Designing!

Today I started on my design. What we had to do was to create designs, then eventually make them, that had some aspects of venetian masks' culture, and some aspects of our own personality or somethign that we would want to say. I had a number of different designs which I made in my sketchbook, but only some of them had features of something I would want to say to the world, or my own personality into it. We had to create something unique!
These are the designs which I first started with. As you may see, I had difficulties with imagining a unique style, so therefore chose to do similar features as in other traditinal Venetian masks, or the Columbina masks as they call it.

This is my final design which I would like to create. It shows off my personality, that I can be bothv crazy and elegant-looking, which is what I am trying to aim for, or to say to other people. By doing to different shapes on the same mask, would hide my face and let me be whoever I would like to be - giving options. The colours I have used show my favourite colour - purple - and the colour which is mostly used in Venetian Masks - gold. Black is also one colour which I will use on the edge of the mask. I am really looking forward to creating this, even though I am a little worried on how I can create the shape of the eyebrow on the elegant-looking side because I am not confident in using papier mache. On the opposite side I am not too worried about the shape because it is supposed to be all crazy.

Research - Culture

It was made in Venice and was first used in 1268 in an annual celebration. That is why it is called Venetian Masks. The masks began at that time when Venice was known as the Venetian Republic, during the time when Venice was one of the most successful in economy. Their culture became wealthy. During this time, when wealth of the people increased, their immoral, unscrupulous and unethical acts and behaviors did as well, and this was something they wanted to do anonymously. It allowed them to do things that would not destroy their own reputation and it was worn on regular bases. It also let all people be equal, for example that a servant had the same rights as a business man.

Today, the masks are worn by almost everyone, even tourists!

 
Source: 
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDGQerbzE_pwdMriR9m7K63QLhqqxegQwifEwgAMWpsl__mHYVgZT_YI_n_rPoWRiiqHDHykc4wNJQwWjNhyphenhyphenr96HuWd8EcfH2H0MZqmpFIO94KjcMzwMseUVSYBfvIBCPrr2aoQb9b-zo/s1600/Mask1.jpg
http://www.ehow.com/about_5167261_information-venetian-masks.html

Research - Country

Venetian masks or Masquerade masks is something that I am fascinated with, which is located in Italy in Europe near the Mediterranean Sea, and is one of the very many countries that have their own masks. The boot look alike Italy is known as the country where the popular Masquerade masks came from, because of Venice, a very popular tourist destination, where the masks were first introduced. 

Source:
https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/graphics/flags/large/it-lgflag.gif
http://www.leboat.com/content/connoisseur_afloat/media/images/destinations/venice_map.gif
 

Masks that Interests me!

Some masks that interested me, that I would like to include as inspiration to my own masks, are these:

I like the way they have blended two different colours into one, to form an elegant looking mask.

Source: http://costumecanada.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/07/Columbina-Lux.jpg

I really like the gold coloured pattern on this mask.

Source: http://cdn-5.create.net/siteimages/5/0/3/50308/426133/f_1395248.jpg

I really like the blue feathers on this, especially on the side. I think the feathers is a feature I will include in my own mask.

Source: https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKWc-rmCA9ew22aIc7A-uviOxS1KI5ZYHV-ROF0aTFsARp4GaNj-YpftUJvXd3qDYF6aO_fnavtRIAADSHXl9LC9IbTR6cI79b5AMpmXSF5ggpC-GbslaWAkprEpfS2Ew4sqeCUsOkVnN_/s400/iteme20033.jpg

Feathers above the center of the mask is also an option for when designing my own mask. I really like bright colours, so purple, blue and possibly red is what I might aim for.

Source: http://www.accito.com/ekmps/shops/accitoltd/images/-cococabana-purple-venetian-feather-mask-1851-p.jpg

I have noticed that gold is one element of Venetian Masks which is often used. Therefore I might also use it for my own. What I like with this mask, is the shape of it, and the golden border around.

Source: http://www.halloweenplayground.com/images/forum/black-velvet-mask-with-feathers.jpg

New Unit - Masks

Today we started a new unit about masks, and spoke about different types of masks - what they looked like, where they might have come from etc. We also spoke about Dramatis Personae which is actors of a dramatic piece and can be linked to the masks that is connected to theatre - the one below.

This unit is divided into three parts, Part 1 being research which I will constantly write about in this blog, Part 2-  the design of my own mask, and part 3 - reflection. The research part of this is to choose a country/ culture that uses masks as part of its cultural practices or ritual or form of entertainment.
I googled around for some masks that would inspire me, and I found out that Masqurade masks, or Venetian masks from Italy were really inspiring and so beautiful. That is why I have chosen to write about Italy.