Princess Mononoke "San" Mask

1. Get a eight to ten inch foam half-circle (can be found in Michaels or Joannes in the flower section). I tend to leave the plastic on, even wrapping in in more plastic.

2. Paper Mache the circle, anywhere from eight to fifteen layers, letting each layer dry. I make my own paste with flour and water, sometimes with white glue.

3. Once the paper mache layers are thick enough (around fifteen layers is recommended) and has fully dried, carefully pop the foam away from the shell. The easiest way I've found so far is loosening the edges first with a dinner knife, then stabbing it deep into the foam at a angle, and slowly pulling the foam away. There will be damage to the foam and the shell, but all shall be fixed soon. If you decide that the paper mache is still too thin, just stick the foam back into it and put a few more layers on. Once you're happy with the shell, coat the entire piece inside and out with Paper Clay or a equivalent air-dry clay. Give up to 24 hrs to dry and sand to smooth. Sketch the design onto the mask.

4. Get three napkin rings, wood is best, then drill holes into the mask, only slightly bigger than the ring. A power drill is quickest and cleanest, but a knife or scalpel works as well.

5. For the narrow slits in the eyes, simply cut them out with a scalpel. Make sure the blade is new so the cut is as clean as possible. Be careful! I have a scar on my thigh from these things.

6. Carefully push the rings into place and superglue them. If there is a noticeable gap, fill the space with leftover clay.

7. Use Paper Clay to make the decorative....things...same old routine, smear it on, use a small amount of water to smooth things down and to push it into the mask, let dry and then sand.

8. Paint! I used a combination of spray paint and acrylic, using red spray paint in a few layers to get the foundation. Once happy with the paint job, I sealed with with a acrylic medium.

9. Do a little jig, you're done!

The tutorial on Deviant Art http://meanlilkitty.deviantart.com/gallery/#/d4pka4y I also do commissions!