Workshops for Mask Making and Movement
Mask
and Puppet Making
We
offer a variety of workshops that cover design concepts and techniques for
creating theatrically dynamic masks and puppets. Simple paper shadow puppets and scored paper
masks can be made quickly and beautifully by elementary students, adults and
everyone in between. We also teach more
complicated processes like carving wooden masks and making latex masks in
middle and high schools, universities and to professional artists and
teachers. Latex mask making, great for
creating duplicates, entails sculpting a clay mask positive, casting a plaster
negative mold, and pouring and painting a latex or mache mask.
2
hours to 3 weeks
Intro to Commedia dell Arte
This workshop works equally well for actors who are developing
comedic and improv movement and timing,
learning the stylized European stock characters, or preparing for roles
in a Commedia dell ‘Arte show.
Actors work with our set of ten different expressive
masks to explore Commedia’s traditional physical
stances, movements, voices, psychological motivations
and inspirational animal movements.
2 to 2 weeks
Neutral
and Basel style masks;
A LeCoq technique primer
This workshop is an overview of the character-based
approach to movement pioneered by master movement teacher Jaques LeCoq. With the silent Neutral Mask, participants learn
to use movement alone to express meaning very simply, clearly and
naturally. Neutral is ideal for helping
actors break from the limited range of their own idiosyncratic movements and
for developing chorus work. The silent
Basel Masks are excellent for exploring character and intent, with movement
informed by the masks’ powerful geometries.
2 hours to 2 weeks
Mask
Character Development
This
workshop features exercises from director Libby Appel’s groundbreaking book, Mask
Characterization. Participants choose one of the expressive masks to
use as a tool for creating their own unique theatrical characters. Wonderful for expanding and developing an
actor’s physical and emotional range, the workshop may also be used after a
show is cast to help actors imbue their characters with original and genuine
movement that can be reproduced after the mask is removed.
2
hours to 2 weeks
Making Latex or Neoprene Masks
This workshop covers concepts for strong sculptural design for creating a theatrically dynamic mask. Each participant creates a clay mask positive and completes a plaster negative mold ready to pour a latex or neoprene mask. Because latex masks must dry overnight before painting, for shorter workshops we culminate with a demonstration of basic theatrical mask painting for highlights, emotional impressions and color.
4 to 12 hours over 2-10 days
Carving Wooden Masks
This workshop demonstrates an approach to fashioning wood sculpture used by carvers throughout the world. Participants will plan and carve a mask design with increasingly smaller facets of convex, concave and flat planes. Each participant will practice shaping a small wooden maskette using a Northwest Coast Native motif and style. The workshop can also feature demonstrations of both Balinese style chisel-and-mallet as well as NW Coast Native elbow shaping adze techniques.
6 to 32 hours
This workshop covers concepts for strong sculptural design for creating a theatrically dynamic mask. Each participant creates a clay mask positive and completes a plaster negative mold ready to pour a latex or neoprene mask. Because latex masks must dry overnight before painting, for shorter workshops we culminate with a demonstration of basic theatrical mask painting for highlights, emotional impressions and color.
4 to 12 hours over 2-10 days
Carving Wooden Masks
This workshop demonstrates an approach to fashioning wood sculpture used by carvers throughout the world. Participants will plan and carve a mask design with increasingly smaller facets of convex, concave and flat planes. Each participant will practice shaping a small wooden maskette using a Northwest Coast Native motif and style. The workshop can also feature demonstrations of both Balinese style chisel-and-mallet as well as NW Coast Native elbow shaping adze techniques.
6 to 32 hours
Prices
Workshops
From 2 hours to 3 weeks
From $200 up
Please talk to us. Fees will depend on many factors, including travel time from Seattle, the number of workshops in your region, length of time, and amount of equipment & materials.
Custom Masks & Workshops
In addition to masks, we also make puppets and provide puppet-making workshops in puppet traditions from around the world, including, Greek, Balinese, Liberian, NW Coast Native and Turkish.
Custom Mask Design
We have worked closely with scores of performers, colleges, theaters and operas to create sets of masks for productions. Drawing on our experience as mask performers as well as artists, we make comfortable and practical masks that also give an amazing look and feel to a production. We work from your ideas or sketches to create first a drawing and then a clay sculpture of the mask for your approval, before making the mask itself.
The cost of a custom mask depends on the size and complexity of the design, and on the number of custom designs and duplicate masks ordered. Please do not hesitate to tell us about your project, and we will be happy to answer your questions.
