Ceramic Masks

Handbuilding:

1. Dust out mask slump mold to be sure it is clean to make your mask.

TIP: If your mold is wet apply a light dusting of cornstarch to the inside of the mold to keep your clay from sticking to the wet plaster.

2. Roll out a slab about 1/4” thick.

3. Compress slab on either side with rib.

4. Slump your clay into the mold, starting in the center place the clay down into the mold so the entire face is covered with clay.

5. Cut away extra clay around the outside of your mask, leaving a small border if you wish.

6. Compress and smooth the inside of your mask and let it sit in the mold until clay is dry enough to hold the shape.

7. Pull clay out of the mold and clean up with a sponge.

8. Use press molds (CD-1151, CD-1152) to add decoration to the mask by creating impressions on small pieces of clay and attaching them to the mask by slipping and scoring.

9. Use a ribbon tool to carve in decorative lines and add texture.

10. Option to create holes in border of mask by punching holes with the end of a straw.

11. Let dry completely and bisque piece to Cone 04 if not adding stroke & coat.

Stroke & Coat® on wet clay (left in photo):

1. Once sculpture is complete add color to the piece by brushing on Stroke & Coat® colors with a soft bristled brush.

2. Option to create a wash to cover sections of the mask by adding 1 part water to 2 parts glaze and brushing on the color.

3. Wipe semi dried glaze away with a damp sponge to create an antiqued look.

4. Using a loop or ribbon tool carve back into the mask revealing the bare clay underneath.

5. Once dried fully fire to Cone 06.

Softees Acrylic on Bisque (right in photo):

1. With a variety of acrylic brushes, add color to designs of your mask.

2. Create wash with your base color(s) of the face by adding water to acrylic until it is a watercolor constancy.

3. Apply wash(s) to base face area with a soft bristle acrylic brush.

4. Before completely dry wipe away with a wet sponge to achieve an antiqued look.

5. Finish mask with Emperor’s Gold accents and outline designs in Flat Black.

Assemble:

1. After all the firing stages, add optional beads and wire to the  outside of the mask by threading through holes made in the hand building stage.

Variations and Adaptations

• If you don’t have access to the mask molds, plain plastic masks are usually available at most craft stores. Instead of draping the clay inside of the mask mold, the clay will be draped over the top of the plastic mask and removed before drying out to avoid cracking from shrinkage.