Masquerade of the Dead

I selected this Bolivian Diablo mask as inspiration for my 3-D mask because I loved all of the colors and sculpting effects of the work.  I also thought that the mask was creepy and devil-esque, but had a clownish look to it as well.

Description:  This Bolivian Diablo mask depicts a distorted animal, possibly a goat as it is a symbol of the devil, decorated in bright, violent colors, jewels, and patterns.  Another animal appears to be popping out of the goat-like creature’s head, and his tail seems to be doubling as the goat’s nose.  The goat has rotting, sharp, pointed teeth that are jagged, falling out, and angular.  The horns are especially prominent and emphasized on this mask.  The mask is ablaze in color and ornamentation, and although it is meant to be scary, it also has a circus/clown-like feel.    

Analysis:  The Bolivian Diablo mask is abundant in rich, bright, off-the-beaten-path colors.  Color is a main element of this mask as the vibrant yellows and red-oranges draw the eye to the focal point of the animal’s horns and ears.  The element of line is utilized as well to draw the eye upward and outward through the inner ear and upward through the horns.  Texture can be seen in the teeth of the animal, the curve of its features, and the jewels on the mask.  Form and shape are also prevalent in the animal’s features; the curving nose, mouth, eyes, horns, and the second animal’s body.  There is a great emphasis on the animal’s face and horns, and the entire mask is symmetrically balanced.  Rhythm and variety are also used to create movement through the piece with the elements of color, line, texture, and shape working together.  

  

I selected these Mexican Día de los Muertos masks as inspiration because I have always found them to be hauntingly beautiful.  It has always fascinated me that these masks are made to look beautiful and colorful, even though they are meant to represent skulls of the dead.  I also enjoyed the use of color and texture in these masks as well.

Description:  Día de los Muertos, or Day of the Dead, masks are meant to represent skulls.  Their pale backgrounds contrast nicely with the darkness of the eyes, nose, and mouth.  These masks are highly ornamented with color, design, pattern, and at times, bejeweled.  Flowers, especially marigolds, are an extremely important part of the mask, because these flowers are used as offerings to the spirits of the dead, and used to guide the spirits home.  Therefore, the crown of flowers surrounding the mask is typical of a traditional Day of the Dead mask.

Analysis:  Color is a very important element of Mexican culture, which can be seen on these Mexican Day of the Dead masks.  The colors of these masks come in contrast, as the base of each mask is white to symbolize the skull, and the eyes, nose, and teeth are black to symbolize hollowness.  As this base is rather monochromatic, the rich colors on the surface really pop and stand out.  Texture plays a role in these masks in the form of the traditional flower crown that surrounds the top of the mask.  Both masks are symmetrically balanced and unified.  The element of line plays a role in the form of the mouth, and the curves around the eyes and on the foreheads.  There is an emphasis on the foreheads of the mask, as this is the focal point and the area with the most design and color.  Rhythm and variety provide movement around the face of the mask.       

I selected this Masquerade mask as inspiration because as a little girl I had a ceramic Masquerade mask of my own displayed in my room.  I have always found the rich colors and glitter and patterns of these masks to be gorgeous, and I love the pomp and circumstance, and the element of the unknown that surrounds them.

Description:  This particular Masquerade mask looks like something out of a fairy tale; similar to something you would find in Cinderella.  The mask is, like the others, highly ornamented with glitter, rich color, jewels, flowers, and feathers.  The shape and bend of the mask lends itself to the image of a bird, perhaps a peacock.  The entire mask is made out of hues of purple, accented with a small amount of white, black, and silver.  The mask looks regal, elegant, and exceedingly feminine.  The swirls and twirls of the glitter add to the masks sense of whimsy.

Analysis:  In my opinion, color is the most emphasized element of this piece.  The color palette is based mostly around different hues of the color purple, but is accented with black, white, and silver.  The colors are so saturated and opulent.  Texture is also an important element of this mask, as the feathers and jewels, and glitter all provide different feelings.  Line can be found in this piece as well in the swirly lines of glitter, and the center line of the main feather which brings the eye upward.  There is unity and repetition of design in this asymmetrically balanced piece.     

These are my first quick sketches for creating my mask.  I could not decide between a Dia de los Muertos mask, or a Masquerade mask.  The mask material that I had was a plastic Jason, from Friday the 13th, mask.  Whoops.  Anyway, my challenge was: How to make Jason pretty?  I decided to go with my second design, and began the process of cutting the bottom half of the mask off.  Bad Choice.  The plastic just did NOT want to be cut my way, but alas, I prevailed.  I quickly realized that tacky glue was not going to glue all of my materials down, and had to improvise a bit with my design and change it up.  I truly enjoyed making this mask!  I'm not an art major, but am crafty, so I love these hands-on projects.

The materials I used were lace, fake flowers, tacky glue, acrylic glitter paint, ribbon, fake pearl, and sequin.  The main element used in my design was asymmetrical balance.  I piled lace and pearls and flowers on one side of the mask, and left the other slightly bare.  This made the piece look unified and rhythmic.  I utilized the elements of color and light by including light tones such as white, silver, gold, soft pink/peach, and pearl, and glitter/sequins to reflect the light nicely.  Texture was also a big part of my design as I included flowers, lace, sequin, plastic, and glitter.  Finally, I chose to emphasize the right side of the mask, and made that the most decorated/ornate part of the mask.