(Click the pictures to see larger versions.)
This lemony mask started out with a tinfoil and masking tape base built over my favourite mask form. I cut out an eye mask shape first, giving it small round eyes, then used a piece of the jaw to create the nose shape, trimming it until I was satisfied and then taping it to the eye mask. After I'd covered the whole thing with another layer of masking tape to bring it all together I gave it a coat of gesso and let it dry. Then I started layering on the yellow tissue paper using varnish, purposely varying the thickness and placement of the tissue to make the colour deeper in some spots and lighter in others. The ties will probably be plain white ribbon.
I'd planned to give this some colour using transparent washes of acrylic paint, but liked the richness of the yellow so much that I left it as is. The texture really carries it, so it's not boring and plain. I know that this guy seems birdlike at first look, and maybe even second and third, but the more I look at it the more it seems alien and person-like rather than avian. So, I didn't call it a bird mask, but just a yellow fellow.
5 comments:
It may be the colors on my crappy monitor here at work but this almost looks like baked dough to me. :-) Either way, very cool!
Are you familiar with Theatre Beyond Words? This reminds me, a bit, of their "Potato People" masks. I think it's the little round eyes. Lots of personality here.
This is such an endearing mask. Makes me think of The Elephant Man as a young child...
Sonya
I found this guy to look doleful and lemony. I am always imagining plays for your masks. They have lots of character.
I think that the camera settings got changed so there's a bit too much red in the shots, lending the 'baked dough' resemblance. It's really a very bright yellow.
And the little round eyes really do give this guy his character, I think. I like the word 'doleful' in describing him, Jen!
Post a Comment