Evaluation

My venetian mask is finished, and this is how it looks:

I think my masks looks good, even though it does not fit exactly on to my face. I was acutally going to create a star for the eye on the crazy side, the same as the shape of that side, but I changed my mind, something that I regret now since it could have created more effect. The purple colour is very dark, almost too dark because in the classroom it looked like I had used black, which is not something that I wanted. I could have used a different colour for this, although the other colours were okay.

When I asked my classmates what they thought was good, they said that it was very good, especially the use of colours which contrasts the hair. It was well made and proffesional, and they liked the way I presented my own personality into it. They thought that one side was a crazy side of me, and the other side was a happy side, even though the other side was supposed to represent me elegant. What I could improve on, was to make the elegant side bigger, because it is very thin, and also use a lighter colour to contrast the other side to create more effect.
I agree with all of what they said, both the good parts and the improvements, and I will take that into consideration for next unit, especially with the use of colours.

Research - Designs & Material

Venetian masks are known by their intricate shape decorated with beautiful complex patterns in baroque style, which means that it uses easy interpreted details to produce drama, tension and other expressions.  Many different designs stem from Commedia dell’arte, known as a form of theatre which began in the 16^th century in Italy.  The names of the different types of venetian masks often have own designs on them. These different types are:
 

Bauta – a mask which covers the whole face with no mouth, a V-shaped chin line and a lot of gliding.

 

Columbina – a half mask, only covering the eyes, often decorated with gold, silver, crystals, and feathers. It is usually held up by a special stick, called Baton, but can be tied with a ribbon around the head as well. 

 
 

 

Medico Della – a white long-beaked mask, with crystals covered around the round eye holes, creating an effect. This mask today is more decorative.

Moretta – has not been worn often since 1760. Is a round shaped mask, with round eye holes and a pointed nose, and is said to bring out the feminine features like women’s head, body and mind.



  

 

 Volto – is a mask, normally white, and also known as Larva, meaning ‘mask’ or ‘ghost’ in Latin. This is shown in the picture, as it is white with some decorations, and does look like a ghost.

 Therefore as we can see, there are different types of designs, which have their own size. It could either be an eye mask, like the Columbina, or a full face mask, like the Bauta. Usually in venetian masks, bright colours are often used such as gold and silver. White is also a colour used for most cases. What I have noticed on these masks when it comes to patterns, especially the masks that have been decorated, is that they use many different. They could use everything, from curls and waves to decorative diamond-shaped tiles. 

Most of the Venetian masks, especially the Traditional, are made out of Papier Maché, which is exactly what we are using when doing our own mask. Paper, plaster, plastic and porcelain can also be used when creating it. It is easy and simple!

Source:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baroque
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Commedia_dell%27arte http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Venetian_mask#Types_of_masks
http://wiki.answers.com/Q/What_materials_are_Venetian_masks_made_of
http://www.ehow.com/facts_5348606_venetian-masks-made.html

Pictures:

http://image36.webshots.com/36/9/95/86/302199586MIsFdE_ph.jpg

http://www.venetianmasksshop.com/images/bm0003.jpg

http://i01.i.aliimg.com/photo/v0/216004561/_140_Colombina_Stick_mask.jpg

http://www.italian-styles.com/img/Medico-della-peste-Mask.jpg

http://www.justposhmasks.com/uploads/products/Leather_masquerade_masks_-_moretta.jpg

Almost finished

I got some ideas from my class on how I could improve the work I had already done, by putting orange dots on the crazy side to create more effect of what I would like to show. This is my work so far. I hope to improve it next lesson, which is the last lesson we have.

Finished Colouring

Now I have finished colouring my mask purple. I managed to spill some white paint on the side, so when I tried to remove it, it wouldn't work and the paint was blurred out. This is something I will have to fix for next time. I also had a new idea of gluing red-painted small matchsticks on the mask's edge. I managed to paint the matchsticks so I have to glue them after the vacation

Finished with cutting!

The previous lesson I finished cutting the mask from the papier maché into the shape that I had designed. The pictures you can see on this website is not actually the real ones, because I didn't take pictures when I was finished with everything. Now I can start painting next week, and probably find something that would look good as 3D.

Started Creating!

Now I have started creating my mask. I first took some chicken wire, and place it on my face to form the shape of the mask appropriately. Then I used the rest of the double lesson to put several layers of papier maché (newspapers) on top of the mask with glue. I was able to finish it, so next week I am ready to start cutting and painting it to start to create the actual mask!

Research - Purpose

After the Catholic Church banned wearing the venetian masks masks, especially on holy days, it was reintroduced and eventually became a week-long celebration called ‘Carnevale’. Carnevale today is full of celebrations and is fun for everyone, tourists as well. The last time a Carnival happened in Venice, was from February 11 – February 21 2012. It is usually around this time each year.   Not only is the Carnival in Venice a fancy dress purpose for wearing these Venetian masks, it is also worn in high school prom or other, and for secret social rituals. It is used to cover up and hide the user’s identity and to charm and intrigue viewers. It is used for cheerful purposes.  

 Source: http://www.visitvenice.co.uk/venice-carnival/

http://wiki.answers.com/Q/Why_were_venetian_masks_used
http://www.ehow.com/info_8245168_venetian-masks-used.html

http://www.ehow.com/about_5167261_information-venetian-masks.html