Quasimodo - paper

Papier Machee has been applied! a few more layers and then paint

The Heavy Brow...

This was originally based on an actor that I saw in a BBC production called 'Downton Abby' the actor Jim Carter was the inspiration for the heavier brow, falling into the sloped nose, and bags under the eyes.

At this point in the process this mask now has 4 layers of paper on it, and is just waiting to dry so that can paint a base coat on it, prepping it to be painted in colour, which I haven't yet decided on.

The form it's sitting on top of is a face cast that I have left over from when I was in makeup school. So I have a face that I start building on in order to have the correct proportions, for the eyes in general.

First Mask

This happy guy is my first offering, but not the first mask I've ever made. I learned papier-mache mask making from a Clay and Paper Theatre in Toronto Ontario, while I was working on building a show for them. I have, recently, been trying to improve on the methods a little in order to help create a smoother, less 'papier-mache' look to it.

Introduction

I am starting this blog basically as an art journal in order to show my process when I'm making masks, and perhaps a few other things as they get made. The name 'Vile Jelly' of course comes from Shakespeare's King Lear, I have always loved the line, and I felt that it'd make a good name for a creative studio that does it's best to do things a little differently.

As for myself, I am your humble servant in the creation of masks and other things. I will post a few things in order to get the ball rolling in order to show what I have done and what I'm capable of.

I will be using this blog also as a means to show the process for things that will be put into an Etsy store, where they can be purchased, and of course I will be taking commissions.