African Mask Project for Kids: Plaster Mask Craft

African masks are made by many different cultures across the continent, and they have been admired in museums for generations. In this project, kids build an African-inspired mask with plaster strips over a plastic craft mask, then paint it in earth tones. It suits ages 7 and up, takes about 2 hours of hands-on time over two days (drying included), and is a good way to talk about how masks differ from place to place. The National Museum of African Art in Washington, D.C. is a good place to see real examples, in person or online.

African masks have also shaped modern western art. Cubism, fauvism and expressionism all drew on African sculpture, and the Metropolitan Museum of Art notes that Picasso’s work reflects the forms of Dan masks from Liberia and Côte d’Ivoire.

left to right, clockwise: Amedeo Modigliani – Woman’s Head, 1912, Pablo Picasso – Bust of a Man, 1908, Paul Klee – Comedians’ Handbill, 1938. Photo credit: Metropolitan Museum of Art

Before You Start: A Note on Respect

Africa is a continent with 54 countries and thousands of communities, so there is no single “African mask.” Masks differ by region, people and purpose, and many were made for specific ceremonies, performances and social roles. Some are sacred, so this project makes an inspired mask rather than a copy of any one tradition. Before painting, look at real examples with your kids and read the museum’s labels to see where each comes from. Avoid calling masks “tribal” and name the people or region instead when you know it.

How Do You Make a DIY African-Inspired Mask?

Age: 7+, with an adult helping with the cutting. Difficulty: medium. Time: about 2 hours of work, plus drying overnight or longer.

Materials:

• plastic craft-store mask
• plaster strips
• gesso
• acrylic paints and brushes
• bowl of warm water
• scissors and newspaper or a drop cloth

For ideas, look at photos of masks from museums and note the shapes: long faces, bold eyebrows, geometric patterns. The Met’s essay above is a good starting point, and the two books at the bottom of this page have many photos.

Directions:

1. Cut the plaster. Cut the plaster strips into strips about 2″ wide, then cut those in half the short way. Long strips are hard for kids to manage, and 2″ x 2″ squares also work well. Cut more pieces than you think you need.

2. Wet each piece. Dip one strip at a time into the water and slide it through your fingers to squeeze off the excess.

3. Cover the mask. Lay the pieces over the plastic mask, overlapping them, until it has about two layers. Cover the eye, nose and mouth holes. Rub the edges of each new strip onto the one beneath it. The more you smooth the plaster, the fewer bumps show after drying.

4. Shape the features. Press the plaster into ridges over the eyes for stylized eyebrows, or square off the tip of the nose.

A video shows how to use plaster cloth:

5. Let it dry. Set the mask aside. After it has set for a little while you can pop it off the plastic mask. Drying takes longer in damp weather, up to a day or more. If the mask feels cold to the touch, it is still damp. It must be fully dry before painting. Trim the edges with scissors if you like. Don’t use a microwave to speed it up, since the plastic mask can warm or melt.

Clean-up and safety: Don’t pour plaster water down the drain. Let it settle, pour the clear water off the top, and throw the plaster bits in the trash. Plaster strips warm up as they set, so only use them on the craft mask, never on a person’s face or skin. Wash hands after handling.

6. Prime. Paint two coats of gesso over the mask, letting it dry completely between coats.

7. Paint. Paint a base brown over the mask. The original project mixed burnt umber with a tiny dab of off-white. When it’s completely dry, dry-brush a cream color on the middle of the face. To dry-brush, use a small brush and paint straight from the tube without adding water, so it doesn’t sink into the little holes in the plaster.

Option 2: Paint the whole mask brown, let it dry, then paint geometric designs over it with white or cream paint.

No Plaster? Try Pre-Made Mask Blanks

Don’t want to get plastery? Dick Blick sells punch-out masks that you fold and staple, then decorate. Dick Blick lists them as 11″ x 15″ in packs of 20.

Inspiration!

Click on either book to view on Amazon.

 

 

Check out the post on African children’s books here.

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