How to Make an Air-Dry Clay Mask
Air-Dry Clay is a product by Crayola that can be used to sculpt objects without the need for firing in a kiln. You can make a mask out of Air-Dry Clay by sculpting it onto a face form, which will guarantee that it has the correct shape and proportions to wear. You can sculpt this mask with your fingers, using a few sculpting tools to help you.
Things You'll Need
- Face form
- Petroleum jelly
- Brush
- Paper towels
- Sculpting tools
- Texture stamps
- Paint
- String
Instructions
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1
Place a face form onto a work table. This form can be anything from a generic plastic mask to the face of a statue or mannequin, so long as the proportions are correct.
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2
Brush a thin coat of petroleum jelly onto the form to prevent the clay from sticking. Buff off the excess with a paper towel.
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3
Apply a 1/4-inch layer of Air-Dry Clay over the entire face form to create the main structure of your mask.
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4
Cut out eye, nostril and mouth holes with a sharp clay tool.
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5
Build up features on the face such as horns, cheekbones, the chin and the nose by adding more clay. Form these shapes separately, then score the back and the area of the mask where the features will be placed with a sculpting tool. Apply a small amount of slip between them, then press the features firmly in place and smooth the edges into the mask.
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6
Press rubber texture stamps into the clay if desired to create surface texture.
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7
Cut a hole on either side of the mask with a sharp sculpting tool. You will eventually tie strings into these holes.
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8
Allow the clay to air dry according to the instructions on the package. This may take 24 hours or more.
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9
Remove the mask from the face form and paint it with acrylic, tempura or watercolors as desired.
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10
Tie a 16-inch string to both of the holes. Tie these strings behind your head when you wear the mask.
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Tips & Warnings
Slip is clay that has been thinned with water to a cream consistency.
You can make a simple skin pore texture stamp by brushing 10 layers of liquid latex onto an orange, allowing each layer to dry before applying the next. Try brushing latex on other textures for additional stamps.
References
- Photo Credit Hemera Technologies/PhotoObjects.net/Getty Images
