Papier Mache Goes Eco-Cool

Tuesday Winslow has been working with recycled material since she was a child. Back in the day, she drew and painted on the cardboard sheets that came home from the dry cleaner inside her father's shirts.

In 1995, the artist began working with old newspapers to create elaborate papier mache pieces. Why newspaper? “It’s non toxic, inexpensive and a very hands on medium to work with,” she says.

How does she do it?

1) Tuesday starts by creating a relief design from clay


[the first step - a picture of a clay image]

2) Tuesday pours a plaster of Paris from the clay design
3) She shreds the newspaper, soaks it in water, and creates a mache by chopping the wet paper in a blender
4) After expelling the excess water, Tuesday adds water-based glue to the mache mixture
5) Finally, she places a design element (like a map or colored paper) in the plaster of Paris mold, and fills the rest of the mold with the paper mache

Sound easy?
Sometimes it takes 2-3 days to prepare colored paper combinations.
“I usually have several pieces going at one time. I may create anywhere from 2 - 6 frames in 2 - 3 days,” explains the artist.

Tuesday prepares the paper pulp in bulk by shredding the paper, soaking the paper in water for at least 2 days, and then chopping and expelling excess water, which takes about 3 hours.
She leaves the pulp exposed to air for about 5 -6 hours, which helps to dry out more of the water.
Once a piece is molded, it takes another 2 - 3 days to dry. Adding a mirror or picture frame backing takes an additional 1 day to dry.


["Tearsyellowpage" was designed with a telephone directory and yellow paper accents.]


[This black & white sunburst mirror is a 5" magnet picture frame designed with colored paper.]

Talk about dedication to craft! Tuesday has been doing this for fifteen years, and her work continues to evolve. Eventually she plans to make furniture & other useful items from papier mache. After that, she's thinking it'll be time to publish a book about functional papier mache designs.

About her materials:
Paper mache made from 100% post consumer waste
international stamps purchased by the pound from sellers via classified ads and the internet
imagery taken from discarded magazines
chlorine free, acid free, lignin free colored paper
maps from the Department of Defense. (printed in the USA.)

Tuesday’s favorite design element: the combinations of colored paper with recycled newsprint


Want one? Tuesday has done commission work for individuals and businesses and is available to do commissions. Check her out at www.mirrorsdecorated.com

For dedication, serious eco-cool, and vision, Conscious Cow awards Tuesday Winslow with FIVE COW PIES!

Until next time, Ciao from the Cow!