Papier-Mache

Oh dear,oh dear! I’m not naming names but another member of the RWS, and an article in Elle Decoration has inspired Mr P. to get into papier-mache. I Googled ‘How to make P-M’ and running my eyes down the list of things you need saw PATIENCE. This is not something Mr P has, but even I know this is an essential having spent about a years worth of art lessons in 1956 making a tray out of P-M. I just wanted to paint and decorate it – the fun bit – but Mrs Wilson, the art teacher insisted we had a faintly firm base for this. After weeks and weeks, my tray was about as substantial as a paper plate, and eventually I did get to paint it green with powder paint (rubbish paint, you could see the newsprint through it). Two buckets, lots of torn up paper, a saucepan full of wallpaper size and a table full of pulp – watch out for the next stage (there may not be one) so don’t hold your breath.