Hi, I'm completly new to mask making and have been surfing this site for a while and was curious about papier mache processes. I'm in charge of making masks of our upcoming high school production of The Fantasticks which is heavily rooted in the Commedia d'el Arte style. My basic game plan is to use general forms to create the simpler chorus masks but for the two main characters I'm looking to make a custom fit mask so that it won't move around as much while they're on stage. I'm hoping that I will be able to cover their face in a bit of petrolium jelly and then layer it with some plastercraft gauze until it dries, just to get a sturdy enough base, and then reinforce that with papier mache strips and pulp. Someone was mentioning though that papier mache is best done using negative molds bc it tends to shrink and possibly crack. However, due to my time crunch and my lack of knowledge I'm hoping this works. Most of these masks are half-masks so I'm hoping that won't be an issue either. If anyone can give me any tips on Dos or Don'ts that might happen with my method please let me know. The masks need to be fairly strong, and I plan to paint them with acrylic and then give them a gloss coat. Finally, does anyone have any suggestions about attaching ribbons of some sort as a means of fastening and tying the masks around someone's head?
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