Mask making

 

Over the last couple of das we have started to build the bases for two different types of mask, the first being a prosthetic method where we had to cast a member of our groups face and then pour plaster into it so that we can later create our prosthetic so that it will exactly match her face. The material we applied to the face first dries rather quickly and copies all marks of the face exactly, we then created a hard outer shell using mod rock so the blue alginate doesn't lose it shape whilst pouring in the plaster.

 

The second type of mask we have been developing will eventually be a paper mask created to fit an actor (this we did not cast). We started of by looking  types of mask and what they may portray about a character and how an actor may use them. We were then given a small brief of two words that would describe a character and we then create a mask to fit tat brief. My brief was-sly peasant,  I thought about the types of features that this character my have and wanted to accentuate the nose and chin to make them pointed and to have asymmetric eyebrows. We started building clay onto the basic face and creating the shape wanted. The next step was to apply a rim of clay around the edge so that when the plaster is applied it doesn't just all run of the side and it creates a nice edge on the mask.

Once the plaster is applied as a thin layer it is allowed to harden slightly before a thicker layer is applied, this is allowed to dry before removing the head and plaster. This will give us the shape to apply the paper into to create the mask that can be used.

 

This is the final stages of the paper mask, when the plaster is dry the cast etc is pulled out and the cast cleaned out and Vaseline applied. Small pieces of brown paper are glued to the inside and allowed to dry (ensuring areas like the nose are carefully covered). The a layer of j-cloth is applied followed by another layer of brown paper. This is all allowed to dry and once this has happened the mask is gently pulled out and the eyes, mouth and edges trimmed. Shading and highlights are added along with elastic and the mask is complete.