How to Paint Papier Mâché

Once you have made your papier mâché creation, the next step is making it colourful with paint!

Steps

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    Apply white Gesso all over your creation, making sure you paint Gesso into any corners and creases You may require several layers to ensure a smooth base all over, so let it dry completely between applications.
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    Once dry and smooth, begin to paint the colours. Begin with the larger areas first, and work smaller towards the details.
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    Use acrylic paint. It is the most popular paint for this, because it dries nice and bright, and it is also waterproof. Water colours are not waterproof, and dry in a dull soft way. You can also use household paint if your creation is quite large. Again, allow paint to dry between applications.
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    Once everything is painted, apply the details. These can be done using waterproof marker pens, wool for the hair (or fur!) and clothes. Beads, string and other household items can be added if applicable.
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    Finished.
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Community Q&A

  • Question
    Why is it important to use Gesso and acrylic paint?
    Community Answer
    Community Answer
    Other paints may destroy the paper itself.
  • Question
    Do I need to paint it white?
    Community Answer
    Community Answer
    No, you can choose any color you like.
  • Question
    How do I paint papier mache?
    Community Answer
    Community Answer
    Wait for your creation to dry, then paint over it. Tempera paint works best.
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Warnings

  • If using alkyd-based household paint, you will need turpentine or mineral spirits to clean your brushes. This is toxic and should not be used without adult supervision. Also use a mask to prevent fumes being inhaled. Water can be used to clean latex paint.
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  • This is messy! Have plenty of newspaper covering your workspace.
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Things You'll Need

  • Old newspaper
  • Brushes of assorted sizes, depending on size of creation
  • White Gesso
  • Paint (Acrylic or household paint is best)
  • Turps or white spirit for cleaning
  • Papier mâché item for painting

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About This Article

wikiHow is a “wiki,” similar to Wikipedia, which means that many of our articles are co-written by multiple authors. To create this article, 13 people, some anonymous, worked to edit and improve it over time. This article has been viewed 89,672 times.
91 votes - 87%
Co-authors: 13
Updated: May 13, 2018
Views: 89,672
Categories: Papier Mache
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