As a mask maker, since 1976, creating everything from paper, neoprene latex and leather masks, from Commedia dell'Arte to custom theater masks, dance, opera and even pro-wrestling high end masks. Having students create there own masks can help students in many ways. The simplest and lowest cost mask making is paper meche or cloth meche. Students getting there hands in clay can be very helpful and some of my students have had major theater and personal breakthroughs after working in clay creating their mask.
Here is what you need.
1. Boards about one foot square for the students to work on. Any scrap board will do.
2. Water based clay - which is the cheep and many schools already have it. The art department most likely has some. It feels better in the hand and chemical clay can cause problems with some substances in the release.
3. White glue, dilute it about 3 to 1. Any kind of cheep white glue works. Do not use wallpaper paste as they changed the formula and it is now somewhat toxic. You can also use white flour but over time it can attract bugs that like eating it in some climates.
4. Paper, different kinds of paper does different things. Glossy magazine paper moves really well. You can use different types of paper from news print to old homework and paper bags work well. Students can even in the last layer use different colors and images from printed paper as the last coat instead of painting the mask.
5. Elastic to attach to your mask to hold it on.
6. plastic wrap. After they finish their mask sculpture in clay they carefully put the plastic wrap in pieces / sections over their clay sculpture - then put the paper meche on. This is for a totally clean release from the clay mold.
7. Paint if they are painting them.
8. You can also use cloth instead of paper.
9. Some rags to dip in water and wrap around the clay, then covered or put into a plastic bag to keep the clay moist. This is so they can work on their mask over time and the clay does not dry out. Some might even want to bring it home with them and work on it.
10. Some bowls of water to use when sculpting.
Teaching theater masks making is one of the many things I do.
Here are some tips:
a. Rather than cut out eyes, noses holes etc. When they do the paper meche they meche the eyes as they will be. They will be apply there paper meche so the eyes are open.
b. Wrap the edges of the nose, eyes and sides with paper meshe at the end.
c. They can always add more paper meche to the mask to create effects not in the sculpture.
d. Use different kinds and colors of paper for each layer. That way you know how many layers one has done. You want 5 to 7 layers.
e. The students can sew and glue on the elastic. Make the point where the elastic is attached stronger with a few more layers of paper.
Warnings:
Plaster gauze bandages can be easy to use. But for masks they can be a little heavy. But if you do use them. Be sure to seal the eye holes as little bits of plaster can flak off and get into eyes.
No matter what you use wrapping the edges of the eyes to create a smooth surface and can help seals it. You want to avoid cutting anything. Paper Meche the finished look.
If you are making a life mask using plaster gauze bandages, be sure to cover the students eyes with sterilized medical gauze and coat the face including eyebrows etc with baby oil. Also cover the hair. One does not want the students eyebrows or eyelashes stuck in the plaster gauze bandage mask when it drys on their face. Taking it off sometime means a trip to emergency room.
History,
Greek Tragedy masks. The reason for the large open mouth is the masks worked as a megaphone, having a piece of copper in the megaphone part of the mask. Copper is one of the oldest metals known to civilization. The large open mouth megaphone was their amplification in the large open air theaters.
Yes I do teach mask making and well as Commedia dell'Arte and have done a few sessions with people using skype. Will be doing 4 Summer workshops in NYC, Commedia dell'Arte: June 19 - 30 - which includes mask making;
Mime - Movement -Rhythm: July 10 - 15;
Neutral Mask and Metaphysical Mask Lab: July 10 - 15;
Creating Original Material: July 16 - 21.
For more info on my workshops go to
Roving Classical Commedia University* Mask Mime Movement Juggling Acrobatics Music Dance History Theatre Commedia Dell'Arte
| Commediau |
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| Roving Classical Commedia University* Mask Mime Movement Juggling Acrobatics Music Dance History Theatre Commedia Dell'Arte |
| A new Commedia dell'Arte school, Physical comedy, Commedia characters, Acting, Lazzi, Mime, del'arte, Acrobatics, Mime Movement Theatre, Mask work, Mask Making, Hovey Burgess, Stanley Allan Sherman |
| View this on Commediau > |
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For mask information go to
Mask Arts Co - Stanley Allan Sherman Leather Theatre Masks Neoprene Latex Masks for Theater, Dance, Wrestling, Commedia dell'Arte, Clowns, Opera. Custom made masks, Clown Noses, specializes in molding leather.
| Maskarts |
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| Mask Arts Co - Stanley Allan Sherman Leather Theatre Masks Neoprene Latex Masks for Theater, Dance, Wrestling, Commedia dell'Arte, Clowns, Opera. Custom made masks, Clown Noses, specializes in molding leather. |
| Leather and neoprene Commedia dell'Arte masks; Theatre and Wrestling, Neutral mask, Dance, mime classes, Clowns, Opera, custom made masks, Clown Noses, molding leather. |
| View this on Maskarts > |
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If you have a good art teacher, he or she would most likely be able to give you some hands on help. You can always contact me directly.
One of my Commedia dell'Arte and mask making students always did mask making with his High School theater classes for 16 years. For him it was always a great success, one of his students favorite parts of the theater class, both the making their masks and acting in their masks. Lots of educational fun.
If you want to bring in a mask maker - I do workshops for school and universities as well, if you would like someone local. I know many of the mask makers around the country, let me know what city you are in.
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[Stanley Allan] [Sherman] [Custom theater mask making, Commedia dell'Arte masks & workshops. NYC winter holiday workshops and summer workshops]
[Mask Maker, Commedia dell'Arte expert, Teacher, Mime, Movement, Actor, Director, performer, producer of workshops and shows.]
[Mask Arts Company
www.maskart.com][New York] [NY][
stanley@maskarts.com[212-255-2882][
il-dottore@commediau.com][New York][NY][Roving Classical Commedia University* (*totally unaccredited) ]
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Original Message:
Sent: 02-20-2017 10:41
From: Jessica Shaw
Subject: Mask-Making Help
I want to combine some history units (Ancient Greek, Commedia) & a world theatre (still TBD) with mask making. Does anyone have a unit/materials/anything on this that you could share with me?
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Jessica Shaw
Speech and Drama Teacher
Alexandria VA
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