Bird masks in process

Mask making is one of my favorite crafty little things, and I'm lucky that working in a costume shop allows me to take on these sorts of projects from time to time. Right now we are working on a production of The Birds by Aristophanes and my task is to create fourteen lightweight bird masks out of wonderflex and varaform. The designer wanted to see a lot of the actor underneath and let the shape of the beak show most of the personality. For this reason she asked that the plastic be adhered to glasses. Here are a few teaser process shots.

Owl Clay Mold

Owl Unpainted Mask

In addition to the masks I am creating a splay of "feathers" for an actor to wear on his head like a mohawk. These feathers are created out of horsehair braid and rigilene mounted on fosshape. Here are what the feathers are looking like. 

More process of the The Birds to come soon.

University of Minnesota Dept of Theatre
theatre.umn.edu