How to Make Faces on Clay Masks
Clay masks have been made since ancient times for a variety of different purposes. Clay was molded into the facial form of an individual for death masks and were used for theater productions by the Greeks. Tribal cultures in Africa used clay masks for spiritual ceremonies and to scare away enemies. The painting on the masks reflected their purpose. Clay masks used for theater might be painted white or black, leaving the character to the actor to interpret. Masks for ceremonies would be decorated lavishly or in the image of god or spirit represented. Scary masks would be painted in bright colors with fierce features.
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Instructions
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To make a clay mask, being by purchasing clay at any art store. Roll the clay into a ball and flatten it out, making an oval face shape. Form a nose in the center of the oval. Make two eyes, one on each side of the nose, by molding the shape with your fingers. Make a slit for a mouth or form two lips from clay and make them into a mouth shape.
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Allow the clay mask to dry. Once dry, paint the mask in one color for the background of the face. It can be white or red or peach, realistic or fanciful.
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Paint in the features with the brushes and acrylic paints. If you want the mask to be realistic, work from a photo of the person you are modeling the mask after to get the details and colors correct. Paint in eyebrows, eyes, lips and add rouge on the cheeks. If you want the mask to be more fanciful, paint in patterns or figures in the background.
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Press feathers, cloth or yarn around the outer edge of the mask before it dries or glue them onto the dried mask for decoration. The materials can also stand in for hair.
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Tips & Warnings
To hang the masks, poke a hole on the side of the mask when wet to tie a string when dry.
References
- Photo Credit NA/AbleStock.com/Getty Images
