Masks Clay

How To:

Year 4

• The theme was Face Facts! Students studied how faces have been represented by artists from a wide variety of past and present contexts and cultures, using a wide range of materials and techniques.
• With the topic being 'Primitive Masks' students discussed the function or purpose of the masks, the materials the masks were constructed from, the decoration used on the masks (how line, shape, colour, texture and pattern had been used and combined) and the materials and techniques that had been used for the decoration (i.e carving wood, painting the surface, glueing on materials).
• Using a pre-cut clay slab, students then created their own primitive masks.
• Decoration was the addition of clay coils to the surface of the mask.
• The fired masks were painted in an earthy tone, to give a primitive appearance.
• Students then added a range of 'natural' materials to the completed mask if needed.