Map of India With Paper Mache

I find maps really interesting. So in this work, I tried to give a 3-D look to it using paper mache. I decided to make map of India because the Independence Day (15 August) is coming. I also added the national emblem of India, "the Ashokan pillar at Sarnath". I have tried to portray the beauty of India and my devotion to my country through my work.

1. Newpapers
2. Fevicol
3. Plaster of paris
4. Polystyrene/ foam-board (Size- 65*60cm)
5. Two empty plastic bottles
6. Scissors
8. Acrylic paint
9. Paintbrush
Few more supplies which I will discuss in the process.

Take a container or a bucket. Cut or tear the news papers into small pieces. I used 3 newspapers to make a map of (55*45)cm. Now add water to the container with papers and let it soak and make it into even more smaller pieces in order to make it smoother and more manageable. Now squeeze the water out from the mache and put it in a separate container. Then add fevicol to the mache you separated. (I added about 250 grams of fevicol/wood glue ). Then mix it well and make it like a smooth dough. And your perfectly manageable paper mache is ready!!

I took a big foam board as the base and used sketch pens to draw the outline.I did some calculations to make a more accurate map. I left some photos for the calculation. I marked some points on the small Indian map, then I took the ratio of length to breadth of a small map and and used it accordingly to calculated those points on foam board using the ratio then I joined those points and lastly after I got the rough idea of the edges of the map. I drew it with free hand. I made it of size (55*45) centimeters. I kept an extra width of 11cm for adjusting the right side of the map.

Take 2 waste bottles to make the base of the emblem. Now cut the bottle as shown in the picture . Both the base will be semicircles. So, cut the piece of bottle as shown and fill it with paper mache in one half of the bottle vertically, to give it a shape of a semi-cylinder as shown in picture. Although I was not able to take the photos of filling the bottle with the mache but I think the final photos will make it easier for you to understand the shapes of the base for the emblem. After filling it with mache, I left it to dry and become hard. Then after it has become hard, paste it on the background of the map as shown in picture. Then use plaster of paris to make the the lion and the base on it . After you have finished making the emblem let the whole thing dry and get hard for a day.

For painting the map of India I used fabric colors(acrylic paints) . First, I painted the light colours (yellow, orange etc) then, I did the green part and added different shades of green accordingly.
Next, I painted the ocean part using deep blue, light blue and white. Then, I painted the emblem ,I mixed mustard yellow, orange , brown to achieve the color of emblem. Next, I made the Indian flag 🇮🇳 in the middle of map using saffron, white and green color and I made the chakra in between using deep blue. Lastly, I painted the upper background mixing different colors like red, orange, yellow and brown. Then I allowed the map to dry. And the map is ready.
Originally, I wanted to frame it and put it on wall. I will let it dry and get hardened for now.I will frame it later.You can use this method to make different things from paper mache and paint it to use it as a home decor.