Work on the unfinished Troll Screamers shown above as well as several NEW Troll Screamers will resume soon. I have several body parts ready to go for the new creations.

Saturday 15 August 2009

THE NEW BORN CONTINUES TO GROW



From the moment of his conception to is actual birth this new screamer is continuing to grow & evolve. His hands now have claw like nails along with knuckles in all the right places. His arms shown here are in the final position they will be in when fitted fully. They are only perched right now for the photograph. The eye sections of his stalked eyes have been constructed & are awaiting the final fitting (not shown here). The top of his head is temporarily in place but like his arms only there for the photograph. His stalk like eyes will be attached to this small head bump later along with two elongated ears (stored inside his mouth for now).

His legs are now fully fitted & his claw like toe nails are still to be fitted as yet along with his large tongue (yet to be constructed) & small chin too. There are a few other bits to be added yet but I won’t say just what they are for now. Once all his limbs have been fitted I will be adding a layer of tissue skin before painting. More on this guy soon folks.





49 comments:

  1. What a great preview to your new screamer. He/she(?) looks terrific!

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  2. What crowd buys papier mache figures? I've been searching and have found nothing but dead ends. I'm viewing yours and other's websites seeing claims of creations and clientele. Where would I find the buying crowd attracted to this art form? I've created my own, but don't know where or who to sell them to and I'm hushed or ignored due to competition.

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  3. Google for words like: Etsy stores or hunt on Ebay. Etsy stores are becoming very popular. Once you sign up to run an Etsy store it's your show. Not all paper mache artists sell on Ebay under the simple term paper mache. Some you will change the wording to a more sociably acceptable term. In my opinion this is unacceptable, but you sometimes have no choice to to go with the flow of the masses & what they axpect if you want to sell mache art. Too many peope still think of it as primary school taught rubbish.

    I assure you the buyers ARE out there & will pay a good price for good work. Be more creative on Ebay when searching, try phrases like: Recycled art, mixed media art, reformmed paper models, paper sculptures & phrases like that.

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  4. Where is best area(s) to display my work and best places to sell them?

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  5. I'm excited about doing this kind of work! I see a great future in it!

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  6. In creating these characters, I'm considering doing my own renditions of the mad monsters series that drive the 'funked out' cars in a book that features the Rat Fink cartoon from the 1960's. Would this be going off the wall or are papier mache buyers more interested in Dragons? I want to keep within the area of buyer's interests only, not work that will sit around going nowhere.

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  7. By 'best places to display' I assume your talking about 'online'...

    As publically & as often as possible is a great way to start. Make a blog or a website. Post on/in 'other peoples' blogs & websites. YouTube, Metacafe, Deviant Art, MySpace, a group that also works in your medium etc are other great attention grabbing places. Basically anywhere befitting your art media (ie: paper mache, clay sculpting etc) that people frequent a LOT.

    I am thinking of starting a sister blog to this one dedicated to fellow artists work be they newbies or professionals. Where i can & others can view & comment on the work. From which i hope to encourage & draw attention too the depicted works for both the artists in question & this art form. In the meantime i would like to build up a simple continuing gallery in some way of my favourite works people send me to both look at & display for them in here (down the static right hand side there). I have not yet decided how to go with it yet, a slide show, single fixed images etc.

    Send me something of your work & i will see how i can best intiate my idea as soon as i can. As this blog grows it should help build some attention for you.

    Choose your favourite piece you made & use it as an avatar for your Yahoo messenger account or MSN avatar/icon etc. Add random pictures as attachments to emails or make backgrounds as wall paper for all the above mentioned.

    Best places to sell them? See the post/reply by me just above this one.

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  8. P.S. A bad way to start is to continue to tag yourself as 'Anonymous'. People like to know the artist as well as their work(s). Who buys anything from anyone who won't say who they are. Write down some catchy names, pick the best one then use it as much as you display your work along with some interesting history about you & your work, past present & future works. Letting people know who YOU are as much as your work is a MUST when trying to corner ANY market place.

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  9. Anonymous said...
    I'm excited about doing this kind of work! I see a great future in it!

    05 October 2009 05:51

    Being positive IS the way to go for sure with ANY art form, well in anything. If you are not positive in your work or yourself it WILL reflect in your work. This will of course then reflect ij how well you sell or become known of course.

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  10. Anonymous said...
    In creating these characters, I'm considering doing my own renditions of the mad monsters series that drive the 'funked out' cars in a book that features the Rat Fink cartoon from the 1960's. Would this be going off the wall or are papier mache buyers more interested in Dragons? I want to keep within the area of buyer's interests only, not work that will sit around going nowhere.

