Paper Maché Giant Puppet

Students will work in groups to create a large paper maché sculpture. 

This unit has five parts: construction of the architecture and support structure, paper mache, sculpting with paper mache clay, painting, and presentations.

Overview Unit Goal

Picture

Composition Concepts

  • Dimension
  • Proportion
  • Representation 

Technical Skills

  • Wire construction (measuring, cutting, and forming
  • Eye mechanism
  • Paper Maché Strips
  • Background Painting
  • Detail Painting

Tools & Supplies

  • Wire mesh
  • Cardboard
  • Eye mechanism components
  • Paper Strips
  • Paint & Brushes

Technical Skill Videos

Resource Book Notes

Order of Work

DIMENSION MAPPING
  • MEASURE cardboard in a front view (and side view for head and shoe but not hands)
  • CUT out the cardboard silhouette of the part you are making
WIRE CONSTRUCTION
  • FORM the wire around the cardboard or in front of the cardboard to match the measurements  but create a lightweight volume
  • CONNECT each edge by wrapping wire ends around the other side multiple times
  • MAKE each section separately to match measurements then put them together (fingers have three parts, etc.)
  • TAPE over any pokey bits that aren't staying inside the volume
  • DETAILS add any facial details, etc. to make your form look like a head, hand, or shoe
  • MEASURE your wire form after building to double check it matches the intended measurements
  • TEST the fit of your sculpture with the other teams' sculptures to ensure it will look good together
  • TEST your ability to get it out of the classroom
PAPER MACHE
  • PAPER MACHE cover one side of your form with paper mache strips 
  • PAPER MACHE cover the other side of your form with paper mache strips on a different day - only work on one side at a time during one class period
  • LAYERS you need 7+ layers of paper mache to make a hard surface that won't bend as it is moved about - be sure to overlap your strips as you apply them 
  • BASIC FORM create the basic form first with at least 5 layers covering everything
  • DETAILS add details to the basic form to make the parts more obviously the thing that they are - use at least 3 layers on all the details to combine on top of the 5 before for a minimum of 7 everywhere
FOAM CLAY
  • DETAILS that cannot be made using paper mache can be made using foam clay and glued on
  • TRY it with paper mache first (unlimited), if that doesn't work, then use foam clay (limited quantities)
PAINTING
  • PAINT everything with the base coat
  • DETAIL painting to mimic the body part you are making (no outlines - only values and shading please)
DOCUMENTING
  • PHOTOGRAPH the bodies and elements that you sculpted (as many photos as you need to capture your work - minimum of 3)
  • Fill out the REFLECTION
  • Record a VIDEO if you are not presenting in class
  • EMAIL an important adult about your work

Project Concept Inspiration

Function: Theater Puppet Character

ANIMAL FARM is a play based on a book by George Orwell

​The farmers are the villains of the animals.

Head

  • HOLLOW CONSTRUCTION- your head should be formed from wire mesh, then covered with paper mache (at least 7 layers to make it sturdy and moveable without breaking)
  • MOVING EYES - you will create an eye mechanism for your puppet so the eyes can move in the head, controlled by a stick
  • FUNCTIONAL STRUCTURE - your head must be created around a frame structure that will be attached to the puppeteer's backpack apparatus
  • PROPORTIONAL FEATURES - your face needs to have a dimensional nose, mouth, ears, eyebrow ridges, eye sockets, jaw, etc. that match the measurements for the head

Hands

  • TWO HANDS
  • Period 2:  in a fist shape with a tube slot built in so that it can hold a tool prop
  • Period 1:  in a relaxed hand position (fingers slightly curved, palm relaxed)
  • Each finger has three segments 
  • Each thumb has two segments
  • PROPORTIONS - each aspect of your hand matches the measurements given and looks realistic
  • DETAILS: knuckles, fingernails, palm creases, etc.

Shoes

Picture

Wire Mesh Form

USE WIRE MESH TO MAKE THE BASE VOLUME

TOOLS: you'll need pliers to bend the wire ends, snips to cut the wire to size, and gloves to keep from getting poked

Paper Maché

USE PAPER MACHE STRIPS TO MAKE THE BASE SCULPTURE

ADD PAPER MACHE DETAILS AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE

MINIMUM OF 7 LAYERS EVERYWHERE TO CREATE A FORM THAT WON'T BEND OR CRACK WHEN USED

Tools: Paper mache glue mixture, newspaper strips, table protector

Steps

MAKING THE STRUCTURE
Draw your front view (and side view for head) on cardboard using measurements
Make a wire mesh form to match the measurements from the cardboard (the cardboard can be inside or not)
Refine the mesh form until it looks like the thing it is supposed to look like
Remeasure the wire mesh to make sure you are hitting the correct measurements and adjust anything that isn't correct
Be sure all pokey parts have been wrapped well and are not able to catch or jab anyone
PAPER MACHE
Use the paper mache strip technique to cover one half of your sculpture each day
Use the paper mache strip technique to add dimension and detail to areas that need it or add wire mesh back in and then paper mache over that again
The entire surface should be covered in 7+ layers of paper mache so that you have a sturdy construction that will last during use
SCULPT THE DETAILS
Add all the body part details using paper mache first, if possible 
Use foam clay for any fine details that cannot be added using paper mache
The head needs the eye mechanism and backpack post architecture
REFINE YOUR DETAILS
You can paint a base coat to better assess the shape of the form
You can revisit your details and add more dimension until you have a dramatic form
Double check that your measurements are still accurate before final painting
PAINTING
Paint everything with the latex base coat 
Paint the details using values and shading, not outlines

Documenting your Sculpture

  • Photograph all of the aspects that you sculpted
  • You each take one photo of it in it's entirety (different views for each person)
  • You take detail photos of the details you made (both construction and painting details)
  • Minimum of 3 photos per person with solid colored background without other things in the frame
  • Be sure your photos are well lit, in focus, and center your artwork
  • Also fill out a drawing of your form with everyone's contributions listed on your team page

Email an Image of Your Project

Grading Criteria