My Journey with Paper Pulp
After years of working digitally as a 2D matte painter on films like Star Wars and Star Trek, and running my poster shop HiPosterShop, I found myself craving something more tactile, more immediate. That's when I discovered paper pulp. A medium that allows me to work with my hands and create.
Now, through my new venture at lisaketty.com, I focus exclusively on handmade sculptural art using two primary mediums: paper pulp for sculptures and masks, and cardboard for framed relief artworks. Both materials share a common thread! they're sustainable, affordable, and deeply connected to the everyday materials that surround us.
Fresh paper pulp sculpture — notice the organic texture and malleable consistency
What is Paper Pulp?
Paper pulp is a sculptural medium made from paper fibers that have been broken down, mixed with water and adhesive, and formed into a moldable paste. Unlike papier-mâché strips, paper pulp has a consistency similar to clay, allowing you to build up forms, carve details, and create complex textures.
After about 3-4 hours in the oven, paper pulp becomes remarkably strong and lightweight. It can be sanded, painted, sealed, or left in its natural state to showcase the beautiful fiber textures. The surface has an organic quality that's impossible to replicate with other materials — those subtle irregularities and paper fibers create visual depth and character.
Paper pulp mask showing intricate surface details and natural texture
Paper Pulp vs. Cardboard Art: Two Mediums, One Vision
In my practice, I work with both paper pulp and cardboard, each offering unique creative possibilities:
📦 Paper Pulp Sculptures
Best for: Three-dimensional forms, masks, sculptural reliefs, organic shapes
Characteristics: Moldable like clay, builds up in layers, creates soft textured surfaces, fully sculptural
Examples: Expressive masks, geometric sculptures, figure studies, relief panels
📐 Cardboard Art
Best for: Framed artwork, architectural compositions, geometric designs, flat reliefs
Characteristics: Structured layers, clean edges, dimensional depth through stacking, graphic quality
Examples: Color block compositions, minimal geometric forms, totem designs
Paper Pulp: "The Mask" sculpture
Cardboard Art: "Color Block Totem" framed piece
Creating Paper Pulp: The Complete Process
Materials You'll Need
- Paper source: Cardboard boxes (my favorite!), egg cartons, newspaper, or any uncoated paper. Avoid glossy or plastic-coated materials
- Water: For soaking and breaking down fibers
- Adhesive: White glue (PVA) or wallpaper paste — this is crucial for strength
- Blender or food processor: Makes the process much easier (dedicated to craft use only!)
- Large bucket or container: For soaking paper overnight
- Strainer or cheesecloth: To remove excess water
- Mixing bowl: For combining pulp with adhesive
- Sculpting tools: Your hands are the best tool, plus optional clay tools for details
- Base structure: Wire armature, cardboard forms, or molds depending on your project
Step-by-Step Instructions
- Prepare Your Paper : Tear cardboard or paper into small pieces, roughly 1-2 cm. Place them in a large bucket and completely cover with warm water, ( I add a tiny drop of soap in the water). Let this soak for at least 1-3 hours — or even more for thick cardboard. Check the paper and if its soft enough, use it. The longer it soaks, the easier it breaks down.
- Blend the Pulp : Drain most of the soaking water, but keep the paper wet. Working in small batches, add soaked paper to your blender with fresh water (about 1 part paper to 3 parts water). Blend until you achieve a smooth, porridge-like consistency with no large chunks. This is where the magic happens — watching those paper pieces transform into workable pulp is incredibly satisfying.
- Remove Excess Water: Pour your blended pulp through a strainer or squeeze it through cheesecloth. You want it damp but not dripping — think of the consistency of thick oatmeal or mashed potatoes. If it's too wet, your sculpture will take forever to dry and may crack. Too dry, and it won't hold together.
- Add Adhesive: Transfer your strained pulp to a mixing bowl. Add white glue at approximately a 1:3 ratio (one part glue to three parts pulp by volume). Mix thoroughly with your hands until completely combined. The glue is what gives your sculpture strength and prevents cracking as it dries. Don't skimp on this step!
- Begin Sculpting: Your paper pulp is now ready to use! Work it like clay, building up forms gradually. Apply it to armatures, press it into molds, or shape it freehand. The beauty of paper pulp is its forgiveness — you can keep adding, smoothing, and refining as you work.
What I Wish I’d Known Starting Out
- Choose clean materials: (especially no food residue!) Trust me, even a little can make your pulp smell terrible as it dries!
- Smooth is better: The smoother the paper, the finer your pulp will be. If you want a soft, clay-like sculpture, avoid heavily textured or highly printed papers.
- Customize your clay: Want pure white pulp? Only use white paper. Once your basic clay is mixed, feel free to add small bits of colored paper, dried flowers, or herbs for beautiful, unique effects.
Close-up showing the beautiful texture and dimensional quality of paper pulp when its wet.
Then after it has dried up it looks like this.
