How to Make a False Face Mask
False face masks were once created by the Iroquois Indians and were used to help heal the sick or to ward off negative energies. Although authentic false face masks were carved from living trees, modern false face masks are carved out of wood pieces or created out of clay. Creating clay false face masks can be a great way to teach children about this Indian tribe and makes for a fun and exciting art project.
Instructions
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Lay out a piece of clay on a flat surface and roll it out with a rolling pin to the thickness of ¼ inch. Using a pencil, cut out an oval or circle shape from the clay slab. Wad up sheets of newspaper and lay the mask over the paper. This will allow the mask to be concave instead of flat.
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Attach a nose to the mask using a long, round piece of clay. Roll out long strips of clay to use as wrinkles on the forehead. Add two thick strips of clay for a mouth, curving it in a strange way. Use two balls of clay for eyes. Any time you attach a new piece of clay to the mask, smooth out the edges onto the slab so that they adhere.
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Push a pencil through the top of the mask, creating two holes that are slightly close together. This will be where the yarn hair will be added after the clay has been baked in the kiln. Let the clay air dry. Once it is dry, fire it in a kiln. Most schools have a kiln in the art classroom. If you have trouble locating a kiln, ask your local university if you may use its art kiln.
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Paint the false face mask using brightly colored acrylic paints. The Iroquois Indians traditionally used red and black for their false face masks, but the mask can be painted any color. Once the mask is dry, thread yarn through the two holes at the top of the mask. The yarn will be the hair for your false face mask, and can be as wild as you like.
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Resources
- Photo Credit Images Courtesy of Fotosearch and Chichester Inc.
