Instagram story viewer> @studiomary.k> Posts

Studio Mary • Paper Mache

@studiomary.k

115.2K

followers

67

following

Slow, handmade sculpture for the home 🤍
Paper mache is my material, not my limit
Learn my process: free guide ↓

POSTS STORIES REELS

Lately, I’ve been thinking about how much having even one creative skill, something you can do with your own hands, can bring into your life.
Whenever I’m sad, I go to my studio and start creating.
When I need a little excitement, I create.
When I want to have fun, I create.
When I’m happy, I create.
Even when I feel lonely, I create.
There’s something about working with my hands, touching the paper mache clay, shaping it, and watching something take form that gives me a kind of satisfaction and energy boost I can’t really explain.
It’s my little escape, my happy place, and sometimes exactly what I need.
And that’s one of the biggest reasons why teaching means so much to me.
I don’t just want to teach you how to make beautiful things. I want you to experience that same joy of creating something with your own hands.
If you’ve been wanting to explore your creative side and learn paper mache art, my Masterclass is a great place to start. I walk you through the entire process, step by step, so you can create your own pieces with confidence.

Come create with me. 🤍

Link in bio or visit studiomary.co to join my Masterclass. by @studiomary.k

I don’t usually make big claims about my work, but when it comes to my Paper Mache Masterclass, I’ll proudly stand behind it.
Because I don’t just teach you how to make a few bowls or vases. I teach you how to understand shapes and molds, work with your materials, and turn your own ideas into something real.
I’m always experimenting, trying new things, and finding new ways to work with paper mache. And when I discover something worth sharing, I add it to the course so you can learn from my experience, too.
This fabric and paper mache technique is one of those experiments, and I’ve added it to the Masterclass along with several examples to help you explore what’s possible.
And you’re not left on your own after watching the lessons. You can ask me questions, get help when you run into problems, and receive support directly from me.
My goal isn’t just to teach you what to make. It’s to help you understand how to make what YOU imagine.
If that’s the kind of learning you’re looking for, you can find all the details about my Paper Mache Masterclass at the link in my bio or at studiomary.co 🤍 by @studiomary.k

“But Mary, don’t you always say we shouldn’t mix different types of paper?”
You’re right, I usually don’t. But sometimes, I make exceptions.
This time, I mixed unwanted notebook paper with paper bags because I don’t love the texture of notebook paper pulp on its own.
The trick? Knowing which papers work well together, how much of each to use, and how to adjust the ingredients.
I’d never mix cardboard with thin notebook paper. Their thicknesses are too different. Paper bags and notebook paper are a closer match.
And that kind of judgment comes with practice. The more you work with different papers, the better you get at knowing what your pulp needs.
Want to learn about different types of paper and how they behave?
Comment PAPER and I’ll send you the link! by @studiomary.k

I’ve spent a lot of time showing people what paper mache is truly capable of, and I think we’ve come a long way.

Today, I have students from all over the world learning this art through my masterclass. And every time someone shares their work with me, I honestly can’t describe how happy it makes me.

Seeing what they create makes me proud of them, but it also reminds me why I started teaching in the first place.

Because paper mache is capable of so much more than most people imagine. And I want you to see that for yourself.

If you want to learn how to create your own sculptural pieces, from anywhere in the world, you can find my masterclass through the link in my bio or at studiomary.co. ✨ by @studiomary.k

What I love about paper mache? You can turn simple materials into something completely your own.

No kiln, no expensive equipment, just your hands, a little creativity, and endless possibilities for shapes and textures.

You don’t have to figure it all out on your own.
In my Paper Mache Masterclass, I teach you how to create sculptural pieces, experiment with textures, and turn your ideas into something you’re proud of.

Ready to give it a try?

Explore the Masterclass through the link in my bio or visit studiomary.co

#papermache #sculpturalart #handmadehome #texturedart #papermacheart by @studiomary.k

It looks like stone, but it’s paper.
This is Hollow, a paper mache bowl from my It Just Happened series.
A collection shaped by my emotions, where feelings found their form and became something tangible.
One of a kind, because you can’t repeat the exact same emotion twice.
When a piece finds its home, it’s gone. It can never be recreated, only remembered.
If you’d like to give Hollow a home, you can find it at studiomary.co (link in bio) ✨ by @studiomary.k

Paper you’d probably throw away.
A piece of fabric you love.
Two very different materials, coming together in one piece.
You’re watching it happen in under a minute, but this piece took months to feel finished. Not months of working on it. Sometimes, a piece just needs time before you know what it needs next.
And there’s more to combining these materials than simply gluing fabric onto a surface.

