African Mask Design Lesson

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Candace George
5 years ago
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1 Students can follow these instructions to create their own stylized African mask using symbols significant to their own personal culture. Pair with resources on storytelling and griots in the African Tales folder on the Google Drive. An online resource with these instructions and more information and pictures of various masks can be found here: African Mask Design Lesson Step 1 - Preparing your materials To begin with you need two similar sized sheets of card or construction paper, one light in tone, one dark. The contrasting tones will be used to create a balance of positive and negative features in the design. You will also need a pencil, scissors or craft knife, and some glue (glue sticks work best). Arrange the sheets in portrait format. Fold the light sheet in half down its vertical length and cut along the crease. This should give you two equal halves. Then take one light half and place it over the dark sheet to create a symmetrical arrangement like the one illustrated above - one half dark, one half light.

The shape that you choose for your eye and the angle at which you set it will affect the expressive qualities of the design and denote emotions like anger, happiness, confusion or peace.

2 Step 2 Draw a stylized eye about halfway down the light sheet of paper. Stylized or exaggerated features are used to help express abstract qualities like nobility, integrity, courage, fear and humor. The shape that you choose for your eye and the angle at which you set it will affect the expressive qualities of the design and denote emotions like anger, happiness, confusion or peace. Cut out the eye shape, flip it over and place it on the dark sheet to form a symmetrical arrangement. You will now begin to see the counterchange of pattern which will be used throughout this mask design. The aim is to create a perfect balance between dark and light, positive and negative. This illustration depicts some alternative designs for stylized eyes.

Step 3 Draw one half of a stylized nose on the light colored paper. This should stretch from just above the eyes to roughly halfway between the eyes and the bottom of the sheet.

3 Step 3 Draw one half of a stylized nose on the light colored paper. This should stretch from just above the eyes to roughly halfway between the eyes and the bottom of the sheet. Cut out the nose and flip it over. Place it on the dark sheet and align it with the vertical edge of the light paper. This will complete its symmetrical shape and maintain the tonal counterchange of the mask design. This illustration depicts some alternative designs for stylized noses.

4 Step 4 Next, draw one half of a stylized mouth on the light sheet. Although the position of the features in this mask is conventional, you do not have to follow normal facial proportions in mask design. Variations in the positioning of the eyes, nose and mouth will create different expressive effects in your design. Cut out the mouth and flip it over. As before, place it on the dark sheet and align it with the vertical edge of the light paper to complete its shape. Note that the inside of the mouth has also been cut out and flipped onto the light side of the design to create the illusion of an opening. This illustration depicts some alternative designs for stylized mouths.

Step 5 Draw a simple outline for the face on the light paper. This could be oval, circular, rectangular, elongated, heartshaped, animal-shaped or human, or any combination of these.

5 Step 5 Draw a simple outline for the face on the light paper. This could be oval, circular, rectangular, elongated, heartshaped, animal-shaped or human, or any combination of these. Different outline shapes will give you different expressive effects. Cut around the outline of the face and leave the remaining face shape in position. Then take the background shape, flip it over to the other side and align it with the vertical centre line. This will create the background for the other side of the face, while its negative space will define the other side of the head. This example is designed to form the shape of a heart - a symbol often used in mask design.

6 Step 6 Draw some tattoo designs or scarification marks on the light side of the face. These markings are often used on masks to communicate coded information or social status. They can also represent magical or religious power. Cut out the tattoo or scarification marks, flip them over and place them on the opposite side of the design to create a symmetrical arrangement. Symmetrical arrangements of line, shape and form in masks evoke a sense of integrity and dignity.

Step 7 On the light background draw a stylized design to represent hair or braids. A straight, simplified, linear design is used here to contrast with the curves on the rest of the mask.

7 Step 7 On the light background draw a stylized design to represent hair or braids. A straight, simplified, linear design is used here to contrast with the curves on the rest of the mask. Cut out the stylized hair braid, flip it over and place it onto the dark side of the design to complete the symmetry and counterchange of the arrangement. The layout of the mask is now complete.

An accurate symmetry across this line is essential to the success of your image. Using different combinations of colored cards will affect the mood of the mask.

8 Step 8 Once you have completed the arrangement of your design, glue the light shapes down onto the dark background. Take care to ensure that a neat line is formed down the middle of the mask where the two halves of the design meet. An accurate symmetry across this line is essential to the success of your image. Using different combinations of colored cards will affect the mood of the mask. Color has a strong effect on our emotional response and it may also be used symbolically. Two tones of green have been used on the mask here to suggest the color of the forest. Contrasts of pattern and color can be used to increase the expressive power of your design. Experiment with different combinations to see if you can improve its impact as an image.

Drawing the Face WORKSHEET. Upper Palpebral Groove. Lacrimal Caruncle. Pupil. Iris Sclera. Helix Bridge. Tragus. Ala N ostril.

Drawing the Face WORKSHEET. Upper Palpebral Groove. Lacrimal Caruncle. Pupil. Iris Sclera. Helix Bridge. Tragus. Ala N ostril. Drawing the Face WORKSHEET Proportions of the Face - This refers to how large and small facial features and areas of the face are in relation to each other. There are basic rules that you can learn to