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I've made a few papier mache masks in the past. All using the layering method which gave me a nice solid rigid mask base to decorate. My technique has improved but I thought I'd try using the ready to use paper pulp recipe
(Martin Favreau's tutorial) on the basis it would be quicker than the layering method alone. I spent an enjoyable week mushing up old college work on that!
I made a new batch of masks by layering, knocked up a batch of the pulp spread that over the base, waited for the pulp to dry and then used the layered method again to get a smooth surface. Once the masks are completely dry they've turned out ok, a lot lighter than previous attempts but I have noticed that as soon as I start decorating them they all start going sag, losing their shape and rigidity entirely. Which is not good as they're effectively useless.
Admittedly I use an emulsion base but I only use acrylics to decorate, anyone got any ideas as to what I'm doing wrong or how I can rectify it?
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Was the emulsion latex-based or acrylic-based, or some other material, like oil-based? What happened when the emulsion dried, did the mask (even sagging) firm up?
Pulp absorbs moisture faster than layered paper, IMO.
Two suggestions come to mind, and I haven't used either:
First, if you built them on a form (Plasticine, etc), maybe you could leave them on the form while painting, until they are dry. If the emulsion is a sort that forms a seal, you should be able to remove the mask afterward, and decorate it with acrylics without it softening.
Second, could you have applied too much emulsion at once? Two or three thin coats, drying between them, would be better than one heavy coat.
Maybe others will have more ideas.
Sue
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