Masks are a deeply personal and magical creation for me. Rather than seeing a mask as something to hide under, I like to see masks as something that reveal a part of ourselves that few rarely get the chance to see. This part can be playful, mythical, animal, enchanted, or sometimes haunting. Sometimes a mask can even be a way to manifest something in ourselves that we wish to bring to light. Using this tool, we can even bring to life dreams that have been inspiring or disturbing us, so that we can work with them in the waking world.
I often choose animals for my mask designs, because I like taking on these characters and channeling their natural lives and their archetypal myths. Such as the survivalist coyote who finds a way to adapt to every obstacle thrown at it, and who is also known for its cleverness and trickery. When I take on these personas I feel like I am adding to my own strength and gaining new perspective on life.
I offer personalized mask workshops for others who would like to explore this aspect of mask making.
Materials that I use include:
- Plaster cast fabric (for personalized face molds)
- Foil (For molding shapes under the plaster cast)
- Caulk (for smooth surfaces like beaks and bone)
- Paint
- Feathers (found and purchased)
- Wood
- Leaves
- Wire
- Anything and everything from nature that can be utilized
If you’re interested in receiving a custom mask in my style, I offer a private face molding, and a consultation session to make sure that I have your vision realized. Prices for this vary depending on the materials used and the size of the mask, starts at $80 and can go up to $300. Please contact the apothecary for more information.
If you’re wanting to learn how to make the mask yourself, I offer private classes which cost $50 for 1 person or $20 per person for groups. Some materials like plaster casting and paint will be provided, if you want feathers you can either bring your own, or feathers can be provided at an additional cost.