My other job

When I am not making a mess in my workshop, I am dressed up in business casual clothes and working at the Writing Center at Virginia Military Institute in Lexington, Virginia.

I just started a blog there:
http://sites.vmi.edu/drakemp

THE WINTER BLAHS GOT ME!

Since I've sick most of January and so far all of February, I have worked sporadically in my workshop but neglected to take pictures.

I will have some this week!

Here are some masks I'd like to imitate and do variations of each.

The cat mask is finished!
You can refer to my posts on Jan 30-31 to see the early steps.

The Rainbow Maker mask is finished.
You can refer to posts on Dec. 15, Jan. 5, and Jan. 10 to see the earlier steps. 

 

 I really like these muncher things. The maker calls them human fly traps.
I wish she had posted the finished critters. I think I will make a few.

http://www.halloweenforum.com/tutorials-and-step-by-step/94596-my-take-human-fly-trap.html


Here's a link to one of my favorite paper mache artists, Dan Reeder. He works really hard on details
I like the part of this tutorial on adding hair and fingers.

http://papermacheblog.com/older-paper-mache-projects/paper-mache-dark-butterfly/

The home site for his blog is http://papermacheblog.com/

The home site for his work is http://gourmetpapermache.com/


I just bought two of his books. What fun! he writes in a humorous manner and the directions are super simple. Anyone could make a monster with his directions. Both books have great photo galleries of his finished works. Both are available in a variety of formats on Amazon.

Make Something Ugly for a Change

The Simple Screamer

 

 

Cat mask progress 

Here's the cat mask with the parts taped on.

This picture shows the cat mask totally covered with tissue and then with added DAP lightweight spackling compound to fill in some undeveloped spots.

Fabric glued to reinforce ears. Spackling covered  with tissue

 Here's the development sequence of the plaster form.


newspaper on plaster

 eyes and nose parts added

 one coat of wood filler added

another coat of wood filler added 

 Smoothed with joint compound.
A little sanding and it will be ready to paint.








HERE IS A LINK TO A FUN VIDEO

http://sculpting.wonderhowto.com/how-to/make-paper-mache-fishwichwich-332300/


HERE'S A GREAT LINK FOR INFORMATION ABOUT MASKS WITH SOME GREAT PICTURES

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/03/26/becoming-another-rubin-mu_n_6942708.html?utm_hp_ref=arts&ncid=tweetlnkushpmg00000030

BASIC PAPER MACHE INSTRUCTIONS FOR MAKING A MASK 
http://diyfashion.about.com/od/maskandmasquerade/ss/how-to_mask.htm

 Making a cat mask

 Make a form on a balloon.

Add cardboard for the nose.

Add cardboard for the lower part of the nose.

Make cheeks with cardboard and masking tape.

Tape the cheeks on.

Add some detail to fill out the face.

trial ear shapes on paper

Cut cardboard for the ear shape. I tried several with paper first.

trial paper ear shapes





 

Bend the cardboard shape in the middle and on the bottom.

Cut a slit in the center bottom, overlap and glue or tape.

Here the ears are attached where I want them.
I am not satisfied with the size of the top of the cheek bones so I will adjust those.

The bottom of the chin is a bit pointy too, so I will adjust that a bit.

Real cat features

Here are two photos of my senior cat Comer Lee Hawkins Jr. Jr.
He is 10 years old. He is starting to show his age probably because it is winter and he hates cold and snow. He will perk up  in the spring when he can roll in the grass and enjoy our garden.

Have you ever noticed that cats have eyebrows? There is a fleshy portion on the top of the eye and then there are several special whiskers.

 

Additional Links from the internet with mask and process ideas

1. The first one today is a forum for discussing  and sharing hip, off-beat, crafty diy (do it yourself) projects. You can find tones articles, tutorials and discussions. The link below is specific to paper mache and masks. You can also use the search bar to find others.

http://www.craftster.org/forum/index.php?topic=375028.0  


2. The next one takes you to a tutorial for making a Tiki mask but there is lots of other information and superb gallery. Excellent place to go for ideas.

http://www.papiermache.co.uk/tutorials/tiki-mask/   


3. Today's third site is specific to using mask making as therapy and some psychological information about mask making

http://www.gestaltarttherapy.com/1/2011_making_masks_and_working_with_masks_587876.html  


4. More about using mask making for therapy or growth. It has a good article with references.

http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/benefits-of-mask-making-in-journey-toward-wholeness-0910134