African Masks

After studying African masks and making them in clay, students were challenged to create another mask showing more detail and also to add various elements and media. Symmetry was stressed in the making of these masks. 

We began by revisiting various African masks for inspiration. Students were given paper that they folded either vertically or horizontally.  Cuts were made on the edges to change the shape of the masks and make them more unique.

After all of our cuts were made, next came the task of designing the masks.  To keep the masks symmetrical, students drew on one side of the mask using crayons, folded it over and then rubbed hard to transfer the crayon to the other side.  Students thought this step was so amazing and cool.  (Insert oohs and ahhs here.)  There are days that they make me feel like a rock star/genius!  Facial features and details were added. We talked about proportion and making sure the the facial features matched the size of their masks. Students had to really think about ways to divide the leftover spaces. 

The next phase was painting.  Yay!  I urged students to consider using some earthy, neutral colors as they went.  After the painting was complete the grass was tied onto the borders. You could add more materials if you have the time and money to invest. I sprayed diluted brown watercolor on them to make them look a bit more muted and old. The end products turned out to be quite nice!