We've all seen a lot of news about N95 masks lately, how about we talk about a fun kind of mask?
When I finished recording Frankie and the No-Go Road, I knew I wanted masks to be involved in my cd release shows. That record is a concept album about a hero's journey, a series of steps shared by cultures all over the world in their stories and myths. Many cultures believe masks have healing powers, or supernatural powers. I certainly believe in their power of transformation, and I wanted to bring my two main characters, Frankie and Wetiko, to life during the concerts. Thus I needed masks to wear for myself, and for my adventurous audience members.
I knew what they would look like, as I'd already drawn them for the CD art, and had begun an animation project as well. So, I embarked on mask making, and felt like I was in a free-for-all, unsupervised, hurried, kindergarten craft party. It was fabulous. I decided I needed to do paper mâché, and I dove in with naiveté and relish.
[While you look: if you'd like to imagine the Wetiko chasing Frankie, who would be paddling furiously around a concert hall to escape, please go to the bottom of the page and press play for Spirit Canoe, from Frankie and the No-Go Road.]
1. For Frankie, our hero, I started by pressing multiple layers of tin foil over my face, to make an impression. Then I covered some of the outside with masking tape. For Wetiko, our villain, I wanted a much larger face, so I went with a cardboard cut out with balls of newspaper and more cardboard piled on top. Then I put masking tape all over that. Ingredients used so far are -- Tin foil, Cardboard, Newspaper, Lots of Masking Tape
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2. The paper mâché began. It was a glorious mess. I don't have a photo of the process because it was rather impractical, but I did it outside and used a mix of -- Newspaper, Water, Elmer's glue, and a bit of Flour. 3. To make a smoother and easier surface for painting, I made the last paper mâché layer out of white paper towels. Paper Towels | ![]() ![]() | |
4. After they dried, I got to gut them -- tear out the balled up newspaper and cardboard, and tin foil. | ![]() ![]() | |
5. Next, I applied a layer of homemade gesso, which hardened them some more, and made an even smoother surface to take paint. All Purpose Joint Compound, Elmer's Glue, and White Acrylic Paint. | ![]() | |
6. Then it was time to paint! I used acrylic paints from our kids' painting supplies. Acrylic Paints | ![]() ![]() | |
7. I realized that I needed something to fill the amount of forehead space, so when I attached my headgear, it wouldn't be flush against my face. So I found some foam in our closet and glued it in with a hot glue gun. Foam, Hot Glue 8. I wanted hair for both, and I wanted it to cover the back of the head. I bought two Halloween wigs -- on witch and one wizard, and hot glued them to the top edges of the masks. Halloween Wigs, Hot Glue | ![]() ![]() | |
9. The "headgear" scheme I chose was to alter some baseball hats. The masks had to be adjustable for everyone (I have a huge head,) and they needed to stay on, hands-free, during some fast movements. Baseball hats, Thread, Hot Glue | ![]() ![]() | |
10. Wetiko needed teeth, which I made out of some old, hard modeling clay from kid days. I hot glued them to his gums. Once in a while he'd lose one during a show, but I don't think anyone minded. Modeling Clay, Hot Glue, Bones, Feathers, Thread Then, they were done! Front and inside, fully functional! | ![]() ![]() |
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