Technique of Production of masks

The original technique of production of paper mache masks is really simple. You need just few materials, like clay, paper and glue and your personal craftsmanship. First we create a clay mould and than liquid plaster is poured onto the model. When the plaster layer is completely hardened, we can remove the original in clay. So we have obtained a negative mould, which preserve the shape of the original one.
This plaster mould is covered with a thin layer of vaseline and filled with several layers of wet paper and glue. We have to be able to press the paper into the mould with our fingers without them wrinkling or creasing. At this point the mould is placed on a heat source until the mask is dry and can be taken out.
We apply several coats of white tempera and finally the eye holes can now be cut. Now the mask is ready to be decorated with different kind of materials.