How to Make Clay African Masks
Clay African masks are a popular wall or desk decoration, instantly bringing a feel of Africa (via the modernist art tradition known as primitivism) to any space. It is an involved process, but, with the right tools and a little time, you can create your own.
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Things You'll Need
- Clay Mask form Glaze or paint and paintbrushes Scoring tools Kiln Straw, feathers, beads and other decorations
Instructions
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Forming the mask
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Create your mask form. This can be anything --for instance, a piece of cardboard or Styrofoam that you have cut and bent into the shape of your mask. African masks are by and large flat or gently sloping, as they do not realistically represent the human face.
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Select a lump of clay and work with it by rolling it in your hands. Clay becomes more receptive to molding as you work with it, so take your time. Roll your clay out thin, about one-half centimeter or less. Thin projects fire best, as they crack less often in the kiln. Lay your clay over your mask form and cut away excess.
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Using scoring tools, carve your design into the clay. Be careful not to cut all the way through unless you want to cut out a detail such as eyes or mouth.
Finishing the mask
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4
Fire your mask. If you do not have a kiln, an art studio in your area should have one that you can use. Only experienced, trained craftspeople should use kilns.
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Add finishing touches after you project has been fired and cooled. These might include straw or feathers for hair, glaze (which must be fired again) or paint to add details to the face, or even beads to make the mask appear to be wearing jewelry. Or, if you prefer, sometimes a minimalistic clay mask looks quite nice as well.
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Display your mask. You can obtain a stand to place it in, hang it on a wall or arrange it on a coffee table. Think about how you would like to display your mask while designing so that you can make appropriate allowances in its design (such as what might become a nail hole later).
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Tips & Warnings
Search for inspiration in books and websites on the arts and crafts of Africa (see Resources below). Try making a variety of masks, each with increasing difficulty, especially if clay is a new medium for you.
Children should be supervised while using scoring tools.
