Decorating Paper Mache

Decorating paper mache is where you can really be creative. Let your imagination run riot and experiment. I have tried everything from boot polish to beach sand for decorating paper mache. There is no right or wrong way to do it.

The best way is to experiment. If you don't know how a technique will turn out give it a try. Just don't ruin a great piece of art you've been working on for ages.

I learned that lesson the hard way. I had spent several weeks working on a large pot and had taken a lot of time to lay the paper strips to look like panels.

I decorated the pot with a layer of white emulsion tinted with burnt umber artist's acrylic and then added several coats of dark brown boot polish.

The finished pot looked great - I had achieved my aim of making it look like antique wood. However, to seal the project, I painted on a layer of my usual polyurethane varnish. Big mistake!

The boot polish changed colour and spread in clumps over the pot. I ended up with a sticky mess that never really dried.

Somehow I managed to get most of it off and sand the pot down to the bare paper. I coated it with emulsion again and reapplied the boot polish but somehow it never looked quite as good as it did the first time.

Now, whenever I want I want to try out something new, I test it first on a few layers of paper pasted onto a piece of card. It sounds like extra work but it's well worth it in the long run.

A couple of things to remember:

• Prime your surface with a suitable primer. I like emulsion paint for this purpose but I also sometimes use two or three coats of undiluted PVA glue as a base to work on. Artist's gesso also makes a good surface to decorate.
• Seal your work with a protective finish once your decoration is completely dry.
• Always alternate between water-based and oil-based finishes. For example, if you have decorated a piece with water-based wood stain, use an oil-based varnish as a protective finish. This helps to prevent the finished project from chipping.

Protective Finishes

My favourite protective finish is polyurethane varnish. It dries clear and gives a durable coating that can be carefully wiped down with a slightly damp cloth to keep the piece clean.

For a really strong finish you could use yacht varnish but be careful if you are using it over a pale colour as it does tend to yellow over time.

I intend to experiment with other possible finishes such as wax and epoxy resin. I will let you know the outcome in any future updates.

The choice of a matt or gloss finish comes down to personal preference. For most of my projects I use a matt finish but many artists prefer to use gloss.

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