Papier Mâché Part 1: Lessons from an Expert

Students were treated to a hands-on lesson from a very special guest artist – our very own intern Eva! 

Eva explained how inexpensive materials like paper, glue, and paint can be combined to create a large-scale lightweight sculpture, like her octopus. Students LOVED seeing Eva’s work in person!

As with most art techniques, papier mâché is a step-by-step process, and it all starts with a sketch. 

After sketching ideas for their sculpture, students used aluminum foil to create a rough shape for their project. 

Next, they used metal wire, wood, tape, and glue to build a defined structure for the wet paper to adhere to.   

The following day, children covered their structures with layers of newspaper strips dipped in a paste made of glue and water. 

Students loved the versatility of the medium and pushed their creativity to the limits as they came up with different sizes and shapes for their sculptures. 

Maria's work at Hudson Guild is supported by the Emergency Arts Education Fund, which provides free arts education to NYC school communities whose art programs have been decimated by recent budget cuts.

Children’s Museum of the Arts’ three Residents Artists are currently implementing ambitious arts curriculum at each of our partner sites throughout New York City: Hudson Guild in Chelsea, Sid Miller Academy in Crown Heights, and Children’s Workshop School in the East Village. Come spring, our residents will showcase their students' work through exhibitions and installations across the city. Learn how you can support the work of our residents here.