking of mixing the rice paste with some pva glue.
Last edited by Sprockett (2008-07-26 23:06:28)
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The washi paper will work great.
I've never used the rice flour paste, but I've read about others who have, and liked it. Like regular (white) wheat flour and potato flour, it is a food product (unlike cellulose wallpaper paste), so keep your projects (wet or dry) away from pets with voracious appetites, and don't expose to vermin.
I would advise you to try the rice flour by itself before you add any PVA.
And yes, sealing it would be mandatory.
Sue
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thanks Sue! so i don't need to mix the rice paste with anything?
i am making some paper pulp right now out of blank office paper.
i plan to use strips of washi paper first and then use the
office paper pulp for adding more defined features.
then it occurred to me that perhaps i should have made pulp from the washi.
do you think it will work ok still to use the washi strips and the office paper pulp together?
thanks again.
edit: well, i decided against using the paper pulp because the washi
strips are working out so well. plus, the paper pulp clay is not quite the
consistency i was hoping for. i may make a hanging ornament out of it for our backyard tree instead. that, or a bowl of some sort.
i've finished the first layer on my little character and the shark she is riding.
so far so good! i also have the background of the shadow box painted,
as well as the big wave in front that the shark will be shooting out from.
i still need to sew the curtains, and buy and install the wire that will make it all look more authentically like a puppet theatre show.
where do people buy wire? i went to deserres, the best place here for crafts, and they only had that very flimsy beading wire.
i'd like it to be more sturdy and bendable, perhaps half the thickness and strength of a wire coat hanger.
thanks all for your help. i wouldn't have made it even this far without your valuable input!
Last edited by Sprockett (2008-07-27 20:13:15)
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You can get wire from hardware stores and home improvement stores.
I tend to use paper strips much more than paper pulp. The very nature of paper (or even cotton fiber) is to form clumps, even when it has been broken down. Using cellulose adhesive helps in the smoothing process, but once the moisture evaporates, it always seems to have a pebble-like surface. It is suitable for some things, but not others.
It sounds like your shadow box is coming along well.
Sue
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One trick with pulp, providing it is a really smooth one, is to burnish it with the back of a wettened spoon before it finally dries. This helps to compress it as well as providing a surprisingly smooth final surface.
DavidO
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Yes, David, you're absolutely correct about that. I've only done it once, but it certainly did improve the surface, and helped to work out many of those little between-clumps cracks. My problem is that you really have to do it at just the right point, and that is the time I'm usually doing something else, like working or sleeping.
The problem is that I think I need some smaller spoons! A regular spoon works fine on open surfaces, but is very difficult in tight places.
There is a tool (I think it was a tool) that I saw many years ago that might work, but I don't know what it is or what it is for. It is a stiff metal rod about 6" (150mm) long, with a metal ball firmly attached to one end. I have the end section of a car antenna, but it doesn't work as well as I suspect my mystery tool might.
Sue
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Hola
maybe that tool was the spoon used to make balls of cataloupe?
Maria
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No, it wasn't open like that. the end was a solid ball of metal.
Sue
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Perhaps a glockenspiel striker?
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Actually, it did sort of look like that, but I think it was chromed steel, with a 5 or 6mm head.
Hmmmm.... music shops.....
Sue
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