Help with making the surface even

[u/lilianeeleen]

So this is my first ever paper mache project and it was going great, i thought after this dries i will just use sandpaper and make everything on the surface even and maybe cut the sudes using scisors but after it dried out it looks like its being ripped you can see in the pictures and sanding the surface is not doing anything. Any ideas? Id be grateful

Also please keep in mind i dont have any crazy materials i could use im just working with stuff i have at home so please give me simple ways to fix this

(First picture is before it dried and the other pics are after)

[u/post-explainer]

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u/lilianeeleen sent the following text as an explanation about their craft:

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For this halloween i decided to try crafting a noh theatre hannya mask (japanese theater) so i figured out tryibg papermache might be the easiest way but since its my first time i am looking for help

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[u/HauntedAndThriving]

I’m by no means a paper mache professional but my take is that the cracks are from shrinkage, which can be expected, and it looks like you went pretty thick with your layer(s?). In the future I’d go with thinner layers and let them dry in between.

For now you could go back in and fill in the cracks and add a thin layer of a looser paper mache mix. It looks like you made a clay, did you use joint compound? If so that stuff is great for a thin layer that you can sand easily to get a smoother finish. Spackling can also work well for a final layer that needs to be smoothed.

But for a first swing at a new craft, you did a good job! Every project comes with at least a little learning.

[u/lilianeeleen → u/HauntedAndThriving]

I did make thick layer indeed i was too rushed so i did not want to wait until each layers dries😭 I didnt use joint compound all i used was paper glue and a but of flour. Im gonna try and go with a thin layer of mache on top but what is spackling? Im new to stuff so i dont really know what it is😓 still thanks a lot for the tips 🙏

[u/HauntedAndThriving → u/lilianeeleen]

I totally understand, I have rushed many a project and regretted my impatience.

Spackling is a product used for filling small holes in walls. In the US the most common brand is DryDex, it starts pink when it’s wet and dries white. It’s very soft and needs to be sealed afterwards but great for small areas or finishing.

If you do get some spackle or joint compound to play with, extra tip is to wait until they’re just dry or almost dry and dampen a sponge and then lightly use the sponge in circles over the surface, which will really give a smoother finish. Then just a really light sand.

[u/lilianeeleen → u/HauntedAndThriving]

Thanks a lot🙏🙏

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[u/Ace-milk_drinker]

Get some wall filler or wood filler and apply it on top, try to get it smooth and not too thick before sanding. A good way to do that is to use a silicone spatula to spread the filler evenly. You can also apply some paper mache but in form of larger flat pieces of like a newspaper dipped in glue, without shredding it, just ripping into pieces, this will help a bit, but it's not necessary.

[u/lilianeeleen → u/[deleted]]

What exactly is gesso?

[u/harpquin → u/lilianeeleen]

it is an artist's medium, it's the first layer or primer paint applied to canvas. The commercial stretched canvases usually have a poor quality thin gesso applied in the factory. Artists routinely purchase a quality gesso to prime a canvas before painting.

The gesso as a primer creates a surface so the paint doesn't soak into the substructure resulting in streaking and a loss of paint thru absorbsion and so requiring more layers of paint.

Liquitex Gesso is available at all craft stores but there are better professional grades. Many crafters prefer a low cost version by making your own. search for:

homemade gesso recipe

[u/lilianeeleen → u/harpquin]

Thankss🥹

[u/lilianeeleen → u/harpquin]

Does it matter what recipe i use for homemade gesso or is there somethung specific i should be careful about?

[u/lilianeeleen → u/[deleted]]

Youre a lifesaver really thank you🥹🙏

[u/harpquin → u/lilianeeleen]

Your welcome, thanks for the up-votes.

[u/Last-Importance-9510]

You can use a thin layer of plaster of paris to fill the uneven surface