Mask Making

The first mask I selected for inspiration is the Lwalwa mask. This type of mask were used as dancing masks and in celebration ceremonies. They used geometric shapes to represent facial features such as the eyes and mouth. The colors of the mask are very monochromatic, yet there are different values of the brown color. You can also see that the headdress has pattern as well as texture.

Next, I chose the Yohure mask. They too were used in dance ceremonies, but also to help the community deal with the death of a tribe member.They combine both animal and human features in their masks. There is the element of repetition with the pattern of white triangles on either side of the forehead and face. There is also emphasis placed on the forehead and mouth/nose area with a lighter shading of white over the dark brown.

The third type of mask I looked at was the Baule mask. This was used in a dance festival during the harvest season. The circular face gives the element of movement in the way that it was used to symbolize the life-giving force of the sun.



Below are my sketches for my mask. I chose to use geometric shapes for the eyes and mouth. I knew I wanted to do something with the sun; I just couldn't help myself with the heat we have been having.

To add the 3-D element I had the rays projecting from the face of the mask in the final mask instead of fanning out around it.

I am not into magic and witchcraft, but the idea of my mask came from what I read in the textbook. The Africans created masks to scare young men into respecting their elders or for people to treat the handicapped well. I created mine to remind us that we need to take care of our planet, or else our ozone layer will continue to become thinner and the suns rays more powerful.

I enjoyed the mask making process as well as reading and learning more about the art of making masks. I would have liked to have gone out and bought better materials to make a more elaborate mask, but did not have the means to do so right now. But I feel that i successfully created a mask that embodied some of the characteristics and elements of the masks I chose for inspiration.