I taped on a paper mache ball for the head. This is the approximate size. I'll make many adjustments. Speaking of adjustments, when I got the head on him, I realized that the belly was not big enough (for a proper "Laughing Buddha"). At this point I didn't have time to make another giant paper mache ball for another belly. I thought of a rather clever way to remedy this situation (if I may say so myself). First, I cut the Buddha in half just above the belly.
Then, when I set the top half of the body back on, I set it back about 6 inches. It's hard but you can see this in this photo (below, on the left). I then cut up smaller, extra, paper mache balls to create the round upper portion of the belly. I used some of the same paper mache shells to make a smooth transition from the back to the butt (yes, Buddhas have butts).
Time to make the jaws. Since this Buddha will be smiling, I wasn't sure how many teeth would be showing. So I made a proper set of teeth just in case. As usual, I cut open a smaller paper mache ball and used the half shells for the jaws. I hot glued the teeth onto the shells first. Then I wrapped the teeth with my cloth mache.
I painted the jaws a pretty pink and blackwashed them. I forgot to mention that I also made a tongue. I did this when I made the fingers and toes since a tongue is just two fingers put together with cloth over them both. I cut a hole in the head.
I pushed the jaws into the face. Note that I also added Buddha breasts (yes, Buddhas have breasts). Once again, I just cut a small paper mache ball in half and used the shells for those.
Have to stop here. Will be back soon. Thanks for stopping by.
As an aside, I wonder which is worse, the heat wave across 95% of the US, or the pouring rain in Seattle in the middle of July? Not much of a summer here.
