MAKING MASKS: Painted masks that from imprints of faces?

1. • 4 years, 10 months ago

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   • I paint with watercolors and am very interested in painted masks that have been made from imprints of faces. While in Florence, Italy a few years ago, I bought a wonderful art piece from Prof. Agostino Dessi.
     It is painted on paper mache (?), from Prof. Dessi with impressions of about 10 faces?..his daughter at various ages, his wife, a restaurant owner, wife and child upon which he had painted a Florence scene of the town and the Ponte Veccio bridge.
     I am interested in learning about this as there are no local artists in my area who do this. I know Prof Dessi taught classes in Florence, Italy, but I cannot find this information. Do you know of classes that teach this?

     Judy Roper
     Huntsville, AL USA
     

2. • juanita 4 years, 10 months ago

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   • What you are calling "imprints" are actualy "face casts". Historically, they were called "death masks", made of people who had died. Nowadays, many artists make them of "live" people! I call them "life casts" and have made them of people ages 8-85 over the past 35 years. Using plaster guaze is only one of the ways that can successfully be used to make those casts. Depending on the material you want to make them of, there are many ways to accomplish this. If you're more definative of what the final product would be, I could advice you on the most appropriate method to use. Good luck  

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