This book teaches new techniques that anyone can use to create fabulous masks easily and quickly. Make one of the 12 popular mask styles in the book with detailed instructions and over 300 step-by-step photos - or use these easy new methods to create your own unique designs. Jonni shows you exactly how to sculpt the features of your masks so they truly represent the character and expression you're looking for. Then capture that look permanently with just two layers of super-strong, fast-setting paper mache, using the recipes included in the book. Your finished masks can look like they were made from fur or feathers, antique gold, ancient bone, rusted iron, glazed porcelain, and even carved and highly polished African wood. The innovative methods in this book are easy, the materials cost just pennies per mask, and your new creations will be even more fun to make than they are to wear. This book takes the art of paper mache masks to a whole new level.

Thirty disguises, all identified and ready to color, include a mask used by a performer in an ancient Roman tragedy, a Death Mask from Mexico, a Chinese Lion Mask for New Year's celebrations, a water spirit disguise from New Caledonia, as well as masks from Guatemala, India, Nigeria, Egypt, Peru, Borneo, and Burma (Myanmar).

In the Mexican states of Puebla and Veracruz, old masked dances have survived in isolated mountain regions. These dances include wonderful masks of humans and animals, masks with beautiful, comic, or wicked faces. Created by Indigenous master carvers, mascareros, these masks and puppets appear during religious fiestas. Over 700 vivid color photos reveal these masks and puppets in all their glory. The thoroughly researched text answers the questions about who made these beautiful works of art, who these dance characters are, and the nature of the religion they represent. The Spanish conquerors strove to convert the Indian inhabitants of Mexico to Christianity. However, these converts secretly retained important deities from earlier times to accompany Christian elements, creating a poetic blend of beliefs. Given that these indigenous peoples have suffered many injustices, the masks, puppets, and dance dramas reflect many unresolved societal tensions along with veiled wishes for divine justice.

Step-by-step instructions for creating papier-mâché monstrosities and expanding the limits of your imagination, from the author of Paper Mache Dragons Celebrated monster-making master Dan Reeder is at it again—helping others to let out their inner monsters! All that’s needed are a few simple materials and a wild imagination. Reeder guarantees success if the tried-and-tested, goof-proof how-to steps in this humorous read are followed. But there’s more—he’s also giving away all of his secrets for creating ghoulish monster elements such as jaws, claws, horns, scales, webbing, tentacles, eyeballs, fingers, toes, gnarly hands and feet, and even perfect drool! Learn how to make a basic monster and you’ll be well on your way to creating more hideous creatures, beasts, dragons, and whatever else your dark side can think of! “I’m not one to argue that the world doesn’t need more monsters, be they made of papier and/or cloth mâché, as demonstrated in Dan’s entertaining new book, or flesh and blood, as demonstrated by the one standing behind you right now.” —Gary Larson, creator, Far Side “For lovers of the truly grotesque, Reeder provides detailed photo instructions for large figures constructed of clothes hangers, newspaper, and glue. Cloth skin, teeth, and slathered-on paint finish them off. The toothy dragons are particularly effective.” —School Library Journal

This do-it-yourself guide gives detailed instructions for making paper masks — how to cut, fold, score, model, paint, and decorate them. Make masks of people, clowns, birds, and animals: lion, cat, dog, fox, bear, monkey, more. 93 black-and-white illustrations.

From concept to construction.