Submitted by: Susan Ingram, Jackson
Academy, Jackson, Mississippi
UNIT: Sculpture relief - casting - handmade paper
Lesson: Cast handmade paper from plaster molds
Grade levels: Middle School through high school (adaptable to
elementary)
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The student will develop a greater
understanding of three dimensions: height, width, and depth.
The student will understand the relationship
between the positive and negative relationship between clay, plaster,
and handmade paper by completing the steps in the creation of the final
product: cast handmade paper.
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Materials:
Small cardboard box
(Susan's students make their own - see note below)
Masking tape
Clay
Plaster
Bucket
Paper pulp
Shellac (Floor wax works
too)
X-acto knife
Release agent (WD-40 -
Pam cooking spray works, too)
Sponges
Lesson 1: Create 3-D Clay Image
- Place 2 layers of masking tape
on each seam of a small carboard box. Box should be taped
inside and outside to prevent plaster from leaking.
- Cover the inside of the box (the
inside bottom of the box) with a thin layer of clay (1/2 "
or less).
- Build up a 3-D image inside of the box
with clay. There should be no undercuts in the clay image.
The clay image should be at least 1/2" below the top edge of
box
Lesson 2: Pour Plaster Mold
- Mix plaster according to directions in
a large bucket.
- Pour plaster quickly over clay image
in box. Plaster should reach top edge of box.
- Tap box to release air bubbles within
the plaster.
- Plaster will set up within several
hours.
Lesson 3: Clean up Plaster Mold
-
Remove and discard cardboard box and
clay from plaster. Clay can be saved to be used with this lesson
again. Keep this clay away from clay used for ceramics.
- Use X-acto knife to remove all bits of
clay from image in plaster. Also, remove any over-hanging
edges of plaster.
-
Cover plaster mold with one or two
coats of shellac. Allow shellac to dry completely.
Note: Floor wax can be substituted for
Shellac
Lesson 4: Paper Pulp
1. Mix paper pulp
according to directions.
2. Spray plaster
mold with release agent, such as WD-40 (Pam cooking spray also works)
3. Press wet paper
pulp into plaster mold. Use a sponge to remove as much water as
possible.
4. Paper pulp
should dry for approximately 48 hours. A fan aids the drying
process.
Lesson 5: Cast Paper
1. Loosen the edges of
the paper pulp. Carefully remove the paper pulp from the plaster
mould.
2. Cast paper may
be painted with watercolors. Advanced students may want to try air
brushing
Additional notes from Susan.
-
Materials: small cardboard box
My students make their own 4"x6"
corrugated cardboard boxes. I cut the 4"x6"
bottom and 2" side pieces for the boxes.
-
Lesson 4: Paper Pulp
My students make their own paper pulp. They tear
good quality stationery and cards (donated by a local printer) into
postage stamp size pieces. The paper pieces become
pulp when blended in a blender with plenty of water.
-
It is also possible to color the
pulp with pigment, pieces of brown paper bags, or construction paper.
I have found, however, with large groups of students,
it is a better plan for students to paint the cast handmade paper
with water-based paints.
Note from Judy Decker:
You can also make paper casting molds from
clay - carve into clay - bisque fire - then use as per lesson. For
low relief molds - you can press thick sheets of paper into the molds.
Gently lay the sheet onto mold and press out the water with a sponge.
For a Lousie Nevelson lesson - press
all sorts of gadgets (assorted found objects) into the clay - bisque
fire - then make a paper cast. Nevelson did some very interesting cast
paper works. Some can be found online.
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