Making A MUSLIN MACHE MASK

by Tara Maginnis, Ph.D.
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Note: This workbook was made in 1984-85 as part of my my MA Project at California State University Fresno. It was intended as a text workbook for the Advanced Costume Construction class to use in the costume properties portion of the class. Certain portions of the text now border on the antique because of the date at which it was written, for example under "Materials" in 1985 a hot glue gun was an unusual craft supply, only obtainable at hardware stores. I hope you will bear with these small oddities and look to the basics of this work, intended as an introduction to several basic costume crafts processes. --TM

PROJECT 2

A MUSLIN MACHE MASK

Mache masks are thought to have been worn by the ancient Greeks in their drama, and mache masks of paper or cloth have been a part of world theatre for thousands of years. This is likely to continue as the materials needed for construction are inexpensive and easy to find even in the most primitive societies, and construction is very simple. The following method for mache mask Construction is about the strongest, and will stand up to considerable wear while still being very light and somewhat flexible. This method can be adapted for use with paper but paper is harder to work with and creates a rougher, weaker mask, (similar to the embarrassing piñatas most children tried to make in grade school.) A small investment in muslin is worth the cost for the time saved.

A MUSLIN MACHE MASK

P u r p o s e :

To practice modeling mask forms in plasticine. To learn the strongest technique for mache masks. M a t e r i a 1 s : Plaster face mask cast or Styrofoam head (less desirable) Plasticine (oil base clay) Aluminum foil "PAM" pan coating 1" x 2 1/2" bias strips of muslin (1 yard square before cutting) Wheat wallpaper paste of 50/50 mix of White glue and "Vano" starch Old newspapers (to work on) Facial tissue torn into tiny pieces Hat wire "X-Acto" knife or Package cutter (less desirable) Measuring cup Measuring spoon Paint Procedure: A. Build up the desired mask shape with plasticine on the face cast or Styrofoam head, as shown. Cover face with aluminum foil, being careful to mold it around the shaped features. Spray foil with "PAM" . B. In the mixing cup, stir one teaspoon powdered wallpaper paste in 1/3 cup water. Dip bias strips in wallpaper paste and wring by pull ing through fingers, as shown. C. Lay strips in a single layer across face horizontally, as shown. E dges of strips should just barely overlap. Make sure to flatten out any lumps or bubbles. Dry. D. Lay a second layer of muslin strips over the first, this time laying them vertically on the mask, crossing the first set. Dry. Repeat two or more times, always alternating the direction of the strips and allowing the layers to dry. Photos: The strips and two sorts of overcoat, spackle at top, and gesso below. E. Remove mask from form. Pull out any foil or plasticine stuck i mask. Trim edges of mask to desired shape. By hand, whipstitch or machine zigzag sew hat wire around outer edge for strength. Make sure wire overlaps by at least 2" at join, as shown. Photo: inside the unfinished mask. At right untrimmed, at left, cut and ready for wire.F. Using an "X-acto" knife or package cutter, cut out desired nose, eye, and mouth holes.

G. Using muslin strips dipped in wheat paste seal the edges of hole shown. Seal hat wire onto outer edge with strips, as shown . H. Paint a thin layer of wheat paste on the outside of dry muslin mask. Lay small torn pieces of facial tissue on mask and press into crevices and around edges, covering the mask. Paint with a thick layer of wheat paste. Dry. Repeat. This will leave you with a semi-smooth finish. Photos of sample mask showing one side unfinished and the other finished. This sample has the tissue paper finish, AND a coating of spackle before painting. A fully completed mask originally made in 1985 (tissue paper finish only) which has been attached to a baseball cap base, and given a wig and facial hair of bits of fake fur. This mask was used for The Statue of the Commander in Don Juan at UAF in 2003, and has been carted all across the US since it's making as a demo model. This method makes very tough, light masks!

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