Not-So-Tribal Mask

Step 1

Steps:

1. With a large piece of cardboard on a work surface, place an oval container near one end and trace around the curve to create the forehead of the mask.

• Move the oval about 2-1/2-feet toward the other end of the cardboard and trace around the arch end to create the chin of the mask.
  
• Connect the two arches together on the sides using a straight edge.
  
• This forms an oblong shape for the tribal mask.

Steps 2-4

2. Measure a 1-1/2-inch border all the way around and draw the cutting line.

3. At each curved end draw three lines at the roundest part, one straight up, two at slight angles. These will be slits to be folded to create depth to the mask.

4. Cut out the shape and cut the three slits at the top and bottom with a craft knife.

Step 5

5. Cut three sides of a nose into the face, two side slits and a bottom slit. Leave the top attached to the rest of the cardboard. The nose should be thin at the top and wide at the bottom.

Step 6

6. Bend the cardboard toward the back along the original drawn lines. Hold the mask in shape with masking tape and staples.

Step 7

7. Fold the nose vertically down the center. Hold the nose in place with masking tape.

Step 8

8. Flip the form over and crumple up newsprint to fill the back of the nose. Tape the newsprint in place with masking tape to form a three-dimensional nose that won’t collapse.

Step 9

9. Cut two plastic drinking cups down to within an inch of the bottom to create two eyes just above the bridge of the nose. Position the cups cut side down and secure in place with masking tape.

Steps 10-11

10. Crumple pieces of newsprint and shape them into eyebrows and lips. Use masking tape to hold them in place. Be generous with the masking tape as the shapes formed at this stage are the most important.

11. Go over the form with masking tape, reinforce every place where cardboard overlaps and make sure all newsprint is covered with at least one layer of tape.

Steps 12-13

12. Cut a roll of 4-inch plaster bandage into 5-inch strips.

13. Dip the plaster pieces into a glass bowl of warm water one piece at a time. Lay the bandage strip on the cardboard form and smooth it out, spreading the plaster all over the fabric strip. Overlap strips and blend the plaster.

Steps 14-15

14. Add the plaster strips until the front of the form is completely covered. Be sure to wrap the edges of the form. Let the front dry.

15. Cover the back of the form with plaster bandages. Let dry for 45 minutes.

Steps 16-17

16. Coat the front and back of the mask with gesso. Let dry.

17. Sketch facial features onto the tribal mask with a pencil.

Step 18

18. Paint the mask with acrylic paint using a variety of colors. Try blending colors while they’re wet for a flame effect. Let dry.

Step 19

19. Outline features of the design with a black permanent marker.

Steps 20-24

20. Hot-glue a few faux gems to accentuate the mask, such as tiny crystals in the pupils and bigger gems on the cheeks.

21. Hot-glue fringe to the forehead to create bangs for the mask.

22. Cut long fuzzy faux fur into strips and attach them to the forehead with hot glue just behind the bangs.

23. Hot-glue feathers to the top of the head.

24. Poke a couple holes in the sides of the not-so-tribal mask near the top for hanging. Run a wire through the holes and twist it on each end to secure it.

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