Masks Copyright © 2005 Zart Art
Mask Making
Start with a general discussion on the use of masks in our society, their uses in times past and their place in other cultures.
Look at types of masks we use today; discuss their function, shape and decoration, and the materials from which they are made, who wears them – include masks worn for sleep, health & safety, beauty, identification, criminal activities, as well as in the theatre, festivals, celebrations. Collate samples and pictures of these masks for a display. Discuss the power of masks in films such as ‘The Man With the Iron Mask’ and ‘The Phantom of the Opera’.
Each mask takes on its own meaning in its historical, social, cultural or religious context. Research the past and present day masks of Japan, China, Indonesia, Native America, Egypt and Africa. Research types of masks, the occasions for which they are worn, the materials from which they are made, why they are worn, who wears them – include masks worn in the theatre, for rites and rituals, festivals, celebrations. Collect articles and pictures of past and present masks, famous mask artists and masks treasures. Use this display as a point of reference.
Discuss how some are full-face masks, some half face; whether they fit tightly or are huge; how some are of creatures and others of people; note the variety of expression or lack of it. Look closely at the decoration– shapes, lines, textures and patterns. Discuss what materials were used. Which decorative techniques have been most effective? What art elements and principles of art have combined to produce a ‘good’ effect? Discuss the shapes and symmetry of masks.
Add a collection of pictures of faces (including animal faces) to your display. Analyse them along with the mask pictures before brainstorming and making a visual chart of eye, nose, mouth, and ear shapes. Look at how the direction of a line or its length can completely alter the expression of a face. List the various expressions the faces depict, eg. anger, fright, sadness, delight and awe.
Materials
Cartridge Paper A3
Cover Paper Black 38 x 51 cm
Oil Pastels
Raffia
One Hole Punch
Stapler
PVA
1. Use a black Oil pastel to practise a variety of interesting lines on white paper. Eg. Zig zag, spiral, parallel, scalloped etc. Draw dots and dashes to make lines, to make patterns, to simulate texture. On another sheet play with colour from Oil Pastels eg. contrast, clashing, overlapping, smudging, outlined, striped, etc.
2. On an A3 sheet of Cartridge Paper, draw an outline of a face as large as can fit on the sheet. Colour the outline in a bright coloured border.
3. Colour the eyeballs in a strong black line and create shapes and line patterns on the face by adding lines to join the eyes to the eyebrows. Enclose the eyes/eyebrows in one shape- match this with the other eye.
4. Connect the eye outline shape to the face outline with interesting lines. Run parallel lines around the nose shape and add nostrils. Connect the mouth and nose with lines.
5. Decorate the forehead and cheeks with patterns. Build up a colourful face by adding strong colours to the shapes and spaces.
6. Cut out the face outline.
7. Mount the mask on black Cover Paper leaving a 2 cm margin of the black for the hair.
8. Make two slits in the top and bottom of the mask, overlap and staple these darts to create a 3D shape.
9. Use a hole punch to punch out a row of holes across the top of the mask. Tie or staple lengths of Raffia or wool to create hair.
Materials
Jo Sonja Paint
Metallic Tinsel Stems
Glitter Pom Poms
Jewels
Sequins in a Jar Diamonds
Sequins Hologram
Curling Ribbon
Metallic Curling Ribbon
Polymark Paint Pen
Liquid Glitter
Cellophane Shimmer
1. Divide the Butterfly Mask up into different shapes and colour each one with Jo Sonja Paint. Keep the colours symmetrical and set aside to dry.
