Going through some older pictures. How the masks have changed.
The Scavenger Years
These are the years prior to me meeting Emily at work. So, unfortunately, they do not have witty names. (Emily, care to retroactively name some?)
To begin with, my masks were more scavange than anything else. The first year I used it, I just threw the bare bone on, and wandered my parent’s neighborhood. Had a couple of kids terrified, telling their grandmother some ‘8 ft tall monster’ had been chasing them. And they both utterly broke down all semblence of reasoning when I came walking in the front door. See, they thought they were safe in grandma’s house. Didn’t realize I knew her as the school librarian from elementary school, as well as a neighbor. Grandma found it most humorous after I took off the mask, too.
In proof that a bunch of guys out ‘hunting’ is just a recipe for wierd stuff to be created, here is my dad modeling that first ‘mask’.
We also had another design in mind for the thing up there around that campfire. I’ll let dad do the honors again.
I really have no idea what that second bone is. The main one is a cow’s pelvis. Opted for the first design because I couldn’t figure out how to keep the second one on that first year.
Couple years later, we moved into the house, and I had to whip something up in a couple months. So, a little glue a little wig, a little paint, and we made the original Witch Doctor Mask.
It was comfortable, if a little hot. Can’t say much about the rest of the costume. I was modelling it after an actual Zulu medicine man. But, of course, didn’t have the fur for my chest, and wasn’t about to try to sew it properly, so we bought some faux fir and cut a hole in the center. Being the idiot I am, didn’t think “hey, black won’t show up on your black underclothes”. The leggings were inspired. Real ones being made of Lion’s hair, I was rummaging through Joanns and saw this fuzzy yarn. Lion’s Mane brand. I took it as a sign, and those are still in use today.
The Modification Experiment
Still no Emily, so, yet another without a name…
The following year, I wanted to make a REALLY GOOD mask. Semi looking at Temple of Doom for inspiration, I procured a Steer Skull, hacked it apart, hollowed it out and went about making it fit my head. Sculpting where I needed to make it look right. You can see the whole process by clicking on the “Halloween 2005” slideshow to the right there.
Then I got sidetracked, and started studying some Mayan religion. It kinda morphed into a Mayan-inspired design somewhere in the middle.
Little known thing is that I had actually considered making this altar in the middle of the yard that year. PUMPING tons of blood over it with a reciprocating fountain, and having the corn stalks coming out of the bottom of it. I still LOVE the idea, and it fits perfectly with the mayan paintings that gave me the idea. However…it was scrapped as being a little too much for the kids. And I did a little half-assed offering place on the corn stalks that no one likely noticed.
Still, the mask turned out great. Even if it was WAY TOO HEAVY.
The “Cole cannot carve” experiment.
Emily has termed this one “The Predator”.
After wearing the above beast, the primary concern for 2006 was WEIGHT. I wanted it LIGHT!!!
And, as the powergrab had worked so well, I had this idea to carve some of that green foam stuff from the fake flower section of the craft store, and just coat it with a little power grab.
I can’t carve…ok, I admit it.
Add to that the green crap crumbled up and tossed grains everywhere, then the power grab had nothing to bite into as the foam would just disintigrate when you tried to touch it, it’s a miracle this thing even came into existance at all. It was SUPPOSED to look like a baboon skull. Instead, it’s just an embarrassment.
The “Cole CAN sculpt” experiment.
Hmmm…I don’t remember if you ever named this one Emily?
2007, I HAD to make a new mask after that abomination in 2006. So, it was very early I had the design down. But, very late in the year before I actually finished.
Anyhow. A lot of people have guessed that this was inspired by the death eaters masks from Harry Potter. Not so in the least, though I did find it an amusing coincidence that those existed the same year I was making this.
Inspired by the holywood portrayal of a Bokor painting his face with a skull pattern, and a very brief glimpse of a skullish mask on the escorts to the blue opera singer lady in the Fifth Element, I set out to make a skull mask.
It went VERY smoothly and naturally. Applying the lessons learned from the crap in 2006. Little known trivia is that the teeth are actually real. The smaller ones are goat’s teeth. The larger, Water Buffalo. All inverted so the roots are showing. And yes, the lower jaw that didn’t work.
2008
Emily termed this one “Shrek” prior to it being green. (a part of the reason to go green, actually)
This year, making the mask is more a traditional experience than a need. In fact, if I can’t get the paint to my liking, it’ll end up as scarecrow fodder like all the old masks, and I’ll wear 2007’s again.
Inspired by Tiki masks, Aztec headdresses, and the original red one above, trying to mash them all together into something wierd. Still a work in progress for some time to go…
This is great info to know.