can i cast in paper???

[AROWE77]

I am intrigued to know how easy is it to cast in paper???? i have heard if u use paper pulp and have a plaster mould it is fairly easy.

How about with figurative peices???

[VulgarDragon]

I suppose you could with a plaster mold and paper pulp...just put a mess of paper pulp in the mold and squish it around. You will not get much detail, though.

[Thagomizer]

Check out this site:

http://www.eckmanfineart.com/index.html

I first saw the Eckmans' work in a book on paper craft techniques. Their sculptures are assembled from many individual cast pieces. They work with their own formulation of handmade paper. Aspects of their process are proprietary but you can probably still pick up some ideas that would be applicable to pulp casting in general. They use latex rubber molds in hard shell fiberglass mother molds; this allows them a bit more freedom for undercuts than one would have using hard molds. Very impressive results.

Another technique you might look into is, instead of using a handful of pulp, cast using freshly made sheets of paper. If you look through books on paper making, you'll probably come across pointers on both techniques. I haven't tried either myself so I can claim no personal knowledge or experience.

In the next little while (a week or two) I'm going to be casting with papier mache strips in one-piece plaster molds. Check out my "1/10 T.rex skeleton" thread here:

http://www.conceptart.org/forums/showthread.php?t=151924

I've done small casts just as a test; this will be my first attempt at something like this for a finished piece. We'll all see together whether or not it works....Stat tuned.

[limion]

wouldn't the biggest issue be density? how hard can you press on the paper without braking the mold?

it's a great idea though, opens up a whole new world...

[limion]

wouldn't the biggest issue be density? how hard can you press on the paper without braking the mold?

it's a great idea though, opens up a whole new world...

[limion]

wouldn't the biggest issue be density? how hard can you press on the paper without braking the mold?

it's a great idea though, opens up a whole new world...

[KingUnicorn]

I know that masks are often cast in this fashion (paper pulp in a plaster mold). I believe the paper-based carnivale masks are cast this way.

As for full-figures, the link Thagomizer provided seems to indicate all sorts of exciting possibilities. If you do give this process a go, please share your results. I know I'd happily follow along with your progress.

~KU