2. Decorate each shape with Sequins, Jewels and Polymark Paint pens.
3. Wind the Curling Ribbon around the stick and tie some curls to the top of the stick.
4. Add Glitter Pom Poms for the eyes and Tinsel Stems for the feelers.
5. Cover the eyeholes with Cellophane Shimmer.
Materials
Shield Mask
Liquitemp Copper
Chromatemp Black
Hologram Sequins
Polymark Iridescent Copper
Tissue Paper Metallic
Metallic Pattern Paper
Defraction Paper
Glass Mirror Tiles
PVA
Florist Wire Fine
Aluminium Foil/Metallic
Twist Rope
Hot Melt Glue Gun
1. Paint the Shield Mask a base colour such as copper and set aside to dry.
2. Use black paint or a marker to outline the eyes, nose, mouth and ears.
3. Glue on Sequins, small squares of Metallic Tissue, Defraction paper and Pattern Paper to add colour to the mask.
4. Glue a row of Mirror Tiles above each eye.
5. Twist Florist Wire around four lengths of Twist Rope or Aluminium Foil. Tie the lengths together at their mid point and glue them on to the mask with the Hot Melt Glue Gun. Bend each length to represent whiskers
Materials
Zart Paper Magiclay
Half Face Mask Papier Mache
Feathers
Vipond Paint Black
Arbee Craft Glue
Posca Marker
Chromacryl Paint
1. Design a pattern for the mask on paper using lines to create a symmetrical decoration.
2. Paint the Papier Mache Mask black using Vipond Paint or Chromacryl and set aside to dry.
3. Create lines of colour using Paper Magiclay by rolling out thin sausage-like coils.
4. Colour the coils with Posca Markers or Chromacryl Paint.
5. Glue the thin coils of Paper Magiclay on to the painted mask to create a symmetrical pattern on the face of the mask.
6. Add texture to the lines by pressing a tool into the soft Paper Magiclay.
7. Add other decorations to the mask such as feathers and shapes made from Paper Magiclay.
Carnival Mask – Eye mask on a stick
Material
Eye Mask on Stick
Crepe Rainbow Metallic
Mosaic Squares Metallic
Glitter
Supertac/PVA
Curling ribbon
Liquitemp Gold
1. Paint the mask a base colour such as gold and set aside to dry.
2. Glue glitter around the eyes and mosaic squares around the face of the mask. Create patterns with the coloured mosaic squares.
3. Gather a length of Crepe Rainbow along one long edge and glue to the back of the mask.
4. Wind a length of Curling Ribbon around the stick to cover it in colour.
5. Curl other lengths of Curling Ribbon and glue these to the top of the stick.
Primitive Mask
Materials
PVA
Sand
Liquid Glitter
Chromacryl Paint
Feathers
Jute
Raffia
Creative Bead Box Gold & Silver
Arbee Craft Glue
1. Paint the Papier Mache Primitive Mask with PVA and cover with sand. Shake off excess sand and set aside to dry.
2. Use a dry brush to get minimal paint on the bristles, paint excess paint off the brush on to cardboard first. Paint lines to resemble tribal markings with the dry brush technique to resemble pastel- like lines.
3. Paint the lips and ears with a solid colour of paint.
4. Tie lengths of Jute and Raffia into a bundle and glue this to the inside of the mask to resemble hair. Glue feathers on the forehead to finish the headwear off.
5. Glue beads to the ears for decoration and cover the lips with Liquid Glitter.
Materials
Cardboard Eye Mask
Bond Paper A4
Maxi Norris Pencil 2B
Crayola Fabric Crayons
Transfer Dyes
Polysatin
Iron
Vilene
Wadding
Polycotton
Feathers
Double sided Tape
Dowel Rod
Florist Ribbon
Polymark paint pens
Sequins
Felt
Supertac
1. On a sheet of Bond Paper, trace around the eyes of a Cardboard Mask as the starting point.
2. Draw the design of the mask around the eye shape, with Crayola Fabric Crayons.
3. Use Transfer Dyes as a watercolour wash/paint – the crayon will resist the dye.
(1 teaspoon of dye to approximately 50 ml water) Set aside to dry.
