Saturday, February 20, 2016

Paper Mache "Boar's Head", Redux...!





Boar's Head #1, at a VIP event



Been a wee bit quiet in here as of late I know.  Despite my lack of recent posts I'm glad to say I've still been creating stuff -- it's just that these last few months were busy with several lovely private commissions that had me up to my eyeballs in elbow grease (besides, as you know me, even though I may come and go out of here at times.., I always, always come back.  Eventually.).  

Now that most of these projects have been finished up and sent along their merry ways, it's time for some updating....



Who remembers this li'l cutie (well, pretty big actually) from a few years back....?




Vegetarian Pig Head Scultpure Commission, from 2012










I was recently commissioned to make another of these guys -- a vegetarian paper-mache "Boar's Head/Pig Head", for a customer in the great state of Oklahoma.  
Fun times!




Some progress pics of Pig Head #2...:


Disembodied Boar's Head, in progress:  Sculpting the overall shape (as always, Duct Tape to the rescue)...:


Before attaching his ears, I rmust make sure he will still actually fit into the box I've targeted for re-use as his shipping vessel (He fits!).....


Sculpted piggy ears...!



Ears attached...!  Looking more oinky all the time.



Still, lacking in personality, it's time to work in some detail....




Detaila in place, and ready for painting.  I began with a nice deep, dark undercoat.





Lightening him up gradually (plus painting teeth!)...




Always the fun part, painting ...



Never complete until the requisite apple is in the mouth. 





And here we have "Piggly Wiggly" in his new owner's Oklahoma home.  Happy Customer/Happy Artist!




And, as with my first papier mache head, I'm happy to report once again that no harm was done in the making of THIS (2nd) Vegetarian Papier Mache Boar's Head.





Pig Head #2 at his recent Medieval/Madrigal VIP special event.






5 comments:

Unknown said...

It looks quite interesting. I am truly very impressed with your creativity. It’s one of most creative things I have ever seen. Thanks for the photos. I am also planning to use such ideas in my birthday party. Looking for some DIY party themes and affordable party venues in MA to arrange things in budget.

Patience said...

Wow, thanks so much for the really lovely comment and very kind words -- I so appreciate your taking the time to read my post, and to write. Plus here's wishing you much luck with your own future projects -- and as for 'affordable', indeed, papier mache truly is such an inexpensive sculpting option. We're talking duct tape, newspaper and wallpaper paste here and it can't get much cheaper than that, lol! So much flexibility and potential in the medium too -- the possibilities are really only limited by one's imagination...! So do let me know if you have any questions regarding the art of papier mache and I'll do my best to answer -- and many thanks again for writing....it's pleasure to meet you and best wishes!

Unknown said...

I've been stressing over a pigs head I've been making for a production of Oliver and, because I was only told I needed to make it last minute, it's turned out pretty terribly. It's only NOW that I've found your post and your fantastic pigs head - this method would have been much better than the rubbish I've just done! I'm so annoyed with myself and I feel I've let the production down so I've opted for a fake ham we had from an old production instead - regardless of the time and stress I put into my pigs head. I would have loved mine to look like yours!

Could I just ask, how long did it take to complete this?

Patience said...

Greetings Kim, and thanks so much for visiting and for the nice, encouraging comment...! I'm so sorry you were dissatisfied with your papier mache pig head -- I know how frustrating it is to have something not work out despite one's best intentions. However being asked to make ANY project from papier mache at the last minute is just going to be a set up for failure -- it's simply the nature of the medium that it can't be rushed! There is no such thing as 'speedy' papier mache, ha ha (and believe me, I"ve tried ;-D ) -- at least by way of the traditional methods. And especially when the weather gets humid, like it is here where I live (Central IL). So please don't feel as though you've let your production down. No indeed, it actually took me years of experimenting with papier mache, and lots of trial and error to get to this point, while leaving a long paper trail (no pun intended, lol) of flops in my wake! So please don't look at it as wasted time -- I'm sure you learned tons in the process and things will go more smoothly next time you do something similar :-) . That's how it is for me -- I'm the hands-on sort, so I need to learn by doing, and often over and over. And over yet again ;-). Like everything else, it just takes Time....

As for length of time in making this -- I think my lead time in this one was like 2.5 weeks, and even then we had to do overnight shipping. That was shaving it a little too close for my liking and was stressful the whole time (-- blowing fans on it, trying to get it to 'hurry up'). But the customer really, really wanted it -- and in the end it all worked out, yay...! In any case, should you ever have any questions now or in the future about my technique, please don't hesitate to ask -- always happy to help, and good luck...! :-D

Unknown said...

My school is doing a Madrigal Dinner. I need one of these. Would you make one to sell?

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