Masks have been used in various human cultures throughout history for purposes such as theater, religion, celebrations and film. They represent different aspects of human psychology and can be interpreted and created using clay by researching and selecting a mask image to work from, building a newspaper base for support, rolling out clay and tracing the mask shape onto it, smoothing ridges and adding symmetrical and balanced features.

1. MASK
PROJECT

2. Masks are
common to
all human
cultures:
from theater,
religion, film,
celebrations

3. Masks
represent
different
aspects of
our
psychology

4. Research
and select
mask image
to work
from to
interpret in
clay

5. Use
newspaper
base to
support clay
as you are
working on
mask

6. Roll out
slab of clay
and smooth
onto
newspaper
base

7. Observe
outer border
of mask
shape and
trace on
clay slab

8. Smooth
uneven
ridges
around
where clay
was cut

9. Use needle
tool to block
out quarter
marks for
measuring
mask
features

10. Add
features—
most masks
are
symmetrical
and
balanced