It is the art style of creating three dimensional figures, sculptures, and shapes.

How is it done?

1. You mix together a paper mache paste. If you are interested in learning more about various pastes I take a look at three popular ways to make it here.

2. You soak strips of something in that paste (typically it is newspaper or paper towels. But it can also be cloth.)

3. You apply those strips to a mold or a shape.

Then you let it dry. What happens is that the soakened strips, as they dry, harden. It creates a nice shell that keeps whatever shape you made.

In the picture above I used a balloon as the mold for paper mache. Once the mache is dry the balloon can be popped and the mache holds it's shape.

But you can use anything as a mold. Here I am going to be using a bowl as a mold. I have covered it with plastic wrap. This is so the paper mache can be separated from the bowl once it has dried.

Another great technique for making paper mache shapes is to create a cardboard framework for it. This next picture shows the beginning of a small diorama. I have built up a framework with cardboard strips and balled up newspaper. The balled up newspaper is for support. It will hold the cardboard strips in their shape as the wet paper mache is applied.

Now we can paper mache over it. Once dried it creates a nice hardened shell. Which in the case of this project will be a mountain landscape with a cave entrance.

Here is an excellent paper mache paste that I have used. It is what I used for the diorama shown above.

Elmer's Art Paste - This is a paper mache mix. It is excellent. I have used it. And, the paste is storable. You can mix it up, use it then store the unused portion for later use.