Paper Mache Masks

Learn some simple ways of making paper mache masks here.

Making paper mache masks (also called as paper mache masks) is a quite simple and interesting activity. Your child will not only enjoy making it but also have a great fun while making it. The materials required for making paper mache masks are easily available at home so you need not have to go too far to search them. Making paper mache masks is quite messy therefore don’t forget to cover up your work area with a layer of newspaper or a plastic tablecloth or a wrap before starting the work.

Materials Required for Making Paper Mache Mask

• Round balloon
• Paper mache paste
• Newspaper strips
• Plastic wrap
• Scissors
• Acrylic paint

Procedure for Making Paper Mache Mask

Blow up the balloon to a desired size, knot it’s end and keep it aside. You can also place it in a bowl. If you place it in a bowl remember to wrap the bowl with plastic. This prevents the paper mache from sticking to the bowl. Make paper mache paste by mixing one part of flour with 5 parts water. Boil this mixture and simmer for about three minutes. Add one or two tablespoon of salt to the mixture and allow it to cool. Once cooled, pour the paste into a large plastic bowl. Take the newspaper and cut it into several strips, one inch wide and 4-6 inch long. Dip these newspaper strips into the paper mache paste and stick it on the balloon. Cover the balloon completely with the paper mache. If you have kept it in a bowl, leave the area sitting on the bowl. Let the first layer dry for at least 24 hours.

Add two more layers to the balloon. This time you can mold various facial features like nose, ears, lips etc. Once the paper mache has dried completely, pop the balloon and give desired shape to your mask. Using scissors you can cut out the shape of eyes as desired. You can cut out triangles, rounds, ovals or squares. Now using acrylic paints, you can paint and decorate the mask. You can also add feathers or even hair using yarn. You can even make a small hole at each side of the mask for attaching a rubber band to hold the mask properly on your face. Your paper mache mask is now ready to wear.

If you want to give your paper mache mask a mummy mask look, after two newspaper layers, place a white paper layer on the mask. You can also use milk jug instead of a balloon. Cut the milk jug into two parts from top to bottom. You can use either of the parts and make an interesting paper mache mask out of it. You can even make paper mache half masks also called as paper mache eye masks from paper mache. The procedure for making paper mache half masks is same as above but you won’t need to cover the whole balloon. You can take an oval shaped balloon and cover only one side of it. No need of molding any facial features.

Once the paper mache mask has dried, shape out the mask as desired using scissors. Remember that it is a half mask and therefore it should cover only the eyes. Again using scissors cut out the shape of eyes. Make small holes on both the sides of the mask and attach an elastic band so that the paper mache half mask holds properly on the face.

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Masquerade Masks – Bringing Them to Life

A mask creates an instant character-persona for the wearer, be it masquerade masks, Venetian masks, feather masks, animal masks, historical or any other style of mask. The mask itself does the work of creating the character; the wearer does not need to do this through any great effort, or facial expression. To fully maximize the character of the mask, one must allow the mask to come alive and do its job. All masks have a character that upon correctly wearing jumps to life. To unleash your masks potential, ones facial expressions are replaced by the mask and by what is known as ‘the gaze’. All well made masks will have this quality.

Upon putting on your mask it will appear instantly to be gazing – looking, watching, observing. This is the masks character, it has come to life. To master the gaze, so that it is not lost, one must allow the masks character to dominate and not project one’s own ideas and experiences into the mask, once the wearer does this the character of the mask is lost and so is the gaze. One must keep in mind that the mask, once put on is no longer inanimate, it comes to life and IS your job as the wearer is to allow it to BE. To maintain the gaze, one must acquire a sort of tunnel vision, the mask has one eye and this can be imagined to be at the end of its nose. The wearer looking out of this eye creates the tunnel vision, isolating the character of the mask. One literally follows ones nose.

Once you have mastered the gaze, the wearer needs to bring the rest of their body into play to follow and accentuate the character of the mask. The neck can be used independently from the shoulders and trunk of the body to make exaggerated moves of the head, accentuating character, or of the lower body. Note that to keep ones audience engaged one should have a minimum of one eye and the nose of the mask viewable to ones audience at all times, whilst on stage and exiting, whether it be at the theatre, in the ballroom, or the garden, otherwise the audience looses the character & the gaze of the mask. One should never bring ones hands to the mask and touch it. The hands are an extension of the character and should not be brought to where they can inhibit the gaze.

There are many types of masks each with their own character, one to suit all, for all occasions, be it a ball, the prom, a party, a theatre night or a fancy dress party.

A mask always wants to be animated, so wear your masks often and enjoy the gaze.

Author: Melanie Robson

Hello my friends my name is Melanie Robson, I am an Author, Screenwriter and specialist in masquerade masks You can see my authentic handmade venetian masquerade masks on my site, just click the links.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Melanie_Robson

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