Masks #2 & #3

A friend of mine from Toastmasters needed some masks for his brother's Masquerade 10 year anniversary party.  This made me really excited because that means I work with other people and create something collaboratively, even if it's "I like cats", which was actually kinda something that happened.  Also, there was the added challenge of getting these both done withing a week.  EXCITING!

Part 1 - Get them PLASTERED!

Carefully greasing the face so the plaster doesn't pull it off is important.  I had a bad run in when I had my face plastered.... I had to make a trip to the bar after that.  Lesson learned - SHAVE!

Part 2 - Paper Mache

In the tradition of the Italian Mask Makers, I ordered a special Wool Paper made only in the UK.  VERY interesting texture.  I like it a lot.  Anyway, the binder is actually watered down wood glue.  Very sturdy.

Part 3 - Shaping!!!

The concept: Hawk and Cat.  They compiled some pictures of masks they liked and gave me aspects they appreciated.  For the cat, large eyes and the hawk, something like Batman or a medieval helmet , where the sides hang down toward the jaw.

BREAK!  Let's see how they fit!

Further shaping - additions!

Part 4 - PAINT & RIBBONS!

Some prelims paint jobs.  I'm not 100% on how the hawk mask turned out as far as the paint job goes, but the client was happy and I'm learning to just move on to the next project.  Keep moving forward!  The ribbon for the hawk mask posed a problem.  There wasn't enough space on the forehead to allow for one long ribbon to circle around like on the cat.  My brother Mike helped with an idea of rolling some ribbon up in the paper then distributing the stress differently.  Worked out quite well - he learned it from building rockets.

And now the reveal!

The hawk mask doesn't sit right....but I'm working on solving the problem.  As it is now, as long as he ties the ribbons higher on the head, it actually sits on his face.  Anyway, I'm pleased.  It was a fun project.

Thank you, Jonathan and Liana for the opportunity to make these masks for you and get to know you better.

Mask #1

I sadly don't have any good process pictures for me making this mask, or they're just lost somewhere.  If I find them again I'll edit this post.

I've been wanting to make masks for a long time now and finally did my first one.  I had a Masquerade Waltz to go to.  Without having something clever to write, here's my mask:

Nephew

On a camping trip I sketched my nephew Jayden.  He's pretty good at sitting still and looking INTENSE.  I particularly like how his ear turned out.

Musings of a Child

My oldest brother and sis-in-law were visiting a little while ago and my whole family....all 15 of us....went to the beach.  On the way there, a niece of mine who just turned 3, was sitting next to me in the car and my visiting sis was in the front passenger seat.  We were talking with my niece about what is at the beach and one thing she mentioned was "Ralph Fish".... what?  We found out, via her mother, that she meant "real fish".  Now, we wanted to know what Ralph Fish looked like.  Jo, my niece, started listing off things it didn't have, like fins, wings, teeth and so on until we were running out of EVERYTHING.  We started to ask, "well, does it have tentacles?"  Jo responds with, "I guess it can.....and a BELLY! *giggle*".  I decided to draw a Ralph Fish.

As a Ralph Fish does not have teeth, I suppose it just sucks on things....not successfully.  That is why there are so few to be seen.  This one has latched onto a very disinterested snail.  I showed it to Jo and she said there needs to be a shell.  so I added a cockle shell and Jo exclaimed, "THAT'S IT!  JUST AS I SAW IT!"  

I am pleased.