(I have already started the painting here, using linoleum paint) 
Sculpting Techniques for Paper Pulp
Paper pulp is wonderfully versatile. You can create anything from delicate masks to bold geometric forms. Here are the techniques I use most often in my work:
Building on Armatures
For three-dimensional sculptures, I start with a basic armature — this could be crumpled newspaper, wire mesh shaped to form, or cardboard structures. The armature provides support and reduces the amount of pulp needed (which means faster drying time). Apply your pulp in layers, pressing it firmly onto the base structure. I usually work in 1-2 layers, allowing each to partially dry before adding the next. Make sure the pulp thickness is 1 - 2 cm thick, otherwise it will bend, but you can easily flatten it with something heavy on top of it such as books or whatever.
Creating Masks and Reliefs
Masks are one of my favorite forms to explore with paper pulp. You can sculpt directly into the pulp shaping like clay. Build up features like noses, cheekbones, and brows by adding extra pulp and shaping with your fingers or tools.
Surface Textures and Details
This is where paper pulp really shines. The natural fiber texture is beautiful on its own, but you can also:
- Press objects into wet pulp to create impressions (stamps, leaves, flowers)
- Carve patterns into partially dried pulp with sculpting tools
- Smooth areas with wet fingers or sponges for contrast
- Build up dimensional elements by adding fresh pulp to dried areas
- Create geometric patterns by scoring lines while the pulp is firm but not fully dry, I usually do that when its wet.
Various paper pulp sculptures showing different textures and finishing techniques
Drying Time — Be Patient (Or Use Heat!)
This is perhaps the hardest part: waiting. Paper pulp sculptures typically take 3-7 days to dry completely when air-dried, depending on thickness, humidity, and air circulation. Thin areas dry first, while thick sections take longer.
Honestly? I don't like waiting that long. So I use my oven to speed things up — it takes around 3 hours instead of days.
If you try this method, be very careful: heat to a maximum of 70°C (160°F) using the fan/convection setting. Keep the temperature low and check your piece regularly. Too much heat can cause warping or cracking, so patience is still required, just less of it! Rotate your sculpture occasionally for even drying.
Finishing Your Paper Pulp Artwork
Once your sculpture is completely dry (test by checking if cool spots remain — those areas are still damp inside), you can begin finishing. Here's my approach:
Surface Preparation
Gently sand any rough edges if desired, though I often embrace the organic, irregular surfaces. If you want a smoother finish, apply a thin layer of gesso (primer) and sand lightly between coats. For a more raw, textured look, skip the gesso entirely.
Painting and Color
I use acrylic paints for their versatility and quick drying time. You can paint directly onto the dried pulp, or prime it first for more vibrant colors. I'm drawn to earthy, warm palettes — ochres, burnt siennas, deep blues, and natural browns. These colors complement the organic nature of the material and create that aged, timeless quality I love.
Build up color in thin layers for depth. The natural texture of paper pulp shows through the paint beautifully, adding visual interest. You can also leave some areas unpainted to showcase the raw material.
Sealing and Protection
Always seal your finished piece with varnish — matte, satin, or gloss depending on your preference. This protects the paint, strengthens the sculpture, and makes it slightly water-resistant. Apply 2-3 thin coats, allowing each to dry completely. Sealed paper pulp sculptures are surprisingly durable and can last for many years.
Finished paper pulp sculptures showing various painting and finishing techniques
Why Paper Pulp?
After years of digital work and graphic design, working with paper pulp has reconnected me with the pure joy of making. There's something profoundly satisfying about transforming discarded materials — cardboard boxes that would otherwise be recycled — into original art with soul and presence.
Paper pulp is meditation in physical form. The process demands patience: soaking, waiting, blending, sculpting, more waiting while it dries. But within that patience is where creativity flourishes. You learn to work with the material rather than forcing it. You discover happy accidents that become defining features. You embrace imperfection as character.
It's also incredibly sustainable. I use packaging materials, waste cardboard, old papers — things that have already served their first purpose. Giving them a second life as art feels meaningful, especially in our world of overconsumption and waste.
Starting Your Paper Pulp Journey
If you're feeling inspired to try paper pulp art yourself, start simple. Make a small relief tile or create a basic mask form. Don't worry about creating a masterpiece — focus on understanding how the material behaves, how it dries, how it responds to your touch.
Save your cardboard boxes for a week and you'll have plenty of material to experiment with. The beautiful thing about paper pulp is that mistakes aren't permanent — you can always add more material, smooth areas out, or build on top of what you've made.
Through my work at lisaketty.com, I explore both paper pulp sculptures and cardboard relief art, each piece handmade in my Danish studio and carefully packaged by me. Every sculpture is an original — no two are exactly alike. That's the beauty of working with these organic, unpredictable materials.
Whether you're an experienced artist exploring new mediums or someone who's never sculpted before, paper pulp welcomes you. Gather your materials, embrace the process, and see what emerges from your hands.
Happy creating!
