Plaster Masks
Assignment
Your assignment is to develop a plaster mask of a character from a folktale, myth, legend, play, or story and develop the essence of the character 3-dimensionally.
Inspiration
Folklore throughout history and across cultures:
Contemporary artist: Tau Lewis
Tau Lewis- Born in Toronto, now based in New York City
Creates masks which envisions enormous characters who emerge from an apocolypse
She uses mixed media to construct the masks.
"The monumental works, the largest of which stands upwards of 13 feet, meld classical myths, contemporary science fiction, and the dramatic performances associated with Yoruban masking traditions. "
The artist stitches salvaged textile scraps, donated leather, and remnants from a Long Island furrier into patchwork eyes and lips, tousled hair-like fringe, and vibrant floral tendrils that dangle and pool on the floor.
Examples:
In Class Practice:
Illustrating a Character using Internal and External Character Traits
Directions:
Draw the form below in your sketchbook.
Using the "Little Red Riding Hood" story provided, please analyze the Wolf.
List the external character traits and the internal traits.
Based on the character traits described, draw a picture of the wolf.
Little Red Riding Hood.pdfPlanning
Requirements:
Your mask needs to have dramatic 3-D forms beyond a basic face shape.
Your mask should represent the internal and external characteristics of your character of choice.
Your mask needs to be created with plaster.
At a minimum, plaster base needs to cover 1/2 of your face.
Your mask may incorporate other materials provided or found at home.
Your mask should be painted.
Using the form from above, find a character from the story of your choice, analyze it.
Create a mask design sketch from 2 angles (front and side).
Examples of types of stories:
Mythology
Plays
Folktales
Books/children's stories
Legends
Material options:
Plaster
Paint
String/yarn
Feathers
Wire
Cardboard
Wire mesh
Leaves etc.
Examples:
Basic: no dramatic forms, no additional materials added
Proficient: Forms are added, consideration taken in the painting. More forms could be added throughout the mask to make it more 3-D.
Advanced: Dramatic forms added to the base, detailed painting, character well developed.
Student Examples
Collections of stories:
AmericanIndianMythsAndLegends.pdfProcess
Step 1: Creating the Mask Base with Plaster Strips
Consult with your group members- what does the model want?
How much of the face covered? - Half mask? 3/4 mask? Full mask?
Do they want eyes open or covered?
How much of the nose open?
Mouth open or covered?
Directions:
Cut plaster strips into small pieces
Cover face or face base in plastic bag
Dip strips one at a time in water, layer them onto the face base
Consider how much of the face needs to be covered in the plaster
Layer for strength and smooth out with your fingers
Mask base demo video:
Plaster Mask Base.mp4Step 2: Attach Forms to Mask Base
Developing Mask Forms.mp4Directions:
Use news paper, making tape, chip board, hot glue , and other found materials to build forms of your character out from the base.
<--- Watch demo video
Step 3: Create Final Layer of Plaster- Develop Texture and Details
Once done with your news paper forms of your character's features. Do one last layer of plaster. At this stage you can add small details with plaster like wrinkles or eyebrows. Make sure you smooth out the texture of the plaster while wet. That will make painting the mask a lot easier.
Final Plaster Layer Demo.mp4Step 4: Paint the Mask and Add Other Materials of Choice
