I realize I’ve let things go quiet for a while here. so now’s the time to catch up a bit, even if you know how it ends…

When we last left things I had completed most of the structural elements of Grimmhilde’s head. The next step is, as before, to wrap the structure in the gummed paper tape. As I’ve also mentioned before, I prefer it to papier maché with newsprint and wheat paste because it doesn’t sag as much and remains workable for much longer. When it dries it tends to tighten to a pretty nice taut skin. It does not however lend itself to nice curvy details.

I also realized at this point that I had made the jaw much too narrow for this face, so I built out the back corner of the jaw with a cardboard plate and another layer of paper tape. You can see here the new ‘jawbone’ on the right.

Also switched to a new brand of tape. Note the lighter color. it was also a much lighter weight tape. you can see it on the left jaw and the forehead. A little too flimsy for my tastes. next time getting the heavier material.

To finish off the less angular features of her face, I turned to some ‘Celluclay’, a pre-ground papier maché product that works very much like clay. It’s basically ground up paper and an adhesive. You mix it in a small bucket with just enough water, the mold it into shape and leave it over night… (or two, or three.) I used this to fill out the lips, chin, nose, and areas around the eyes.

Finally covering everything with strips of tissue paper and Clear Acrylic Gesso to give her a somewhat more homogeneous skin. The crown will get its own chapter.