4. Iron the mask shape face down on to Polysatin (30 seconds on cotton/ wool setting)
5. Iron Vilene on to the back of the Polysatin. Cut out the two holes for the eyes.
6. Pad with wadding and back with a piece of Polycotton. Use a sewing machine to create different shapes within the mask with lines of straight sewing.
7. Trim the edges and satin stitch around the outside and around the eyeholes.
8. Glue a cardboard mask on to the back for support.
9. Attach feathers, streamers, stick etc. to the mask with Double Sided Tape.
10. Decorate the front of the mask with Polymark Paint Pens, sequins etc.
11. Glue a piece of felt to the back of the mask to finish.
Materials
Brown Kraft Card
Cardboard Cylinders
Masking Tape
Cardboard Cones
Hessian Natural
Chromacryl Paint Brown
Wooden Beads Oval 14 x25mm
Jute
Raffia
Cane
Hot Melt Glue Gun
PVA
Plastic Containers
1. Cut an oval shape approximately A3 out of Brown Kraft card.
2. Cut three slits in to the top of the oval and three slits at the bottom.
3. Fold and staple the slits over each other to create a rounded shape to form the base of the mask. To support this form fill it with scrunched up newspaper.
4. Build up the features of the mask with plastic containers for the eyes, cylinders of card for the nose and rolls of newspaper for the eyebrows and lips. Use Masking tape to attach these to the mask base.
5. Cut up many squares of Natural Hessian approximately 6cm square.
6. Make up a solution of PVA and water (60% PVA and 40% water) and dip squares of Hessian into the solution. Wring each piece through the fingers and lay them on to the mask base. Overlap the pieces of Hessian until the entire mask is covered. Set aside to dry on a piece of plastic sheeting.
7. Wind Jute and Raffia around a couple of Cardboard Cones and secure the ends with glue.
8. Wind Armature Wire around rolls of newspaper and then cover the roll by winding Raffia or Jute around them.
9. Bundles of Raffia may be tied to lengths of Cane for decoration.
10. Use a Hot Melt Glue Gun to glue the cones and rolls to the Hessian mask to create the tribal mask.
11. Fringe two squares of Brown Hessian and glue these on for eyelashes.
12. Paint two circles of brown paint on for the eyes and glue wooden beads down the nose.
Egyptian Mask
Materials
Jo Sonja Rich Gold
Acrylic Wool Black
Vipond Paint Black
Printing Foam
Metallic Yarn Gold
Foilboard Gold
Craft Punch
Cover Paper Black
Liquid Glitter Gold
Low Melt Glue Gun
Jewels
Supertac
1. Paint the face of the mask with Jo Sonja Rich gold and set aside to dry.
2. Paint the headdress section of the mask with black Vipond Paint and paint the lips, eyebrows and around the eyes with the black paint.
3. Create four long plaits with 1 metre lengths of black wool and gold Metallic Yarn. Tie each plait off with gold Metallic Yarn.
4. Glue black wool on to the forehead of the mask for the fringe and then glue the four plaits of wool over the head.
5. Draw a design on to Printing Foam and create multiple prints of gold paint on to black Cover Paper. Set aside to dry.
6. Cut the multiple prints out and glue them around the headdress section of the mask.
7. Use a Craft Punch to punch out a shape from small squares of gold Foilboard. Glue these squares and punched out shape around the headdress section of the mask.
8. Finish off with Liquid Glitter dots and a jewel.
Materials
Papier Mache Full Face Mask
Foodwrap
Muslin
PVA
Liquitemp Gold, Silver & Copper
Felt Black and Brown
Synthetic Wooltops
Metallic Tinsel Stems
Hot Melt Glue Gun
Chromatemp Black Brown
Sequins
1. Cover a Papier Mache Mask with Foodwrap.
2. Make up a mix of water and PVA (40% water 60% PVA)
3. Saturate a piece of Muslin in this mix, wring out the excess moisture and drape the wet cloth over the mask. Manipulate the material to create a textured face and mane. Work on a piece of plastic and set aside to dry for a few days.
