New designs: Venetian masks

[merimask]

Well, my trip to visit my brother in Vegas has led to inspiration;  Venetian masks.

These are the "birds".  Don't ask me what kind of birds they are 'cause I don't know.  Venetain birds I guess.  Italian birds.

The designs are all very embarrassingly derivative of the masks I saw in the mask shop at The Venetian.  I liked them so much that the next day I was sketching and everything I did had gold piping and lots of swirly swirls.  Like moko_mokosaid at the time;  "It's not like you have them in front of you...so you were just inspired by them".

So yeah... here they are.
 

The "birds" from another angle:


I guess it's sort of a fanciful raven.

I love this design...

It's one of those rare masks that actually looks great on me.  Curiously enough, I'm not a mask wearer.  I want to do it in all kinds of different color combinations.  I was a little cheesed when I did this one, because the silver paint pen I was using for the swirls (which was brand new & pretty pricey) clogged up on me and nearly blotted all over the place.  I had to switch to gold.  It actually looks good that way, though.  

This one is simple but fun.  I think the red/white/black masks look the most "Venetian".

I love the copper swirls on white.  I was going to go with red, but I decided to keep my swirls metallic (except for the black).

The cool thing about these is that they are completely wearable & very durable.  The masks I saw in the Venetian were lovely but SO delicate with gold leaf and plaster detailing...they'd probably crack with too much handling or wearing.  These are all leather & just as tough as anything I make.  I predict they'll be great party masks.

Comments

[airspaniel.livejournal.com]

Those are gorgeous! I especially like the blackbird, and I LOVE little red/white/black one. ^_^ I think it's awesome that you were so inspired by the Venetian. It's such a beautiful hotel. I get to stay there with my mom in September, and I can't wait!

[merimask.livejournal.com]

Thank you. :-) I'm pretty happy with the way these turned out. They're exactly like my preliminary sketches.

The Venetian made me giggle...it charmed the hell out of me. The canal was so damn cute. I wanted to go for a ride in one of the boats but John was horrified: "Eww! Not with my SISTER!". I guess it would have been kinda weird...

[zipis1.livejournal.com]

I love the little swilrly designs. They just make me wnna sit there and trace them all with my finger. And I guess it comes as no surprise that my favorite two are the blue ones, eh? XD

[merimask.livejournal.com]

I liked doing the swirly parts...I could do that stuff all day. It's actually quick & easy but it adds so much detail that it makes the mask look really fancy & work-intensive (though it's not...I did all 4 of these in 2 days).

[golden-meliades.livejournal.com]

Ooh, look at all the fine little swirls! Very striking! But I suppose a tall person could put out a shorter person's eye, wearing that. :)

Oh there, the non-beaky ones have loaded. I like those best :) (Pointy noses just turn me off, even on a mask, I guess.) They're all very graphic, I like the stark colour divisions and the swirls.

[merimask.livejournal.com]

Thank you! I agree; I'm not into long beaky masks usually, but something about this style screams for that shape (it's very traditional...usually it's a human face with a really long pointy nose but of course I thought a bird would be neat).

I have a Venetian cat in the works right now...it's so cute!

[ramblinsuze.livejournal.com]

These are SO beautiful! I absolutely *adore* the swirlies. Geez, these look even better than the mask my mom got me as a souvenir when she was in Venice (of course, she probably got a cheapie tourist one, but still... *grin*).

[merimask.livejournal.com]

Thank you! I can't wait to try these out at a show. I'm doing an art festival next weekend...so it'll be a great chance to see how people like them.

[empath-eia.livejournal.com]

OMG COOOOOOL!!!

[merimask.livejournal.com]

Hee! Thankya! :-)

[moko-moko.livejournal.com]

Oh my god, Meri...this is the first time I legit canNOT choose which one I like better. Both birds are so beautiful! The black-blue-gold are so dramatic, but the white-chocolate-gold is so elegant and stunning. See, inspiration is a wodnerful thing, and you did another amazing job!

The others are so much fun as well, I hope you'll bring them to your next show and show them off. If they have a soul, everyone should be in love with the swirlies too :)

[merimask.livejournal.com]

Thanks! I'm pretty happy with these. They look JUST like my sketches...I didn't have to change a thing. It's always great when something falls out of your head already finished...feels so good.

I just got into a local art fair (30,000 people...I HOPE)which is happening next weekend. It'll be fun having these pieces there.

[braidsinherhair.livejournal.com]

So cool! Makes me think of the ballroom dream in Jim Henson's Labyrinth. Only not, y'know. Scary.

Sooooo cool. And striking. I was thinking, ooh, lozenge pattern, but then I looked more closely and saw the swirlies, and they look so much more.... classy. :)

I'll have to save my pennies - this stuff is definitely my style, and, as you said, so very durable.

[merimask.livejournal.com]

lol...I was a kid when that movie came out (well...a teen anyway) and I swear it inspired me to make masks. If I had to point to ONE moment when I decided mask-making might be fun, it was when I saw Sarah's drug-induced ballroom scene with all those swirling masks.

[smillaraaq.livejournal.com]

Oh MY. Those are absolutely stunning. The colors and the metallic scrollwork put me in mind of pretty Florentine stationery. Those just practically are demanding to be worn, with elaborate ball gowns made to match!

(Posted a few BPAL ideas for you, btw -- a few I can actually spare and send you, others I can at least put a little sniffable sample on card. Must post reviews of the last few I've tried, the last of the Somnium blends has the most divine lemon-blossom scent!)

[merimask.livejournal.com]

Thank you! I'm quite happy with these masks. It was a little scary 'cause I just free-handed all those swirls on...no do-overs 'cause the paints are all permanent. I just channelled the spirit of my great great grandfather (he was a French carriage builder in Paris. He built fine high-end horse drawn carriages and his specialty was the detailing...he could free-hand piping & lay the neatest gold leaf in the business) & I went for it. It all came out just fine. 99% of completing a task neatly & efficiently the first time is to move with authority & confidence...that's true in art and life (I truly believe this).

The Somnium sounds devine...I love a light floral/citrus. It makes me feel clean & happy.

I finished your mask tonight! Hopefully I will get to the post office in time to mail it on Saturday (if not, then Monday for sure).

[merimask.livejournal.com]

Grr! lol..."divine divine divine". That's one of those damn words I habitually misspell.

[smillaraaq.livejournal.com]

*squees some more*

Have you ever tried painting on textiles? I can so see those colors and swirlies on a silk scarf....

[indigos-angel.livejournal.com]

I LOVE the blue one that is sitting on its own. Those are seriously cool. They kind of remind me of Harlequin type stuff. Very, very nice.

~*~*~*~*~Love Elle

[merimask.livejournal.com]

Thank you! That mask is my favorite too. It's sort of watery and at the same time very classic, and the shapes around the eyes are interesting in ways I didn't plan...almost like butterflies.

[kls-eloise.livejournal.com]

Those are *VERY* nice. You know, every year at Pennsic someone asks you about Venetian-style masks. It might be worth taking a few of those.

I particularly like the blue "raven" piece. Big shock, with my obsession for all things blue.

I played with the metallic paint pens before I went into gold leaf, and clogging/blotching was always a hazard. Eventually you'll get a feel for when it's about to do something horrible. Be careful with those - a lot of them use xylene as the solvent, and that is some serious bad stuff. Good ventilation is a must - I made myself really sick with it once.

The Pennsic class list has come out, so I'll be drawing up my class schedule soon. We could actually have a tenative schedule before we head out this year (assuming that you still want help at the booth...)