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Handmade Masks I don't know when I first fell in love with masks, but the collection started back in high school. When I was at UCSC, taking film and theater classes, I'm pretty sure it was the Makeup & Masks class that finally steered me from my filmic thoughts. |
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I've mostly make masks of paper macheié made from brown paper bags, but I also like to work on little half masks and full face forms too, using them as a base to quickly build up details. The masks are lightweight and strong, and can be treated almost any manner of paint or glue. |
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The subtlest change in eye or mouth shape changes the total expression of the face. All these masks were ones I made while participating in the Soft Touch Artists Collective from September 1995 through July 1997. The store stocked a great variety of handmade masks every Halloween, and tons of people would come in to try on the masks. |
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Working in the store it was great to watch how both the people and the masks changed through the interaction, how eyes and hair intermeshed with feathers and fixed expressions. I learned a lot about what people want in a mask too. Some need to breathe first of all, some need to see. People tend to prefer half masks, as they can still eat and drink while masked at a party. |
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In addition to making masks, I also collect them. |
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