    05 October 2009 06:01

    In the first instance you have to be aware of copyright infringements. It's sticky ground that can easily drag you under. Making any charactritures of well known established characters be they from the 60's or from earlier is not a good idea. NOT even just to give them away free either.

    In the second instance it's not so much a 'trendy' or 'popular' thing to be buying 'why' paper mache lovers buy. Or ANY art buyers for that matter be it mache, concrete, steel, clay etc. People are people & they are all individuals with theyre OWN tastes in art etc. People like art that catches the eye, draws you in & keeps revealing new little things they missed the first time they looked at it whatever 'it' may be.

    Yes some things such as dragons are extremely popular to a great many people in or out of the mache world. It's not just the 'sculpture' it's what a 'person' wants it to be or represent that matters be it a dragon or a dog, a cat or a frog. Dragons are as much an impossiblity as much as they are impossibly worshiped & adored. You have to remember there ARE thousands of 'other' things that people adore too.

    In MY art projects i am trying (if my family stop breaking what i am making)to make as many 'varied' works as possible. I want to find a unique.... Thing that i can mass produce. I enjoy making & of course IS popular & 'unique' to ME. I would like to think 'it' might both grant me reccognised artist status as well a a few moderate piles of cash along the way. The cash would ahem, only be sought to recoupe my losses in the art materialls i used over the years you understand ahem!.

    Spend some time on peoples Etsy stores on Ebay & Amazon. Find out just 'what' IS popular. Look for a unique twist in 'that' 'them'. Then make varyations on the 'theme' not the works already out there. Make as many varyations as you can. One or more are sure to catch many eye's.

    I saw several pieces over the years: A dragon head (wall mounted) made from tin cans & theyre lids. Painted varyations of pink. It was sold for over $800.

    Another piece was a sheep dog hanging out of a car door window. Just the door. The dog's hair looked like it was blowing in the wind. It too went for some $700/$800 or so.

    As i say IF it's eye catching, original & well made. As the old saying goes "What's one mans rubbish is another mans treasure. To say what IS popular & what is not is a fine line that no one can truely state as fact.

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  11. What is the best way to price my work without the set price(s)appearing absurd or underpriced?

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  12. With anything 'out of the normal' which lets face it paper mache IS NOT normal run of the mill everyday commercially produced goods such as a car etc this is tricky ground to walk on especially when giving advice.

    I have often read or been told to calculate a fare price for hours/days worked then half the price of materials used. Lets think about that though. Assume you estimate $10 an hour & worked 5/9 'actual' days worth of hours on a medium sized screamer such as MY Troll screamer Sluggich or MOTS then for ME i would start the price or bidding if i was selling them on Ebay at around $50/$80 then see where the bidding went from there.

    With paper mache how ever we make anything & everything of many sizes, shapes & complexity. When it comes to a simple screamer there is no real difficulty in those. Nothing out of the ordinary in the design like an art doll for instance which IS more specialised.

    What i have seen many people do when selling on Ebay is to set a low starting bid but then give a fixed 'buy NOW' price too. This i think is a good way to do it as it gives you 3 avenues of selling at a decent price being fare to the customer/buyer(s) as well as yourself.

    This still does not answer your question i know. What you can do to get an answer how ever is to put something your selling on Ebay but there is an option where you aren't actually selling anything but the users can still bid. It's called an 'estimated bid' or something i forget the term now. Basically it's a way of pretend selling where people can bid as to what they think something 'would be' worth if in a real auction. As far as i know everything runs just the same as a real sale except when the bid closes you don't sell anything.

    That may be the best way to get 'real' first hand idea of prices you need to be looking at from the people who'd in the end be buying.

    Sorry if thats not much help but as i said this is tricky ground to walk on.

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  13. Have you ever put your work on display in any public exhibition halls for viewing and selling to attract crowds for potential clientele, or have you only (preferrably)displayed your work on the internet?

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  14. The name 'anonymous' appears only due to refusal of acceptance of URL.
    Otherwise the name is Bruce. I'm only trying to get questions answered, with hopes that they will with less concern of the occasional appearance of 'anonymous'.
    I'm hoping for the time this is found acceptable while my questions are being answered, which is appreciated! Didn't think I'd have to Blog in this fashion! Its a waste of time and space for questions!

