How to Decorate a Greek Tragedy Mask

Masks are traditionally used in Greek theater to assist actors in conveying different emotions, such as happiness and sadness. Greek masks also helped the audience to differentiate between characters as actors often had to play more than one character in a production. If you are decorating a Greek tragedy mask, be sure to convey a facial expression of melancholy and sadness.

Things You'll Need

• Dinner plate
• Cardboard or card stock
• Pencil
• Colored construction paper
• Colored markers
• Scissors
• Craft glue or tape

Instructions

Greek Mask Base

1. Lay a dinner plate face down on a piece of cardboard or thick paper, such as card stock.

2. Use a pencil to trace an outline of the dinner plate onto the cardboard.

3. Cut the circle out of the cardboard. This forms the base of your Greek tragedy mask.

Decorating a Greek Tragedy Mask

1. Use a black marker to draw eyes on the Greek tragedy mask. Turn the eyes down at the outer corners to give an impression of sadness. Use scissors to carefully cut the eyes out of the mask.

2. Draw thick, black eyebrows over the eye holes you cut out of the Greek tragedy mask in Step 1.

3. Add a nose to the mask with black marker, such as two small, black dots placed side by side.

4. Use a red marker to outline a large mouth on the Greek tragedy mask. Make the mouth in the shape of a frown. Red and black create a stark contrast, adding to dark emotions the mask conveys. Use scissors to cut the mouth out of the mask carefully.

5. Cut a sheet of black or brown construction paper into thin strips. Roll these strips around a marker and glue the pieces of "curly hair" to the top and sides of the mask to form hair and a beard.

Tips & Warnings

• Attach a craft stick to the inside of the bottom of the mask to act as a handle for wearers.

References

• Activity Village: Make a Greek Mask
• Masks and More Masks: Greek Masks: The Rich History