Paper Mâché Animal (Part 9)

Practice paper mâché in this art lesson: paper mâché animal (part 9).

🎨 Studio Brief #83

Build a three-dimensional animal by layering strips of newspaper dipped in paste over a balloon or crumpled paper armature.

🎯 Your mission

Make something that fits in your palm — perfectly.

⚡ The twist

Build it bigger than feels comfortable.

What you'll learn

Build a three-dimensional animal by layering strips of newspaper dipped in paste over a balloon or crumpled paper armature. Paper mâché is strong, lightweight, and paintable.

Get ready

Techniques you'll practise

paper mâchéarmature buildinglayering

You will need

Air-dry clayModeling tools

Step 1 of 3

Crumple newspaper into the basic body shape of your animal. Use masking tape to hold it together.

Step 2 of 3

Tear newspaper into strips about 1 inch wide. Dip each strip into paste (flour + water) and smooth it onto the form.

Step 3 of 3

Apply at least 3 layers, letting each layer dry before adding the next (or apply all at once and wait longer).

Did you know?

🤯 Mind = Blown

🤯 The oldest known sculpture is 35,000 years old — a tiny mammoth carved from ivory.

🌟 Artist Spotlight

🎨 The Terracotta Army has 8,000 clay soldiers — every face is different.

You did it!

Next: Coil Pot Construction (Part 9)All lessons

🎯

Next Smart Project

We'll pick an art project that matches exactly where your skills are right now.

✨ More to explore

🌍 Where you see this: Pots, cups, sinks, statues — anything you can hold started as squishy stuff.

🏆 Try this week: Sculpt with playdough or even mashed potato. The tool doesn't matter.

👨‍👩‍👧 At dinner: “Tell me about the part of your sculpture you're proudest of.”

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Paper Mâché Animal (Part 9)

Techniques you'll practise

You will need

Next Smart Project

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Paper Mâché Animal (Part 9)

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