Masks have always held a fascination for me---they hide and reveal at
the same time. I've made and collected masks in many sizes and modes,
and I have a special fondness for miniature versions of stylized faces
of all kinds.
Recently I have been involved in an Artist
In Residence project with the students and staff of a local Elementary
School in which we decorated 3 inch long polymer clay mask forms. Each
was beautifully unique and wonderful! Every artist got to create and keep
their own personal mask. My own version and some of the beads made from
leftover caned embellishments are shown above. All the masks made by students
and staff can be viewed starting at the Artist
In Residence page.
I have also been fortunate to be involved in the Internet Miniature
Mask Swaps for several years now. I first joined as a participant in a
events hosted by Sherry Bailey, and then became Swapmistress for these
wonderful collectables in 2002, 2003, 2004 and once again now in 2005!
In a previous column
here in the Bead Bugle, Ann and Karen Mitchell extolled the pleasures of
joining in swaps of various themes. Swaps are a wonderful way to meet other
artists and see their work in person. Results from previous mask swaps
can be seen on my site
at http://www.polyclay.com/masks.htm
When these events are announced, participants commit to
join in groups of ten, and can participate in up to three groups. As the
"ringleader" of these events, I always join in each of the groups,
assuring that I don't miss out on a single design! Details
about the theme and parameters, if any, are sent to participants, and a
deadline is set; then everyone sends in their sets of ten creations. Thats
when the distributing work happens--each participant gets one item from
each person in the group of ten, in return for the items they sent in.
This year's mask swap features ten groups of ten artists--so there will
be 100 mask designs in all!
All though it is a lot of work, it is well
worth it to me when I see my framed collection of miniature masks. Attached
to felt covered boards and hung on our walls, the display is very attractive
to the eye!
Masks can also be worn as pendants or pins with the addition
of findings on the back, or by affixing a face to leather, interfacing,
or ultrasuede and using seedbeads and other small beads to entrap it creating
a larger piece. The gold leafed face made of polymer clay shown above makes
a techno-tribal mask style centerpiece to this necklace, featuring collected
beads of many kinds--including polymer clay!
In addition to the administrative details and sorting and mailing, there's
also the business of MAKING the masks in order to be in each group. In
this design challenge, I find that making an original sculpt and then creating
a mold is the best way to do multiples.
Using different colors of clay and surface embellishment techniques
can give an entirely new look--or several--to a single design. The gargoyle
mask above at left is the original sculpt. Then there are three different
versions shown, made from the same mold using colored clays and decorated
with cane slices and pearl-ex powders as shown.
In the next picture, a pink mold has been created using
Miracle Mold, a RTV silicon 2 part mold making material available from
Puffinalia.com .
While polymer clay can be used to create adequate molds in some cases,
I prefer the RTV silicon because of the detail that is captured and the
ease of use. (More information on molds can be
found at my website.)
The faces shown here are "pulls" from the mold, with a raw
pull shown to the right of the mold.
Underneath are three finished faces. One is stained with Varathane
and acrylic paints. The second is painted with acrylics in the style of
makeup, and the third uses both techniques together.
Face masks such as these can be used to form jewelry, as parts to make
larger and more elaborate beads, or used in doll making. Spirit dolls or
totems are very popular beaded items to create as wearable art, icons, or
gifts, and face masks can add a wonderful element to these.
Beads, feathers, wires and more can be used for decorative elements.
In the three alien creature masks shown here, Ian Helm has hand formed
each face, and included beads used as eyes and teeth.
