Paper Mache Gargole

Gargoyles are awesome. Here's how I made mine from plaster gauze fabric (Paris Wrap) which is a mesh-like gauze fabric coated with plaster of paris. I also used PVC pipe and good ole wire coat hangers for the frame, cold porecline clay for the nose and Sculpy for the teeth. Enjoy!

One of the most important things to have before you start any sculpting project is a reference photo. You'll need one master photo to actual size if possible and other close up photos for specific areas. I also used similar 3D version in Turbo Squid by 3d_olier which helped a lot.

First I start by making the frame from PVC pipe, water bottles and Tape. Light and strong is the key. You can using packing tape or masking tape to hold the frame together.

The 'spine' is made out of sign material traced from a side-view profile picture blown up to actual size. You can use stiff corrugated cardboard as well, or plywood for larger projects. I learned this tip and so much more from Ultimate Paper Mache.

Because there is nothing directly under the head to support it, I made sure I had a strong connection for the horizontal pipe that runs from the back of his shoulders to his nose.

Than I start adding some bulk to the form with scrunched up newspaper and tape. Make sure each area is solid and compact. You don’t wan’t to paper mach over a soft, squishy areas.Ewe.

Than I start adding some bulk to the form with scrunched up newspaper and tape. Make sure each area is solid and compact. You don’t wan’t to paper mach over a soft, squishy areas.Ewe.

Even though the frame wasn't finished, I applied paper mache to the main body to strengthen it up.

There’s all kinds or paper mache recipes you can use. I use paper mache cloth which is like a mesh-fabric with powdered plaster. It's like like paper mache when it’s wet, so all you do is dip it it water. It’s not the cheapest method, but it dries hard, so you only need a single layer.

First I made the basic head shape, then added paper mache, then added the details with tinfoil and masking tape.

I used more PVC pipe for the arms, then and newspaper and masking tape. Here you can see the head already has paper mache.

For this project I was going back and forth a lot between paper mache 'sculpting'. Usually I'll have the entire model finished before I add paper mache, but there were certain areas like the main body that would be hard to get to once the arms were built.

Here I've painted on a layer of Gesso made with wood glue and dry-wall paste (joint compound). Another great tip I learned from Ultimate paper Mache. This adds strength to the sculture and covers up the mesh pattern of the paper mache cloth.

It's grey (Canadian spelling of 'gray'!) because i added some black acrylic paint. It gave it a concrete look, which was what I was after. Again, it would be hard to get at his arms and sides once his legs were in place.

I used home-made cold porcelain clay for the nose. It's yellow because I make it with wood glue, which is stronger than white Elmer's glue. I sculpted the nose it place, let it dry, then glued it on with a glue-gun.