How do you keep the fabric’s color true? How do you make the two textures work together? And how do you make sure the finish holds up over time?

That’s what I cover in the Masterclass lesson, step by step, including the reasoning behind each decision.
Because I don’t just want you to follow my steps. I want you to understand your materials well enough to make your own creative decisions.

Already in the Masterclass? This lesson is waiting for you, free, just like every update.

Curious about what’s inside? Explore the Masterclass through the link in my bio or at studiomary.co 🤍 by @studiomary.k

If you feel like you have no ideas, stop looking only at art.

Look at nature. Really look at it.
Look at a butterfly’s wings. Notice the patterns, the tiny details, the colors, and how everything comes together.
Look closely at a dress you love. The texture, the folds, the way the fabric moves.

Pay attention to the objects around you. Look closer. Ask questions. Notice things you’ve never noticed before.

Think like a child seeing something for the first time. Curious, observant, and full of questions.

Inspiration doesn’t only come from other artists. Sometimes, it comes from simply paying attention to the world around you.

And when you’re ready to turn your ideas into something tangible, learning the right techniques is what helps bring them to life.

Want to create your own sculptural paper mache pieces? My Paper Mache Masterclass walks you through the process, step by step.

Explore the Masterclass through the link in my bio or visit studiomary.co by @studiomary.k

I have nothing to say today. Just wanted to share these. 🤍
Which version is your favorite?

#papermache #paperart #home #homedecor #vas by @studiomary.k

Not everyone is going to understand your vision.

Some people will call you too dreamy.
Too optimistic.
Maybe even unrealistic.

That’s okay.

Just make sure you’re not blindly chasing a dream. Look at the path carefully. Consider the risks, the hard parts, the things that could go wrong and then, if you still believe in it, trust yourself enough to keep going.

You don’t have to get there quickly.
You just have to keep moving.

And sometimes, the people who think you’re “too optimistic” simply can’t see what you see yet.

Believe in your vision.
Do the work.
Stay patient.

You might surprise yourself with how far you can go. 🤍

If you’re building something that people around you don’t fully understand yet, keep going. Save this for the days you need the reminder. by @studiomary.k

This new collection has become one of the longest creative processes I’ve ever worked on.

And somehow, along the way, it started becoming me.

A collection of colors, textures, shapes, and little details that feel like they came straight from the things I love most.

The combination of fabric and paper mache wasn’t really something I planned from the beginning. It came from a feeling and once I started experimenting with it, everything just clicked.

The fabric brought something completely new to my sculptures. It added softness, character, and a kind of beauty I didn’t even know I was looking for.

These pieces aren’t finished yet, but they already hold such a special place in my heart.

I think this collection is becoming a little piece of me.

What part of this piece caught your eye first. The shape, the texture, or the fabric? by @studiomary.k

If your paper mache smells bad, the paper itself usually isn’t the problem.

The bigger issue is moisture.

When paper mache stays damp for too long, especially inside thick layers, you create the conditions for microbial growth. A persistent musty smell can be a sign of that. And if you’re using a flour based paste, the paste itself can also start to spoil and develop a sour smell.

These are some of the most common reasons I see:

• Layers that are too thick
• Adding a new layer before the previous one is completely dry
• Not enough airflow while drying
• Working in a very humid environment
• Painting or sealing before the inside is fully dry
• Using a paste that has started to spoil

And this is why I don’t believe there’s one “magic ingredient” that fixes paper mache.

The real solution is controlling moisture throughout the entire process.

A recipe can tell you what to mix.

But it doesn’t necessarily teach you how to troubleshoot the material when something goes wrong.

Save this for your next paper mache project 🤍

That’s also one of the things I focus on in my Paper Mache Masterclass. Not just the recipe, but the process: materials, consistency, building, shaping, texture, drying, and finishing.

If you want to learn my complete process for creating sculptural paper mache pieces, you can find the Masterclass through the link in my bio or visit studiomary.co

Now I’m curious…
Has one of your paper mache pieces ever smelled REALLY bad?
What did it smell like? by @studiomary.k