Aboriginal Gourd Mask

Materials:

gourd
acrylic paint: red, white, yellow
sandpaper
paintbrushes
craft knife or jigsaw
shredded dyed yucca
glass beads
thick white glue
clear acrylic spray
pencil
air-dry clay
cord or wire for hanging
awl or tool to make holes (drill)
safety glasses
dust mask
copper scrubber
tape measure

1. Clean and scrub the outside of the gourd with water and a copper scrubber to remove any mold. Dry thoroughly.

2. Measure the halfway point on the gourd and pencil a cut line around the center of the gourd. Cut the gourd in half with a craft knife or a jigsaw (figure A). Be sure and wear a mask and eye protection. Scrape out the interior and wash it.

3. Sand the edges smooth with sandpaper.

4. Draw the face design on the gourd with a pencil (figure B).

5. Cut out the eyes with a craft knife (figure C). Save theses cutout pieces for the gourd necklace project.

6. Sand the edges of eyeholes smooth with sandpaper.

7. Sculpt a mouth and nose out of air-dry clay. Press them onto the mask (figure D). Carefully peel the clay pieces off the mask and let them harden. Follow manufacturer’s directions to harden the air-dry clay.

8. Glue the clay nose and mouth to the gourd mask with thick white glue and let dry.

9. Paint the gourd mask with acrylic paint. Paint one section red, one section yellow and one section white (figure E).

10. Add embellishments in contrasting colors. Create dots in regular intervals in varying patterns with a small brush (figure F).

11. Decide where the hair will go and using an awl, make holes around the edge of the mask to insert shredded dyed yucca for hair (figure G).

12. Spray the entire mask with clear acrylic spray to seal and protect. Spray in well-ventilated area. Let dry (figure H).

13. Glue yucca strands into the holes for hair along the edge of the mask (figure I).

14. Glue the glass beads into the eyeholes (figure J).

15. Add two small holes on opposite side of the mask and attach wire or cord to hang the mask.

16. Hang your aboriginal gourd mask on the wall and enjoy!

We apologize no further contact information is available for Denise Wally.