Maskmaking with Clay

Artist and instructor Peggy Flores, who hosted the delightful Maskmaking with Paper (VL-5/94), here shows viewers how to make colorful, beautifully decorated masks from clay. Pointing out that commercial face masks, water containers, or a taped up ball of newspaper can be used as the base, Flores shapes the clay onto the mold, cuts out areas for the eyes and mouth (and uses the extra clay to build up the nose), carves decorative lines into the clay, fires the mask, and then offers various suggestions for decoration, including painting and adding hair. The necessary items--likely to be found in craft shops--are mentioned, along with substitutes commonly found around the house. Like its predecessor, Maskmaking with Clay features pristine audio and video and excellent instruction from Flores. Highly recommended. Aud: E, I, J, P. (R. Pitman)