Mask Maker, Mask Maker, Make Me a Mask
Instructor: Michael DeMeng

"I collect masks.   I’m not sure what it is but ever since I was a kid I have always been intrigued by the idea of transforming ones identity. That is why I love masks. Perhaps it’s a superhero thing, but mask making is one of the oldest cultural traditions in the world, in fact the earliest example being from the Stone Age.  The hunter would were animal masks to disguise themselves and stalk prey.  They transformed themselves into the animals they were hunting.  In essence this is what a mask does, it changes the wearer into something else. Have you ever noticed when you wear a mask you act a little differently, that you temporarily lose yourself and become whatever the mask represents? " - Michael DeMeng

In this class, we are going to play with this concept and using various found objects or existing masks, we are going to transform them into strange and unusual facial disguises. This is a three day class.  This gives you the opportunity to make plaster forms from your own face if you are so inclined.  It also allows ample drying time for some of the constructions before they are transformed with paint and texture.

Making masks is different than merely wearing them; it can be a process for artists to reveal what is veiled inside one’s soul.   It is a strange art form that keeps secrets but also simultaneously unearths hidden worlds. Oh, the irony.

• A base to work from. This can be a piece of wood, an actual mask, a mannequin head, anything that you can work from to build you assemblage mask.
• Activa Plaster Rigid Wrap 4" Wide Rigid-Wrap Plaster Cloth (similar products can be found at medical supply stores). You only need this if you want an exact replica mask of your face.
• Aves Apoxy Clay 1/4lbs or more
• Variety of other found objects that might be interesting additions to the Day of the Dead toys. Items like watch parts, gears, old toys, typewriter parts….just about anything, really. You want a variety of shapes and forms.
• Paint Brushes (a couple small detail brushes, and some cheap brushes (1/2 inch to 1 inch in size)
• Wire (a couple of different gauges)
• Basic Tools…pliers, scissors,
• Molding Paste (Golden or Liquitex)
• Matte Medium
• Paint
  • Quinacridone Nickel Azo Gold (acrylic paint by Golden)
  • TitaniumWhite (acrylic paint by Golden)
  • Carbon or Mars Black (acrylic paint by Golden)
  • Pthalo Green blue shade (acrylic paint by Golden)
  • Dioxazine Purple (acrylic paint by Golden)
  • Quinacridone Crimson (acrylic paint by Golden)
  • Nickel Azo Yellow (acrylic paint by Golden)
  • Van Dyke Brown (acrylic paint by Golden)
  • Anthraquinone Blue (acrylic paint by Golden)

• Tools like pliers, wire cutters, etc.
• Heat gun
• Dremmel with cut off wheel
• Paints - Micaceous Iron Oxide and Graphite Gray (both acrylic paints by Golden), Iridescent paints or interference paints of your choice

ADDITIONAL PROGRAM INFORMATION