Page Five

Trimming and Painting

     When the mask is completely dry then you can do the final trimming.  Take a good pair of scissors and trim around the outside of the mask to make it a smooth line.  Cut out the eyes or trim them if you have glued around them.  When you are done then take either pieces of masking tape or pieces of the same paper you used and glue them over the outside edges of the mask and around the eyes so that these are smooth.  It is important to make sure that the edges around the eyes are smooth and that pieces of paper won't break off while you are wearing the mask.  After you are finished then wash the inside and outside of the mask one more time with glue and leave it until the next day when it is dry.  

     Now you can paint the mask.  Acrylic paint works fine.  Paint the inside of the mask a plain white or black which will seal the glue and prepare the mask for the sealer or varnish finish.  Paint the outside of the mask whatever you want with highlights and shadows.  The key is to think about what the mask will be used for.  Is it human in nature which means that you can paint it flesh tones?  Is it made to wear on stage in which case what colours will suit the lighting?  White might have to be toned down so as to not reflect the stage lights.  Black may wash out under reddish light and lose the features.  Is this mask going to be filmed on video or film stock?  In that case pure white might not be the best as it might appear too luminous on screen.  If the mask is never to be worn on the face and will simply be displayed somewhere then go crazy and have fun!

     Now carefully place the mask down on a surface where it won't be disturbed and leave it to dry completely.  This is usually two or three more days.  Remember that in a couple of days it might feel dry on the surface but still be wet inside the layers.  As it hardens you can check it occasionally and dig out any clay still stuck inside any hollows or features.

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