| |
 |
Because ceramic art has given us many of the most enduring artifacts of human creation, your Life Mask is a unique record of your face that may exist thousands of years into the future.
A Life Mask brings a geologic-time perspective to something alive and ever-changing-- a human face. And the human face, without words or language, conveys our character in ways no other art can.
Beverly Toyu has been making Life Masks for many years. This page shows elements of her technique so that you can know what to expect if you choose to have your Life Mask done. |
| |
|
* * *
|
| |
 |
The first step is to simply close your eyes and relax--
How often do you get to do absolutely nothing?
Beverly helps inspire restfulness with gentle music, her soft touch and attention to the details that make it easy for you to quiesce. |
| |
 |
Towels draped over your hair and tucked into your shirt keep the plaster from getting all over. Beverly smooths mineral oil onto your skin so the plaster mold of your face will come off all the more easily. |
| |
 |
While the plaster is setting, breathing is done through straws, padded with small pieces of soft tissue paper, inserted about a centimeter into your nostrils.
At this point, most people are well relaxed and breathing slowly so that even regular drinking straws easily supply plenty of air.
If you have a cold or allergies that give you trouble breathing through your nose, we would reschedule your Life Mask for another day. |
| |
 |
As you get used to breathing this way, Beverly begins mixing the plaster, using warm water so that the plaster will be comfortable temperature while it's on you. |
| |
 |
Beverly knows plaster as few people do. She can feel the exact moment that the plaster is ready to set. By putting the plaster on you at this exact moment, the resulting mask will have the most detail and will require only about five minutes to set before it can be removed. |
| |
 |
A better way to get plastered... |
| |
From your forehead down to your neck and just forward of your ears.
|
 |
| |
 |
 |
| |
Beverly stays with you and the gentle music keeps playing. It's natural for people to feel a little vulnerable with their eyes closed and faces covered, so Beverly is always there for you while the plaster is setting up... |
 |
| |
Almost done now...
After about five minutes, the plaster has set and is solid enough to come off.
With Beverly's help, you put your hands on the mask, slowly sit up and let the mask loosen from your face and drop onto your hands.
|
 |
| |
  
|
| |
 |
Then a little clean-up and... |
 |
|
Voila!
Many different colors and glazes are possible for your mask's finishing.
Choose a glazing style to add color and texture to your mask.
Beverly returns with the plaster mold to her studio where she fits clay to the mold to make the mask, dries, fires, glazes and re-fires it to produce the completed mask. |
|
|