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  15. Only online so far. As i have said before a lot of my work is damaged or simply ruined beyond repair or beyond my williness to keep reapiring it thanks to my clumsy family. Along with that though i just don't think my work is good enough for open public scrutiny not just yet. This self lack of confidence is bugging me since there is a public art gallery only a mile plus from where i live. They give classes, & encourage local artists to show theyre work too.

    Soon maybe. I am still giving it some thought.

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  16. Anonymous said...
    The name 'anonymous' appears only due to refusal of acceptance of URL.
    Otherwise the name is Bruce. I'm only trying to get questions answered, with hopes that they will with less concern of the occasional appearance of 'anonymous'.
    I'm hoping for the time this is found acceptable while my questions are being answered, which is appreciated! Didn't think I'd have to Blog in this fashion! Its a waste of time and space for questions!

    06 October 2009 05:09

    Hi Bruce. Ah now i understand. Don't you just hae it when browsers, blogs & other sites won't accept something as mundane?

    If you don't want to come through my blog then you can contact me here:

    Email: jontytheghoul@btopenworld.com
    or
    MSN?Hotmail: freelancecgdesign@hotmail.co.uk

    For even more questions, answers & more information & pictures you could ever want come join me at the fantastic paper mache group i am in here: PaperMacheArt-subscribe@yahoogroups.com

    No question is dumb, no question is over asked. Theres a host of fantastic artists. It's a friendly group trust me.

    I appologise if any insult or concern was raised by my mentioning the Anonymous tag. I see now you clearly were having problems otherwise. I only wished to stress that many people'may' find a lack of a name to be odd. Again i appologise. No harm done?

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  17. Not a prob! Band aid Please!LOL! Thanks for understanding!
    I do have Activa brand mache powdered mix, a few unused bags of it/arts/crafts stuff....are you familiar with that brand? I just want to use it up without wasting any of it. I will totally accept any advice about it. I've read other how-to's about materials that stand up well regarding time duration. I'm all for it!
    What's best to do with the Activa mache mix?
    Bruce(aka Anonymous)
    Let's have a good laugh at that one!;-)

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  18. Can't help with the band aid sorry big family they go through them too fast lol.

    Also can't help with any pre-made or brand made pulps. I rarely use pulp as i like to work as hollow as much as i can with my sculptures & when i do i just make crude news print home made stuff which works fine for my needs. We have a host of pulper's in the paper mache group i am in. If not there then sorry can only advise searching the net for anyone using it.

    I can say just try making small batches up with different water levels to see how it peforms. Then compare results to see which works best for you.

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  19. This one is a little late, but having family with fumbles and butterfingers when it comes to handling the sensitive creations..I've got a multitude of siblings who at times can show no better areas of mercy when help is called for! The claims 'break it, you bought' tend to fall on deaf ears and brush-offs, or just plain go unnoticed! Fortunately I've had none of my work thrown for 50 yard football passes!
    That would REALLY hurt!
    Bruce

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  20. I got papiermacheman from your jontytheghoul blog. Is that where it should have taken me?
    I can certainly get into this!
    Sculpting times are here again!
    Bruce

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  21. I got papiermacheman from your jontytheghoul blog

    I can't say for sure as i don't know what you clicked on to get there lol...

    Did you mean Dan Reeders website or Forum? If you clicked on either of the side links to those then YES. I check all my links so they should be right.

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  22. Dan the Monster man.
    Bruce

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  23. Lol thats him. I thought thats who you meant. A good guy, friend & supreme monster making artist is Dan.

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  24. This may be another trick question as was the one of pricing...I'm aware nothing is predictable. I've seen these folks on Yessy.com who sell wire art and other structures/sculpted items(clay, wire form, etc.) and have maybe 10-12 of these pieces advertised along with the one for variation(purposes). I figure for myself starting out not to expect to sell any more than maybe one of my pieces per month on a realistic basis with 6-8 additional pieces(structures/characters) advertised in the same
    manner, just steady as it goes... Does that sound reasonable to you? I'm not about to fool myself thinking this will take off like a mad sprint. The nature of the beast(no punds intended!). Go ahead, yuk it up!LOL
    Bruce

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  25. No i think your being very level headed, not trying to run before you can walk & all that. I always say "Never take anything for granted & accept what does come along graceously".

    You see thats the funny thing with art. An artist is alway's doubting themselves or theyre own work to some degree. I most certainly do all the time. When it comes to what people like you just can never say for certain. Who knows whats around the corner, you might be pleasently suprised yet.

