THE PILLOWMAN: CHARACTER MASKS

Fresno State's production of, The Pillowman, involved crafting many items for the costumes. Such as, the masks worn by the Mother and Father and the Foster Mother and Father. As well as, the Little Boy and Girl. With the concept of the show reflecting a childish and dream-like fantasy world. The Head Designer took charge on painting the masks, as well as creating the hairstyles for each one. As an assistant, my task was to help with the foundational building process of the masks, before finalizing with paint.

The masks were created by using blank white masks as the foundation, and cutting off part of the masks to emphasize parts of the face of the actors. The head designer decided to cut from the lower half of the mask, and also adding more emphasis on the cheeks. To make them seem more cartoon and fantasy-like. By accomplishing this, we used a Paper Mache technique, to shape the desired look of the cheek shape and tape onto the mask. We then used an air dry clay sheet, to lay over the paper, and mold it to the base. While also smoothening out the ends of the clay, to blend in with the rest of the mask. It was then painted, once the clay was dry. With yarn added to act as the hair of the character.

The "Little Girl" Mask

The " Foster Mother" Mask