Latex mask making

In this session we began to learn a new skill, which was using latex. To create a latex mask you must cast it first using plaster bandage, white plaster and clay. To begin you cover your face in cling film like I have done before last year when making a mask, however leaving the nose whole open for an area to breathe. Then covering the face with wet plaster bandage to make the base of it. During the process of making this mask you must be aware of tying your hair back, wearing overalls, keep checking the person that they are okay and check their breathing still. After leaving the plaster bandage mask to dry over night, I then painted soap paste into the plaster bandage mask so that the white plaster mix didn't stick to the mask prominently. White plaster is quite simple to make but must be used very quickly as it turns into a solid with in minutes, to make it I filled the bucket about three quarters of the way up with water then sprinkled the plaster into the centre of the water bucket to create a small island of powder. By doing this you then know the right amount is in, then the last thing to do with it is to just mix it until it is a runny paste. After spreading the plaster inside the mask, on the outside I experimented with it and poured mixed colours of ink over the mask just to see what it looked lie, as this linked with my utopia again using the bright colours. Shortly after letting the ink dry we then used clay to create a design on the mask that linked with our utopia. I used blocks and squares that stuck out of the mask linking it to my hanging block work. I smoothed the clay out so it was not lumpy and misshaped. 

                  

After completing the clay design I began to work with the new material latex. Again this is quite a simple material to use however keeping in mind the idea of health and safety is important as the fumes from the latex is strong so keeping the room vented is vital, as well as using gloves when painting the mask and keeping hair and skin away from it as some people are allergic to it. To start my latex work I covered the end of the paint brush in washing up liquid as this stops lumps of latex drying and sticking to the brushes which ruins them. To complete the mask I must repeat the layers another four times togged a solid result. 

When I finally put another four layers of latex on the mask became thicker and stronger, however to secure the mask from ripping even more I added thicker into the latex. Firstly I squeezed in a blob of thickener and stirred it into a thick paste so it looked almost like whipped cream. When it became very thick I then repeated the process of applying it to my mask three to four times again and leaving it to dry for about an hour each time I put a new layer on. After leaving my mask over night to fully dry, the latex had become much stronger and thicker, this is the result I was aiming for. I then decided to add colour to my mask linking it with my utopian dream. I used most of the colours from the rainbow on the squares mainly to relate back to my wooden block work to make sure the acrylic paint stuck, I added little bits of latex to the paint in the palate to thicken the colour and make sure it stuck. To complete my mask I then peeled it off the plaster face and let it all dry and placed it on a mannequin head to keep its shape whilst it fully dried.