    Things may go as you assume & you might just shift everything in one go yet lol. Heres hoping good things may yet come for you.

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  26. When it comes to lack of total assurance in any of my work done, I have to say I agree with you big time! No artist can ever put a finger on whether one person or a group of people will find any kind of acceptance or a degree of fault with the work we've created. Its always the moment of (unwanted) anticipation not knowing whether it will go in our favor or just plain go south! As much as I loath having to deal with it, its just a part of the world of art we have to live with!
    My 2 cents....
    Bruce

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  27. Me and Dan the man would get along just fine! His sense of humor and sarcasm workks just fine for me!LOL!
    Bruce

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  28. Dan does have that wonderful 'relaxed' expression &sense of humour that would be the envy of any live stage comedian doesn't he lol. Makes me laugh no end.

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  29. Again my 2 cents; When it comes to exhibition halls, I think I'd prefer sticking to the internet...there people are not able to pick an object up, get careless or critical with it while handling, practically drop it, and then set it down abruptly...add that a dozen times a day along with the final value of it!
    I've put airbrushed motorcycle helmets on display, some idiot invites himself, without asking for assistance, to pick it up, fool with it, put it on his head with a smile of "Hi mom! Ain't I cute!" I'm at the point of wanting to belt him for disrespecting my work!
    He walks away, what does he care!
    Internet only!
    Again my 2 cents! To each his/her own!
    Bruce

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  30. Bruce said: "I'd prefer sticking to the internet...there people are not able to pick an object up, get careless or critical with it while handling, practically drop it, and then set it down abruptly...add that a dozen times a day along with the final value of it!"

    I CAN TOTALY empathise with you there. For the time being for me too i feel the internet only displaying IS the safest way to go. It is a shame how ever as people can't fully appreciate the piece(s) from pictures alone. Even if you as i sometimes do place a CD ROM or a mobile phone in the shot to give some idea of scale. A LOT of finer detail just can't be seen properly.

    Sure it's easy enough to blow up sections in a seperate frame but then that i feel tends to dis-joint the section your trying to show from the whole piece.

    It's both a curse & a blessing going internet only, but as i say having people both disrespecting your work & damaging it just at the moment is not worth it i agree.

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  31. I was just looking over Etsy.com and saw how categorized their website is, as well as the number of categories on that site. Is there a particular category I should be looking for regarding papier mache if I'd want to place my work on there? Otherwise I feel quite lost in their site.
    Bruce

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  32. That my friend i have NO idea... I can ask in the paper mache group i am in. A good few of the members there use Etsy. It would mean re-posting you message from here to clarify what your asking easier. But i won't do this unless you okay it first?

    Other than that all i can suggest is emailing some of the people using Etsy & getting suggestions from them - Sorry.

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  33. Here's my ok! Lets go for it!

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  34. Done i posted this:

    I have this question posted to me on my blog & i simply have NO exprience using Etsy so cannot reply to it properly. I know many of you use & are swinging that way for selling your art. So i thought who better to ask on behalf of my postee. So with his permission here is hie question:

    "I was just looking over Etsy.com and saw how categorized their website is, as well as the number of categories on that site. Is there a particular category I should be looking for regarding papier mache if I'd want to place my work on there? Otherwise I feel quite lost in their site."

    Knowing the group they will be all over this one lol. It's a good question. I will be going to bed very soon since it's now 01:17am here so won't be checking my mail until tomorrow. I will let you know the minute i get some replies.

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  35. Your assistance is much appreciated, Jonty!
    Thanks!
    Bruce

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  36. It's no trouble lol. One answer came in. More will soon i am sure as not everyone sits in front of the PC every day or most have several groups they are in so have a few to cycle through so i have no doubt that more answers are sure to follow. Anyway here is the first one:

    "Jonty... this is where the Mixed Media label comes in...paper, paste, paint...embellishme nts...*MIXED MEDIA*

    That's the only way I've found to describe it that doesn't remind people of kindergarten. ..And it's probably the simplest way on ETSY.

    my three cents...(got to deal with inflation even in this...hehehe)

    Kerry

    Life is too short to knit with ugly yarn."

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  37. By golly I think I'm starting to get the hint!LOL!
    Bruce
    ugly yarn...it must be either the pale green or brown stuff.....y'wonder?

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  38. Yeah i think a lot of paper mache artists use the term 'mixed media' because it's more rounded easier to digest inthe long run. Personally i think it's wrong to give into to stereo typing, but at the end of the day standing your ground isn't going to sell art or get you famous or both lol.

