What if we cannot afford to buy art materials?

In his own words this is the story of how a 25-year-old IT Support Officer of Queensland Australia made his first mask using only materials to hand:

"Maybe I should call my mask "Natured Gentleman". We had no paint and no glue. Found a rose piece we used at the wedding and some ribbon stuff. Leaves were stuck on with Selleys no more gaps I had left over from de-gapping the ceiling. Leaves are from branches off a tree I recently pulled out that have since died and dried out. The hat is from the chin section of the mask. The black piece is some gaffer tape I got out of a box in the garage. White dot is more Selleys no more gaps and paving sand stuck to it. Eyes are coloured in with black marker which I think looks kind of tacky, but never mind. I tried pulling it off using only materials around the house that we already had - like you said. Needless to say, we have no money to buy any materials anyway!! hehe"

How do we create a "leather look" for Commedia masks?

Here's a hot tip that will give your Commedia dell'Arte masks that authentic "leather-look". Just rub shoe polish on with a cloth, let it dry a bit, then brush it to a shine. One or two coats of polish over the top of the final paint layer should be enough, as each extra coat darkens the final shade. We have successfully tried various colours; brown, black, red and even green & blue work well to create a leathery effect. Try mixing your own shades too. The illustration above was made by first year costume construction students at Toi Whakaari: NZ Drama School using shoe polish FX.

How do we make Animal Masks?

The solution for transforming a human face base into an animal character is simple! Use designs from a Face-Painting Book!

Because of the need for speed and easy delivery, face-painters have evolved designs that are simple and achieveable...effectively paring down an animal or character into its essential characteristics, using only the painterly tools of line and colour!

Face-painting Books, available from the school library, are perfect for providing wonderful inspiration for simple and effective animal masks.

Accomplishing Symmetry

Q. What is the easiest way to create a symmetrical pattern on my mask?

A. Three easy steps:

• As your Multimask cannot be folded in two like a flat sheet of paper can, the easiest way to transfer a half-pattern from one side of the face to the other is to draw on one side, then trace it using semi-transparent lunchwrap paper and soft pencil...


• Next gently shade over the top of your tracing in lead pencil, and then flip it over, placing it upside down on the other side of the mask so it reflects the original pattern...


• Next copy the outline of your drawing onto the mask pressing firmly (the pencil shading should act like carbon paper) leaving a tracing behind - which exactly matches your first half pattern...hey presto = Symmetry!

FAQ Beyond Limits

Q. Why do many masks look scary?

A. Most masks do not mean to scare.

The mask's facial features are often emboldened (exaggerated) to represent bold ideas - ideas that can take your mind beyond the world you know. The Mask as Storyteller transports you to that otherworld of imaginary creatures, gods/goddesses, spirits, visions and dreams, or the funster world of 'political satire' (poking fun at serious issues).

Most importantly, those often misunderstood emboldened characteristics are really about making visible the hidden potentials that are within everyone. Making, wearing and sharing masks gives the opportunity to be bigger, braver & bolder than you usually are. See Making Sense of the Funusual on MASKS2GLOBE weblog.

FAQ Kids at Heart

Q. Do you have any mask ideas for Valentines Day?
A. Try our Sweetheart Mice Masks in junior class...

You will need:
Multimasks, one for each child
Strong scissors and small curved tip scissors, pencil
White gesso or paint
Pink paint (for sniffy nose detail)
Florists wire for whiskers (available from Spotlight)
Lippy sticker (can be purchased from Spotlight or make your own from felt)
Assorted cupcake patty pans
Glue gun and Ribbon to match

Making Method:
Cut out a heart shape from a flat sheet of paper, sized to fit neatly inside a Multimask. Draw around the heart shape as best you can (centre it first) then cut it out. Now you have a heart-shaped template. Pop the template on top of each student's Multimask and draw around it, then cut it out. Cut out a small 'mouse-ish' eye template from scrap paper and draw around it on the heart mask. Open eyes using curved tip scissors. Now you are ready to paint your heart mask with 2 layers of white paint. Dry, then embellish. Paint nose first then make two pin-pricks either side and thread wire 'whiskers' through from the back. Bend wire into whimsical kinks (a dab of glue on the back secures them). Stick on lippy detail and cupcake 'ears'. Make two holes on each side at eye level and thread ribbon ties. Add eyelash details in gold pen, and your Sweetheart Mouse mask is ready to go...

FAQ Risking Intensity

Q. What capacities does mask making develop in the student?

A. A unit in mask-making can do a great deal to foster creativity by engaging students and enabling them to use and integrate the whole range of their thinking. Authoring and sharing mask work involves risk taking as masks stimulate aspects of thinking which thrive on adventures and problem solving.