Mask Making workshop with Cath Whippey

30, 31 March and 3 April 2009 | 10 – 5pm each day
Free, but booking is essential, so contact Ruth: art@timespan.org.uk

Cath Whippey is a fine artist, specialising in the culture of mask making. Her work varies from intimate head pieces to enormous full bodied works, exploring a host of materials.

With Cath you will have the opportunity to learn the process of making a mask that that you can wear. Using a process of clay modeling, papier mache and finally painting the masks.

Golden Wolf At Dusk


Drummer Mask


Each day will be a different stage.
Day one: clay modelingDay two: papier mache over the clay form
Day three: removing from clay, tidying up edges, cutting eyeholes, painting the mask, and wearing!

Brief: Think of an animal/human hybrid character - perhaps an animal with some human emotions e.g. - surprise, envy, in love, tranquility, mirth or a human with some animal emotions e.g. scurrying about, sniffing things out - Through the clay modeling process, you will discover the features of your mask. It's about finding a characteristic, a temperament and mood for the character you model.

Collect images of human facial expressions - the more expressive the better, maybe search for images of character actors faces - and collect images of animal faces, as many images as possible, you can bring in photocopies from books, maybe even sketches. Look in the mirror and try different expressions, see how 'pulling a face' makes you feel in your body and posture.