Twenty-four tales, one for each hour of the day.

Monday, April 22, 2013

Mask progress/inspiration

progress pictures: I still have to attach a lot of the larger sticks as well as hopefully add more string detailing

Most of my inspiration came from Native North American masks -- I like the sort of halo coming from the face and the simplicity of the design. I also looked at Native South American masks and really liked how they were decorated in a mosaic kind of way. Again, I like the idea of having a simple design that is executed in a way that makes it interesting.

Thursday, April 18, 2013

Mask

I hope that my mask will transform its wearer into an uncanny subterranean life form, and or an alien abyss-dweller.

I am thinking of doing two self-portraits when I was young and how I am now. I was inspired by Isidro Ferrer and Christian Voltz to use found materials for my masks!

Mask beginning steps/sketches: Melissa Hecker

Tree Face Mask

Melissa Hecker

My idea is to have my mask work within nature. If I were to wear this mask, my intention is that it will blend in with the texture of a tree creating a camouflage effect. The mask is made out of plaster. I am using other nature-like materials to add to the mask to look like vines, branches and bark.

Suggestions of other materials?

Suggestions of face shape?

Suggestions on paint choice?

Wednesday, April 17, 2013

Mask-Joy

For this project, I decided to focus on my cultural background. I was inspired by the traditional hanbok’s overcoat which is called changot/장옷 (for nobles) or ssukae chima/쓰개치마 (for commoners). Back then, the purpose of this overcoat was for women to hide their faces when they went out beyond the confines of their house. The reason being was due to Confucian edict that “females should never reveal flesh to other people.” The overcoat is the finishing touch in the never ending layers of the hanbok. Similar to a mask, its basic purpose is to conceal and never reveal.

The overcoat mask is mysterious. It almost seems to consume the wearer. It is used when one feels the need to be alone or deep in thought. Everything/everyone else is a blur; this mask pushes everything/everyone out. It walks alone and isolates itself.

Mask Research: Lauren Sessa

I will be adapting an Aesop's fable into a sequential piece using photographs of models wearing masks that I will make out of cardboard and acrylic paint. The masks will portray a stag and a lion, and will be based on the Australian Aboriginal art aesthetic.

Fable: http://www.taleswithmorals.com/the-stag-at-the-pool.htm

Mask Sketch - Evee Erb

I decided to draw from motifs and styles seen in Balinese masks in order to make my own sort of deer mask. I want for the mask to be representational of an animal, but to also be non-realistic and appear almost ceremonial. I plan on using fiber along the edges of the mask as well, which will be constructed on a base mold with paper mache, painted, and sealed. Time permitting, I may also try to incorporate ceramic elements into the design as well...

Mask Sketches; Allison Mackey

I was thinking of making my mask to fit something that would be in a children's or illustrated book, or maybe even pre-production art for an animation. It's going to be something like a peppermint monk creature from some crazy world.

Mask Progress

I hope it's alright that I already started on my mask, so here is what I have so far. It's going to be like an evil mermaid. There is still a lot to be done like more features, sanding, painting and hair but I think this is a good base.

Mask Sketch

Friday, April 12, 2013

Mask assignment

- "A mask is an object normally worn on the face, typically for protection, disguise, performance or entertainment. Masks have been used since antiquity for both ceremonial and practical purposes. They are usually worn on the face, although they may also be positioned for effect elsewhere on the wearer's body, so in parts of Australia giant totem masks cover the body, whilst Inuit women use finger masks during storytelling and dancing". Wikipedia

- The ubiquitous masks in Ensor's work were likely based on those sold in his family's curiosity shop a few floors below his studio. He explained: "The mask means to me: freshness of color, sumptuous decoration, wild unexpected gestures, very shrill expressions, exquisite turbulence." In this painting, the fantastical masked inventions appear to come alive and challenge Death—perhaps a reflection of the artist's preoccupation with mortality and his hope that he might prevail against its inevitable dominion". James Ens