Cast paper sculpture has been in existence since the 1950’s. It should not be confused with papier-mâché, as the two mediums are completely different .
To create his cast paper sculptures, Allen Eckman first mixes an acid-free paper pulp in the studio hydro-pulper from two raw stocks—cotton and abica. Then the pulp is cast into molds which Allen makes from original clay sculptures. The paper is then pressed under vacuum pressure in the mold where most of the water is extracted at the same time. The drying process is completed by evaporation while the paper is still in the mold. After the dry and hard casts are removed from the molds the exclusive process of chasing cast additions, cast alterations, sculpting in paper and detailing begins.
To create his cast paper sculptures, Allen Eckman first mixes an acid-free paper pulp in the studio hydro-pulper from two raw stocks—cotton and abica. Then the pulp is cast into molds which Allen makes from original clay sculptures. The paper is then pressed under vacuum pressure in the mold where most of the water is extracted at the same time. The drying process is completed by evaporation while the paper is still in the mold. After the dry and hard casts are removed from the molds the exclusive process of chasing cast additions, cast alterations, sculpting in paper and detailing begins.