    Oh i try to avoid any ugly yarn or wool as we'd call it in the UK lol.

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  39. Question..i was watching Dan's Dragon how to video recently and saw the step on painting the dragon. He started out with bright green and yellow colors. But then I saw him paint over the bright colors with a totally dark green paint(?) and later peeled the paint off revealing the eyes and other colors. What was that all about? I really have no problem with the speed of the film, as there is a "PAUSE" button to stop at viewer's discretion(did nobody else SEE that?). What was that paint and what is the necessity of it?
    Bruce(AKA A non no'mous)LOL

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  40. I was viewing Dan's video last week and watched him in the painting area; he applied bright greens and yellows to the Dragon's body, then painted over it with a very dark green, and then a little while later he "peeled"or removed the green to reveal the colors he had earlier. What was the dark green he was applying and what was its nature? Is it necessary?
    Thanks!
    Bruce
    ps you don't hear me complaining about the speed of the tape, as there is a certain little thing called 'PAUSE' to catch parts of the film at viewer's discretion! When you want to know, all else is secondary!;-)

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  41. Anonymous said...
    Question..i was watching Dan's Dragon how to video recently and saw the step on painting the dragon.
    21 October 2009 14:03

    The modern PC (Mac's more) is capable of showng 60 million colours. Saddly this is lost thanks to modern camera's video & static alike that are available to the general public to buy are limited to much less power. Then of course add to this many people don't have an HD or equal quality monitor. So a LOT of colour & even finer details are lost to the average home PC user.

    I KNOW this myself as poor lighting & low camera quality is hampering MY videos final display quality lately. Anyway my point being that Dan's (my own) video's are not showing what our eye's would show us.

    So even though Dan is working under very good light conditions the video is not showing ALL his eye's see or yours would if you stood next to him whilst he worked.

    Hmm ever watched an electric arc welder on tv? Bright aren't they? If you stood next to that welder whilst it worked in real life you'd go blind watching it. Yet you watch it on tv & it just hurts your eye's a little. Thats a perfect example of 'video loss'.

    When Dan paints one colour over another they actually show through each other to a degree, but like i said this is sadly lost in the video's, even in his books. It's just something you have to take on faith or see in real life for yourself i am afraid to say.

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  42. Hey! Love your blog and LOVE the Screamer...very kewl! I found u on Dan Reeder's site. Apparently, I'm gonna have to go brew another pot of coffee and then come in here and check out all the links n stuff! ;)

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  43. julzabro: Why thankyou lol. I am actually working right now on no less tha 4 NEW Troll Screamers. One of which is for a free give away competition right here so spread the word lol.

    Don't forget to do through the archives too as there is great info from start to finish right here lol. Have fun & thankyou once again.

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  44. OMG I was just looking for to see if I could get some ideas how to make things for Halloween. I have been so inspired. I haven't used Papier Mache before, But there are so many things here on these pages that I wan't to try I think I'll be playing with Papier Mache for a long time to come.

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  45. Robyn: Why thankyou your inspiration to try this ancient art means i am doing something right then lol. Indeed your wanting to try PM is in itself inspiring to me in return.

    There is indeed a host of things to be found in my blog here all geared around the beginer up & those of limited funds alike.

    Did you find my list of videos at the bottom of the blog? In there amongst many (72 if i recal correctly) easy to follow HOW TO videos you will find the method i used to make his drool if you followed the complete build to see this guy finished?

    If not here is the link to the drool method:
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4yEwqA_ikEg

    There is more to come so take your time catching up lol.

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  46. Thank you. That drool really looks disgusting. Drool is the first thing I'll try when I buy a hot glue gun.

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  47. Robyn: Just remember electricity & water do not mix & are deadly so PLEASE be extremely careful when making drool in this way.

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  48. Thank you I will be very careful. Would you tell me if there are any good books about Papier Mache, I haven't been able to fine any is the local Library and nothing in the local book shop. Regards Robyn

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  49. Robyn: Even though paper mache has been around 2,000 years (or more) the Japanese have built paper houses for centuries for crying out loud, sadly it is still a very seriousely under estimated art form &not taken seriously enough in my opinion. Unfortunately having a very active & creative mind i follow my own path, but, i do list a great collection of insperational artists. Dan Reeder has a great little set of books for sale that will make any beginer into a professional artist in no time. There is also Stolloween & Jonnie Good too. You can find them all listed in the right hand column of my blog as well as links at the bottom too.

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