How to Make a Clay Costume Mask
Masks are one of the world's oldest forms of expression and art. Nowadays, masks are usually only worn during celebrations or holidays like Halloween. For your next costume event, try making your own clay mask. It's a way to turn heads in a masquerade crowd.
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Things You'll Need
- Clay
- Blank paper mask
- Newspaper
- Paint
- Ceramic kiln
- Pottery sculpting knife tool
- Pottery sculpting needle tool
- Rolling pin
- String or elastic
Instructions
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How to Make a Clay Costume Mask
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1
Lay out some of the newspaper, so that the clay doesn't stick to the working surface. Take the clay and rolling pin, and roll a large slab about 1/4 inch thick on the newspaper.
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2
Ball up some of the newspaper and put some of it under the paper mask to support it. The paper mask is only needed to ensure the clay mask will fit. Taking the slab, put it directly onto the mask. Cut the excess clay from around the mask off with a clay sculpting tool like a clay knife or needle tool.
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3
Cut out some eye and nose holes from the mask wherever you like, but are able to see and breathe adequately through if you plan to wear it on your face. Feel free to add and subtract clay from the surface to achieve whatever look you're after. Make sure to cut out some holes on the sides of the mask, so that you can string them to tie the mask on.
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4
Using the sculpting tools and the rest of the clay, get creative with your mask. Add shapes, protrusions, carvings, or texture as you like. Get creative!
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5
Allow the mask to dry, separating the clay mask from the paper one once it can hold it's own shape. Let the clay dry for at least one week. Once it's dried out completely, put the mask in a ceramic kiln and fire it to the cone temperature specified by the type of clay. Different types of clay need to be fired to specific temperatures depending on the kind of clay used. Cones are used in a kiln to determine when the necessary temperature has been achieved. Cones can either be monitored from peep holes in the side of the kiln or most kilns have what's called a "cone sitter," which is a switch set by putting a cone into it. When the cone melts, the switch flips and turns the kiln off.
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6
Once the clay has been fired, paint the mask in desired colors or patterns. Feel free to add other elements like feathers, glitter, rhinestones --- whatever you want! Once you're done decorating, add string or elastic to the side holes of the mask so that the mask stays on your face.
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References
- Photo Credit Maschera e Costume di Carnevale 1 image by crazycolors from Fotolia.com
