[Irish]

SHHHH! Bob, SHHH!

Now how do you expect us sleeze, midnight, street corner craft pushers to make a dishonest living ?

Susan

[Just Carving]

Oops! Sorry!

Hey--got any GOOOOOD stuff?!?!? LOL

Bob l

[chuckt]

Hey [Henri] SCOTT - [oops! sorry read Henri's post last and his name stuck in my head when writing]

Sorry to hear about your fall, but glad you are on the mend. Welcome to the WCi forum. Your idea of taking this drawing and creating a mask is excellent, and Susan has given you fantastic direction. I agree with her "second thought" to slant the eyes a little more.

Your comment about the face adding a "human" element to the otherwise "alien" design and it adding intrigue is spot on. I think its one of the reasons why the "greenman" (face in leaves) image has endured for centuries. It creates a sense of mystery that seems to fascinate - at least it does me. (see my Avatar)

Your design plays upon this same mythological architype image and add the new dimension of the "alien". BRILLIANT!!

Now - you MUST take a crack at executing this image yourself. Obviously we'll all support you as best we can virtually - but - you may also want to see if you can find any local (to you) carvers or carving clubs where you can get in person guidance. Another option, if you are unsure about carving it yourself and don't want to take the leap into buying tools and learning what you need to do this - is to see if someone here would be interested in taking a crack at it. Another option - is to try creating a paper mache face mask as a base - then sculpting it using modelling clay or plasticine. In fact - even if you want to ultimately carve it - this might be a good first step to work the design out in 3D first. Then you have a model to match when you try to carve it.

Just some other thoughts to help and encourage you.

Keep at it mate!
ChuckT

[Irish]

Bob ... check out this thread if you want my latest "Get you addicted" freebie.

"I am throwing out a challenge"

Susan

[hruukki]

Chuck - it was Scott who fell, not me! I only have the tennis elbow.

Scott - I also recommend you carve it yourself. It's not a huge investment: depending on the scale you want to work on and the amount of detail: you'll only need a bit of wood (basswood is easiest I think), a few gouges, a chisel or two, probably a V-tool, and something to keep them sharp. And of course a place to carve - needs only a couple of sqm though. Best if you have some table so you can clamp the work (I know there will be responses to this one from those who hate clamping but it gives much more control so I recommend it anyway).
Also, many of us will give you good practical ideas how to go. I've just finished a devil mask (look into the thread "some of my carvings" here) so I can describe for you how I did it. I only started last august, so I'll give you beginner-to-beginner advice.
Henri

[Ron T]

Hello Scott,

Welcome to WCI. I, too, am glad to hear you're on the mend.

ChuckT beat me to the post with his suggestion to use papier mache or plasticine to sculpt your mask first. Since you have an artist's eye for design, you will be able to "see" your mask evolve and make minor adjustments as your mask transforms from 2-D to 3-D. Many carvers utilize this method to visualize and work out design problems before carving.

Good luck with your project and I agree with the others, you'll want to keep carving once you start. We'll get to see lots of masks coming to WCI.

[Future Thought]

Thanks everyone for all your encouragement, i really feel this is going to be a very exciting project and hobby for me as i've been looking for something new to get my creative juices flowing. I'd been involved in music production for the last 20 years, i'd lost the passion for music production a long time ago but this has got me fired up. Thank you all for the inspiration.

Watch this space................