Mask Workshop

Leather mask workshop: 11 - 20 June 1999

Day 7

Movies require Quicktime

Thoroughly wet, roll and wring the leather and work it in all directions to break up the grain and fibres. Place the leather on the block & nail it on with brass (or copper) nails.

Begin with the corners of the eyes, the nostrils, at the centres of the top, bottom and either side. Fold the leather at every centimetre using a stick. Keep the folds vertical and at right angles to the side of the mask. Keep the folds even and as much the same size as possible.

Beat the leather with the smoothed, pointed end of the cow horn hammer. Do this carefully and gently. Start at the bridge of the nose and work out. Once this is completed flatten the leather where required with the other end of the hammer.

Work the leather with the polished wooden sticks. Make sure all edges and defined lines and sharp and straight. Work edges with wooden tool working to the edge from both sides to make it clearly defined.

NOTE: Place the thicker end of the leather (if there is one) at the bottom end of the mask. Fold the nose leather underneath the nose.

You can view two quicktime movies from Day 6: movie one or movie two.

Send feedback to:

Bill Blaikie
Workshop organiser
Coordinator BA Communication Theatre / Media
Charles Sturt University

Paolo Consiglio's website can be visited at: www.webitaly.com/personae/welcome.html

Thoroughly wet, roll and wring the leather and work it in all directions to break up the grain and fibres. Place the leather on the block & nail it on with brass (or copper) nails. Begin with the corners of the eyes, the nostrils, at the centres of the top, bottom and either side. Fold the leather at every centimetre using a stick. Keep the folds vertical and at right angles to the side of the mask. Keep the folds even and as much the same size as possible.
Beat the leather with the smoothed, pointed end of the cow horn hammer. Do this carefully and gently. Start at the bridge of the nose and work out. Once this is completed flatten the leather where required with the other end of the hammer.
Work the leather with the polished wooden sticks. Make sure all edges and defined lines and sharp and straight. Work edges with wooden tool working to the edge from both sides to make it clearly defined. NOTE: Place the thicker end of the leather (if there is one) at the bottom end of the mask. Fold the nose leather underneath the nose.
You can view two quicktime movies from Day 6: movie one or movie two.