https://www.cutoutandkeep.net/projects/daruma-doll • Posted by
In Japan Daruma dolls are seen as a symbol of perseverance and good luck. Daruma dolls are also used as motivation and to bring good luck in achieving your goals. Set a goal or make a wish and draw on its first eye. Then once it comes true add the other eye to your Daruma doll!
In Japan Daruma dolls are seen as a symbol of perseverance and good luck. Daruma dolls are also used as motivation and to bring good luck in achieving your goals. Set a goal or make a wish and draw on its first eye. Then once it comes true add the other eye to your Daruma doll!
First thing you need to do is prepare the shape you will be sculpting your papier maché around. Using a small balloon is probably the simplest way. I didn't have a balloon so I tried two other ways:
a) For this one I used a couple of newspaper pages, a metal lid and a plastic bag. Make a ball from crumbled newspaper, stuff into plastic bag, tie a knot/ twist bag. Use the empty part of bag to stuff with both lid and ball. Twist and tape down end of bag. Cut off excess bag.
b) For this one I used an orange instead of newspaper and a small plastic cup. This gave me a more oval shape which is more to my liking for this project.
Tear newspaper into strips app. 2 cm wide and a length that makes them easy to work with later. NB! Tear, don't cut. Using scissors for this will make the strips less shapeable.
Mix paste using app. 1/3 each of flour, craft glue and water. Don't make too much. Kept in a closed container in the fridge it will last 3-5 days.
Use a brush or your fingers to apply a generous amount of paste to strips as you cover up your mould. Leave the bottom open! NB! Strips shouldn't be dripping so it's good to squeese out excess paste before attaching them.
When the first layer is finished wait for it to dry before adding the next one. Add as many layers as you see fit to make a sturdy doll.
After 3-4 layers I decided to remove the fillings so that it would dry better (and because I tend to get impatient). The newspaper ball one I was able to remove the filling from the hole left open in the bottom.
The other one (right one in picture) I cut open at the widest point using a scalpel. I then glued the cut shape together using craft glue, and after a while applied paste and newspaper carefully to cover the cut.
Cover the bottom hole using thin strips of newspaper. A couple of layers is enough.
If your work has a very uneven surface you may use small pieces of newspaper to build it up further where needed. When it's dry you can carefully use fine sandpaper to make it more even.
Ready for the paint job? Of course you can choose your own colors, and get as creative as you want to. Mine are very traditional, dressed in a red robe with eyebrows in the shape of cranes and facial hair to resemble tortoiseshells. Remember though: First paint it all white for a base. I added my friend's and my name in katakana. Since my Japanese is a little rusty I used this online translator for help: http://japanesetranslator.co.uk/your-name-in-japanese/
Set a goal or make a wish and draw on its first eye. Then once it comes true add the other eye to your Daruma doll!