How to Create Mardi Gras Masks Using Illustrator

Create Mardi Gras masks in Illustrator so you can lend a bohemian flair to your artwork. Mardi Gras masks come in in many shapes, colors and textures, so let yourself explore the different possibilities. In particular, take the time to browse through each category of swatches in Illustrator's swatch library. There are swatches appropriate for Mardi Gras in many different categories.

Instructions

1. Click the tool palette icon shaped like an oval to run the oval drawing tool, then drag on the canvas to create an oval with a width about three times its height. This shape forms the foundation of the mask.

2. Click the white arrow from the tool palette to run the "Direct selection" tool, which lets you manipulate individual nodes of ovals and other paths. Double click the bottom node of the oval you drew, then drag upward until the oval's bottom edge is slightly above the left and right extremes of the oval. This action reshapes the oval into a mask.

3. Click the knife icon from the tool palette to run the tool for cutting holes in shapes. Click in the left half of the mask oval, then drag a roughly circular oval with a height that is about one-third the height of the mask oval. This forms the left eye of the mask.

4. Use the instructions from the previous step to create the right eye hole for the mask. Ensure the right eye hole appears symmetrical with the left hole.

5. Click the tool palette icon shaped like a paint bucket with squares on its right to run the tool for filling shapes, "Paint bucket."

6. Click the arrow to the right of the leftmost drop-down list above the canvas to display the gallery of swatches for the "Paint bucket" tool. Click the leftmost icon at the bottom of the gallery to open a list of categories for "Paint bucket."

7. Click the "Patterns" item, then click "Decorative." Click "Primitive" to select this subset of decorative patterns. Illustrator will display a gallery of swatches showing patterns that can fill your mask.

8. Click a pattern that seems appropriate for Mardi Gras, such as "Mexican steps," or "India color." Click your mask to fill it with the pattern you chose and to complete your Mardi Gras mask.

References

• "Illustrator CS5 Bible"; Ted Alspach; 2010