I recently got back from a 4 month long stay in Italy and the Venetian Masks have made quite an impression on me. I have been doing a lot of research because I would like to create some of my own.
Later I will probably work by making a plaster negative from a clay positive, but my I want to do something a bit different for my first mask.
Several years ago I had radiation therapy done, so the doctors used thermoplastic to create a contour mask of my face. I want to use this mask as the form for my first Venetian mask. The only problem is that I don't think I could make a plaster negative directly from the mask. It's thin and buckles under weight and I don't want to risk damaging the original mask.
I thought about using plaster strips to make a negative. I suppose I could use this negative to create the paper machè mask, but I want to practice mold making for future projects.
I was considering making a plaster positive from the cast. I would use the positive as a base for future masks, perhaps adding clay to alter the features. Then from that I would use liquid plaster to create a negative. I imagine it is better to use a plaster negative for the final mask since it is more durable and is probably more open to multiple uses.
FInally, my question. If I made a plaster positive, then cast a plaster negative from that, how would I get the original positive out of the finished negative? Is there a releasing agent that would work or do I need to insert some kind of support rod? Should I make my positives out of a different material like silicone?
I'm sure I'm probably over-thinking this, but I thought someone here might be able to help me out before I go too far in the wrong direction.
Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. I look forward to participating more with the community as I delve deeper into mask making.
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