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HOW LATEX MASKS ARE MADE:

(Excerpts from : The Monster Makers Handbook )

(T H E - B I R T H - OF "S N A R L Y")

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BY
ARNOLD GOLDMAN

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C R E A T I N G - T H E - S C U L P T U R E

The first step in creating a latex mask is to sculpt a pattern in oil based clay. The mask is first ruffed out to establish a general shape. Gradually, as the clay is worked by hand the sculpture begins to take on a specific look which resembles
the design idea (hopefully!) As the sculpture nears completion, small tools are used to sculpt-in realistic details.The sculpting process can take many hours to complete. Once the clay sculpt is finished, it is ready for moldmaking.

M A K I N G - T H E - M O L D

In order to transfer the clay form into rubber, it is first necessary to make a two piece mold out of industrial plaster. The mold is a perfect 3 dimensional copy of the sculpture, except in reverse. Plaster is used because of its porous nature which allows water from the latex to soak into it. To make the mold, a dividing wall is put in place to divide the front and back halves. The plaster is applied evenly to both halves, one after the other until a sufficient thickness is achieved.
Once the mold is complete, the two halves are separated, and the clay is cleaned from the mold. The mold is then placed back together, bound, and made ready for the next stage, the easiest part of the process: Casting the mask.

C A S T I N G - T H E - M A S K

All that remains of our original sculpture, is locked in the mold imprint. Our goal now is to recreate the sculpture in rubber. For this we use a special, liquid latex
casting compound called slush latex or mask latex. Mask latex is great because it needs no heat or baking to turn it into a solid. You simply pour it into your mold, allow it to sit inside the mold for a while, then pour the excess material back into the bucket. What remains in the mold, is a skin that evenly coats the interior. And best of all, it air dries at normal room temperature. When the mask is dry you
simply reach in and carefully peel it from the mold.

P A I N T I N G - T H E - M A S K

(Click on any painting image to see a much larger color version.)

To complete the mask a rubber based paint is applied with an airbrush. This stage is probably the most involved aspect of mask-making. You have many choices for coloration, but these can be narrowed down by using color to help project the personality of your mask. Once the color scheme is chosen, an overall color called the base coat is applied first. All other colors will be applied on top of the base coat. Next. a shading color is sprayed into all of the lowpoints of the mask to simulate shadows. Highlight paint is used in the same manner except that in this instance the paint is sprayed on the highpoints of the mask to simulate the way light hits the surface. To finish the mask the eyes and teeth are painted along with any other details. Lastly, a protective, clear flexible coating is applied to give a natural (or unnatural depending on your Monster!) shine. This coating also
acts to preserve the mask for years to come.