4. When the material is completely dry, paint the mask with metallic colours and a combination of black and brown paint. Set aside to dry.
5. From the back of the mask, pierce two holes for the eyes.
6. Create the facial features from pieces of felt. Use Wool Tops for the hair & Tinsel Stems for the whiskers. Use the Hot Melt Glue gun to glue these features on to the mask.
Materials
Mask Lightweight
Cartridge Paper 120 gsm
Black Cover Paper A3
Permanent Marker Black
Fineliner Black
Tinsel Stem Pearl
Acrylic Wool black and white
Chenille Stems 30 cm White
Feathers Black and white
Glass Mirror Tiles
Liquid Glitter Silver
Posca Marker Black
Signo Broad White pen
1. Place the Plastic Mask in the middle of a sheet of A3 Cartridge Paper and trace around it.
2. Create an interesting shape around the mask outline and cut the shape out.
3. Trace around this shape on a sheet of black Cover Paper, and cut it out.
4. Place the black shape on top of the white shape; leave a border of white paper showing on one side and glue them together.
5. Position the plastic mask in the middle of the black shape and trace around it. Draw a line 4 cm inside this drawn shape.
6. Cut out the inside shape and create a flange around this shape by cutting slits around the edge into the first line drawn. Cut through the black and the white paper.
6. Place the mask back into position on top of the black paper and tape or glue the paper to the inside of the mask, use the flange to bend into the mask in order to secure the two together.
7. Decorate the mask and paper shape with any black or white media eg. Chenille Stems, Permanent Marker Black, Fineliner Black, Tinsel Stem Pearl, Acrylic Wool black and white, Chenille Stems 30 cm White, Feathers black and white, Glass Mirror Tiles, Liquid Glitter Silver, Posca Marker Black and Signo Broad White pen.
8. Use the Posca Markers to draw directly on to the plastic mask to add shapes and lines to the mask.
Materials
Bird Mask
Wave Tissue Paper
Chromacryl Paint
Polymark Paint Pens
Pearl Beads Gold 4 mm
PVA
Craft Glue
1. Cut out multiple size triangles from Wave Tissue Paper in a variety of colours. Cut some triangles to look more like a feather shape.
2. Begin gluing the feather-like triangles around the outer edge of the bird mask.
3. Continue gluing the triangles of tissue paper around the mask face until the mask is completely covered in overlapping triangles. Leave the beak free of paper.
4. Paint around the eyes and beak of the bird mask a strong bright colour and set aside to dry.
5. Decorate the beak with Polymark lines or patterns. Use the same colours to add lines to the eyelid of the mask and finish off with a row of gold beads for the eyebrows.
Materials
Paper Plate 23cm
Paper Plate 15cm
Defraction Paper Silver
Defraction Paper Assorted
Metallic Prism Paper
Tinsel Stem
Chenille Stems Giant
Metallic Plastic Foil
Chenille Bumps
Hand Plier Stapler
PVA
Low Melt Glue Gun
1. Cut a slit in the 23 cm Paper Plate from the outer edge into the middle of the plate.
2. Overlap the two edges and staple them together. This will give a dome shape for the body of the bug.
3. Cut Metallic Prism Paper into small squares and glue these on to the body, overlapping the shapes until the body is completely covered in colour.
4. Glue silver Defraction Paper squares on to create the face. Use the coloured Defraction Paper for two eyes and a nose. Use a Hole Punch to punch out two eyeholes.
5. Use a Giant Chenille Stem and Tinsel Stems to frame the face and create feelers.
6. Cut the rim away from a small Paper Plate and then cut the plate in half to form the wings.
7. Cover each half in Metallic Prism Paper squares and trim with a length of Chenille Stem along the straight edges.
8. Glue a strip of Metallic Foil around the curved edge of each half plate.
9. Use the Low Melt Glue Gun to attach the two wings to the body of the bug.
10. Staple on the Chenille Bumps for the legs.
