Make Something Ugly...for a Change!: The Definitive Guide to Papier/Cloth Mache [Paperback]

Dan Reeder (Author)

Product Details

• Paperback: 80 pages
• Publisher: Gibbs Smith Publishers (August 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0879059079
• ISBN-13: 978-0879059071
• Product Dimensions: 10.5 x 8.1 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,777,959 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

I am an artist living in Seattle, Washington. I have been making monsters for many years. I created my first monster while teaching fifth grade in 1972. I insisted that my students make monsters because it guaranteed their success. After all, who would know if that horn or hump was in the wrong place? Because monsters were easier to paint with mouths open, they all looked to be screaming. Hence the "Screamer" was born. Over the years I developed my own variation of traditional paper mache. I also invented the process I call "cloth mache" which involves adding a "skin" of cloth dipped into white glue. I like to think that my first book, "The Simple Screamer: A Guide to the Art of Papier and Cloth Mache" (1984,Gibbs Smith Publishers) and the sequel, "Make Something Ugly for a Change: The Definitive Guide to Papier and Cloth Mache" contributed to a small renaissance of paper mache art. It is an amazing art form. I can think of no other medium that lends itself so well to large sculpture or that accommodates so well the novice and professional artist alike. I'm very excited to announce the arrival of my latest book, "Papier Mache Monsters: Turning Trinkets and Trash into Magnificent Monstrocities" (Gibbs Smith Publishers). This is my most comprehensive book yet. Fully illustrated (more than 350 illustrations) and easy to follow, this book gives away every secret I know about monster making. I must warn you in advance, the writing is a bit on the strange, irreverent side, but appropriate for most literate adults and semi-mature kids (ie. You must be at least 6 years old to understand the humor, at least 19 years old to be offended.) Do this art! It will change your life.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Madness, as with charity, starts in the home., January 20, 2002

By 

Necron2.0 (Phoenix, AZ USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Make Something Ugly...for a Change!: The Definitive Guide to Papier/Cloth Mache (Paperback)

This is a great book. I wasn't quite as fond of it as I was with "A simple screamer", but the information in it is golden. This book expands on the lessons of Mr. Reeder's first, showing methods for making smaller screamers, how to make fins and scales, plus listing some interesting and unusual projects with interesting alternatives for materials. As an added bonus, the book also shows how to impress upon your children a wealth of experiences for their future psychological counseling sessions.

Having taken both of Mr. Reeder's books to heart, I am reminded of the first words my mother ever spoke to my wife (my girlfriend, at the time). She said, "By now, you've certainly noticed that my son is ... unique." I can see from this book and Mr. Reeder's previous one, that he is a man after my own heart.

Be that as it may, it's still a great book for rainy day and class projects. I highly recommend it.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Screamers taken even further!!!!!!!!!, August 19, 1999

By 

[e-mail] (Grand Junction, Colorado) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Make Something Ugly...for a Change!: The Definitive Guide to Papier/Cloth Mache (Paperback)

This book offers more details.The instructions are easy to follow. It gives great ideas for wonderful creatures. I teach Middle School Art and can't wait to share this book with my students! It's great!

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Kids love to make something ugly, February 8, 2007

By 

L. J. Moucha "L. M. Davis" (Illinois, USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Make Something Ugly...for a Change!: The Definitive Guide to Papier/Cloth Mache (Paperback)

I have been teaching K-12 art for 30 years. During those years we art teachers sometimes get into a rut of doing the same projects over and over. My students love paper mache, but I was simply bored to tears. I first came across Dan Reeder's "Screamers" book on paper mache. My students loved the idea. Then he published this nifty book and took Screamers to another level of fun, silliness and grossness. The photo step-by-step process is easy to follow and the finished examples are a sheer pleasure. So often students become frustrated at their inability to make something realistic and beautiful. Now my students can hardly wait until they are old enough to make the critters and ugly creatures! Let there be ugliness!!