Papier-Mache Monsters: Turn Trinkets and Trash into Magnificent Monstrosities [Paperback]

Dan Reeder (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 1, 2009

Celebrated monster-making master Dan Reeder is at it again-helping others to let out their inner monsters! All that's needed are a few simple materials and a wild imagination. Reeder guarantees success if the tried-and-tested, goof-proof how-to steps in this humorous read are followed. But there's more-he's also giving away all of his secrets for creating ghoulish monster elements such as jaws, claws, horns, scales, webbing, tentacles, eyeballs, fingers, toes, gnarly hands and feet, and drool-yes-perfect DROOL!

Dan Reeder has been building papier- and cloth mâché monsters for more than three decades. He is the author of The Simple Screamer: A Guide to the Art of Papier and Cloth Mâché, and Make Something Ugly for a Change: The Definitive Guide to Papier and Cloth Mâché. He lives in Seattle, Washington.

Learn more secrets at papermachemonsters.com.
Step-by-step instructions for creating papier-mâché monstrosities
(20091019)

Editorial Reviews

Review

For lovers of the truly grotesque, Reeder (Make Something Ugly for a Change) provides detailed photo instructions for large figures constructed of clothes hangers, newspaper, and glue. Cloth skin, teeth, and slathered-on paint finish them off. The toothy dragons are particularly effective.

(Roy Futterman, Advertising Director School Library Journal/ Library Journal )

I first met Dan Reeder over twenty-five years ago, while strolling through an art fair in our shared hometown. I was, I remember, bored out of my mind and heading back to my car, when I suddenly caught a glimpse of something out ahead of me, hanging high in an artist's booth. My adrenalin started flowing. Boredom had morphed into pure desire. I could have knocked someone down as I made my way toward the object of my instant affection, and when I finally stood almost directly under it, I found myself gazing up at a large ochre-colored, multi-fanged, drool-festooned, wall-eyed dragon. Be still my heart. And as I looked around the booth, I saw other humorous-but-also-edgy-looking beasts. I had entered the world of Dan Reeder, and I suppose, looking back on it now, it was inevitable that we would quickly become good friends. (I think Dan and I make each other feel normal.)

Fast-forwarding to the present time, I initially thought Dan was a little crazy for writing a how-to book that reveals all his secrets on how to make such unique creatures from such un-unique materials. (Personally, I would never show anyone how to draw a cow-the udders alone took me years to master.) But he assured me he really wanted to do this. I guess it's the teacher in him. And, in truth, I'm not one to argue that the world doesn't need more monsters, be they made of papier and/or cloth maché, as demonstrated in Dan's entertaining new book, or flesh and blood, as demonstrated by the one standing behind you right now.

(P.S. Yes, I bought the dragon.)

(Gary Larson, Farside Creator Farside )

From the Back Cover

Celebrated monster-making master Dan Reeder is at it again in Papier-Mâché Monsters, helping you create cool monsters from just a few simple materials and goof-proof steps for guaranteed success. Plus, there's more-you'll have access to all of Reeder's secrets for creating must-have monster elements, such as jaws, claws, horns, scales, webbing, tentacles, eyeballs, fingers, toes, gnarly hands and feet, and even perfect DROOL! Learn how to make a basic monster and you'll be well on your way to creating more hideous creatures, beasts, dragons, and whatever else your dark side can think of!

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Product Details

• Paperback: 96 pages
• Publisher: Gibbs Smith (September 1, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1423605551
• ISBN-13: 978-1423605553
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 7.9 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (22 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #37,965 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

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I love this book!, August 12, 2009

By 

ArtFaerie "artfaerie" (El Dorado Hills, CA) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: Papier-Mache Monsters: Turn Trinkets and Trash into Magnificent Monstrosities (Paperback)

I love this book. I have been a big fan of The Simple Screamer & Make Something Ugly For a Change and this book is even better. What I love about this and all Dan Reeder's books is that they teach you simple methods for making large sculptures that are almost fool proof. Even if you are not interested in making monsters you can use his methods to help you figure out how to create almost anything you desire.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Devilishly Good Fun, October 16, 2009

By 

Stephen C. Lott (Pensacola, FL USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Papier-Mache Monsters: Turn Trinkets and Trash into Magnificent Monstrosities (Paperback)

What a wonderful book. Even if you have no intention of creating in paper-mache, I would recommend this book for it's wit and charm. Dan is clearly a man who has no interest in growing up and who delights in sharing his messy fun with others. His philosphy that making monsters is a great way to start for kids, because no one can say "you did it wrong", also reflects his undertanding of children and his great heart.

From a practical standpoint, this book also is full of information and techniques outside the normal field of knowledge about paper-mache, in other words he shares a lot of really cool tricks to making wonderful monsters.

So you will have fun from the moment you open the book until you put the finishing touches our your creation.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great book, February 16, 2010

By 

Deborah Amos (WV) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Papier-Mache Monsters: Turn Trinkets and Trash into Magnificent Monstrosities (Paperback)

This was a great book. There are lots of pictures to follow the tutorials and the author has contact info if you get stuck. I made the monster and the dragon head project so far. I have never papier-mached before and I think both my projects turned out pretty good! Be warned, the projects were time consuming and I had my dining room a mess for about a week on each project. VERY MESSY! When I first started the papier-mache part, I thought - ick! When I began to do the glue part - triple ick! The glue wants to dry on your hands like in kindergarten but you still have tons of dipping to do. You have to stop every so often to get the layers of dried glue off and start again. My only negative is there was a few of his things pictured that I would have liked to tried but were not in the tutorials, maybe next book. Great book for teens or kids with some patience! By the time I finished my first project, my little ones did not want to put that kind of time into it.