How to Make a Latex Slipknot Mask
Slipknot, a heavy metal band that gained popularity in the 1990s, is well known for its use of costumes and attention-grabbing masks that rival any Hollywood monster mask. Although copies of these masks can be bought online for fan use, those who prefer to construct their own costumes can make their own masks for about the same price, using classic monster mask-making techniques. To make a Slipknot mask out of liquid latex, follow the steps below.
Things You'll Need
- Mask reference pictures
- Styrofoam head
- Plasticine clay
- Sculpting tools
- Krylon Crystal Clear
- Modeling clay
- Bucket
- Gypsum
- Water
- Ladle
- Baby powder
- Paintbrushes
- Burlap strips
- Rope
- Liquid latex
- Latex paint
- Headstrap or elastic banding
Instructions
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1
Find reference pictures of the particular Slipknot mask you would like to make--consult promotional materials or use the link in the Resources section. In a clean workspace, set up the Styrofoam head, sculpting tools, soft plasticine clay and your reference pictures. Apply clay all over the front and sides of the head and neck, covering the Styrofoam.
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2
Add more clay to the head at the bulkiest parts of the mask, which are likely to be at the nose, chin and eye cavity area, depending on the mask that you are making. Make sure that you have deep-enough layers of clay to sculpt from and that you have pressed the clay into a reasonable copy of the mask's overall shape. Using the sculpting tools, add detail to the clay, following your references. When you are satisfied, coat the whole head in Krylon Crystal Clear and let it dry.
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3
Mix together a small amount of soupy plaster in the bottom of the bucket by blending gypsum and water. Paint the plaster mixture onto the clay, covering even the parts you do not intend to use in your mask, to create an impression coat. Let this impression coat cure for a few hours. Over the impression coat, paint another layer of plaster, and lay strips of burlap on the wet plaster. Let this layer dry, then add several more layers of plaster and burlap, until the mold is thick and sturdy. Let the entire mold cure for 6 hours.
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Pull the mold away from the Styrofoam head, letting the clay pull apart. Remove any clay from inside the mold and from your Styrofoam head.
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Spoon or pour liquid latex into the mold, letting it cover the entire surface, then pour out the excess. Stand the mold in front of a fan and let the latex dry completely. You can tell that the latex is dry when it darkens in color. Pour more liquid latex into the mold and repeat the process. Do this several times until you have a mask thickness that you like. Dust baby powder onto the dried latex and carefully pull the latex out of the mold.
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Put the latex mask onto the Styrofoam head to finish. If necessary, first cover the Styrofoam head with a plastic bag, so that any clay residue remaining on the head does not get stuck to your mask. Cut away all excess latex from the mask. Using your reference pictures, paint the latex with latex paint, starting with the general shadows and gradually building up to the highlight colors. When the paint is dry, coat it with a clear sealer. Poke holes in the sides of the mask and attach a strap to the holes.
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Tips & Warnings
For the masks that fit around the back of the head, you will need to make a two-part plaster mold. Do this by building a wall of clay at the midline of your sculpture, then painting plaster around this wall. The mold will cure in two halves, then you can strap the halves together and drill a hole in the bottom into which you can pour latex.
