Mask making experimentation Day 2 and 3

Experiment 1: Papier Mache continued...

The second day on the same mask, focused on the details of the face. I spent a lot of the day sculpting the nose, eyebrows and fur definition. I did so by building structure with twisted newspaper and flat newspaper on top. The overall effect meant light hit the mask differently. Something i really need consider in my film.

                                            

 Close up, showing detailing on the nose.

                        

Today, I started to paint the mask to make it more colourful and more 'bear- like'. However, I'm very aware of how time consuming this process has been and that I'm starting to not like the style to which i've made this mask. Considering the time I had left, i've started considering different and quicker methods of mask making that can leave for experimentation with the 'abstract' and time to experiment more with video editing.

Bear mask with base colour- at the moment lacking colour and cannot yet be easily identified as a bear.

In light of my awareness of time and the not so successful papier mache mask, I decided to research more into colour and abstract shapes as a basis of my mask making. In my initial research, I had come across Native American culture and their use of masks in rituals. They believed that they were spirtually connected to the animals and environment around them and during rituals, those that wore animal masks were connected and in some ways became the animal. I saw similarities between these rituals and the stories in 'Metamorphoses of Ovid'. Their masks are also very colourful and usually aren't realistic interpretations of the animal. I gathered some research by looking at patterns from books and made a mask inspired by this exploration.

   (Scans from my sketchbook)

First experiment with Paper masks.

I'm really happy with this end result, taking on board pattern and shape. Taking this experiment on board. I want to look at how this technique could undertake different stages of the metamorphosis, with the help of face paint as well. I also intend on mixing the paper with other materials such as coloured tissue paper and perhaps even old magazine or patterned paper. Taking into account the film element i need to test lighting on the mask and how it will look in the environment i will be filming in (i.e. woodland area).