Hi Slurryguy and fellow "Papercreters",
So glad to see the competition and decided to come out of lurker mode
and share some of my recent experiments.
I am an artist who moved to Kansas City a few years ago from Santa Fe,
NM to be near family and grandchildren. Have not had a studio or done
much art since moving here. Found the papercreters site and have been
gathering information for a while and decided to translate it into 3D
wall pieces. These are my first completed pieces using some of the
things I learned on the Yahoo Papercreters site and what I know from
past work doing ceramics.
I am very broke right now so all this is from "available
stuff/materials" I had on hand and needed to either use it and get busy
or get rid of it. I don't follow recipes well when I cook nor when I
create, so I will give steps of what I used as best I can. It's a very
intuitive, how does it feel process for me that I am doing in my
carpeted loft in Kansas City. Not the best workplace, which I let get in
the way for too long, but now the living room is studio;-)
I made a mold of another experiment that was carved styrofoam with
drywall mud and acrylic paint for the surface. Learned that the drywall
mud is not durable and the original was damaged over time and when
removing the silicone/plaster mold. (Golden Spiral piece 14 7/8"h X 15
7/8"w X 2 3/4"d)
Have made 3 papercrete casts of this piece finishing each differently.
The two panel pieces were cast from a styrofoam form that came on
something that I don't even remember what it was, but the form was
perfect to cast from. Looks like I can even reuse it, and I have four
such forms.
Used 2 to 3 standard plastic grocery bags of shredded paper (junk mail,
newspaper, shiny heavy ink adv brochures, etc) learned it is not good to
use credit cards, heavy plastic, window envelopes, etc. doesn't
mix/blend well with other materials. Put shredded paper in old 5 gallon
paint bucket, poured boiling hot water over paper, let soak sometimes
several days as I would be distracted with my work schedule or getting
on the computer and forgetting I was doing something and or had to let
it dry out some. Mixed paper and water with large paint mixer quite a
bit to break up pulp and get real mushy, added small bucket, mostly full
of quickcrete and a handful or two of wet clay. Clay just felt like it
wanted to be there and I needed an excuse to wet it down and squish in
it a bit. ;-) Sometimes added another scoop or two of concrete and or
clay, again; it's like seasoning the soup, what does it want/need. Mix
very thoroughly, added a slosh of bleach to kill some of the bacteria
that seems to develop and make the mix a bit smelly. This makes about
the perfect amount to fill my mold. Any left overs Ipour into various
takeout containers, yogurt containers, etc to carvelater and experiment
with various surface treatments. Thinking of trying a wax/encaustic
effect using leftover candle wax, but learned in my research that wax is
not compatible with acrylic paint so still have to play with that idea
for surface effect.
The panel pieces have strapping wire pieces picked up in a parking lot
some where, bolts, pieces of rusty wire/metal, etc. that were placed in
the mold before filling with papercrete. The spiral pieces have the
found objects/stuff all added after casting and glued to piece after it
was dried.
I have this habit of picking up little treasures from the universe when
I walk and put them in my purse, pockets etc and have now quite a
collection of "stuff" to incorporate into the "papercrete". I also love
eggshells, esp brown ones and am experimenting with using them for
surface "interest" and mixing, ground in the blender eggshells, with the
papercrete, still exploring not sure of results as yet.
Hmmm..just realized I can't/don't see how, to add photos to this message
will add them to the photo area of the group site.
Anyone in the KC metro area working with concrete or papercrete? I would
love to connect with people working with these materials. Thanks to all
for all the great information you all have contributed.
Best,
Lynda Leonard
--- In papercreters@yahoogroups.com, slurryguy@... wrote:
>
> Pail 'O Papercrete Competition.
>
> Announcing the first ever "Pail 'O Papercrete" Competition.
> �
> Objective:
> To encourage as many Papercreters members as possible to mix up a
small batch of papercrete and make something fun, interesting,
educational, silly, useful, beautiful, and/or any combination of those
attributes or more as appropriate.�
> �
> Rules:
>
> �
> 1.� Cost of materials for anyone to duplicate a project must be
less than $10.� (Not including tools used to construct the
project.)
> �
> 2.� Entries must be described in detail by posting about your
efforts on Papercreters.� Your descriptions should not only show
off your efforts, but provide all the information required for someone
to duplicate your project in every detail if they so desire.�
Include a list of materials used, and their cost.�
> �
> 3.� Pictures are required.� The more pictures the
better.� Obviously we want to see your final result, but showing
step by step what you did and how you did it will be important.�
Videos are encouraged, but not required.� Putting a link or a
credit line encouraging video viewers on YouTube or other video hosting
services�to come join us on Papercreters would be awesome touch,
but not required.
> �http://groups.yahoo.com/group/papercreters/
> �
> 4.� Possible entry types�include, but are not limited to the
following ideas:
> �
> Small science experiments exploring what papercrete can do, different
recipes, and/or mixing-forming processes.
> �
> Art projects of all kinds.
> �
> Useful household objects that take advantage of papercrete.
> �
> Any papercrete object that generates a good laugh.� (Keep it
G-rated.)
> �
> Other
> �
> 5.� Members submitting entries should actively answer any
questions and help others understand or duplicate what they have done.
> �
> 6.� Multiple entries are encouraged.�
> �
> 7.� Submit your entry to this contest by posting about it on
Papercreters.� Include "POP Contest Entry _________" in the
subject�line of your post.� Fill in the blank by including
whatever name you have given your project.
> �
> 8.� DEADLINE FOR ENTRIES IS JULY 31, 2009.
> �
> 9.� Papercreters Moderators reserve the right to modify these
rules as necessary, but it seems very unlikely that will be
required.� We intend to keep this competition as wide open as
possible to encourage creativity.� Moderators rulings are final.
> �
> 10.� Members will vote in a poll to determine the winner.
> �
> 11.� The winning project will be displayed as the featured photo
on the Papercreters Home Page for a couple of months.� Other prizes
may be offered as we work it out.� Any member or business that
would like to donate a prize for the contest, please email
slurryguy@...�.�
> �
> I look forward to seeing everyone's entries.�
> �
> LET'S GET STARTED!!
>
> �
------------------------------------
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