African MasksVarious Artists

Shape

Pattern

Texture

Composition

Lwalwa Mask

Africa has many different cultures.

All of the cultures have something in common – MASKS

The mask maker is educated and respected. Training may last many years.

The masks are made with strict rules – colors, materials, and shapes all have different powers and meanings.

Goma Mask

They are used as ceremonial costumes.

They are symbolic – often meaning things such as celebration, war or death.

They also represent inner feelings.

Many tell stories about a tribe’s history.

They come to life through music and dance.

Senufo Mask

Masks are made of bone, ivory, metal, fiber, and wood.

Often they used bold, geometric shapes.

They are not copies of nature, they are expressions of inner feelings.

What feeling do you think the artist is portraying in this mask?Dan Mask

What masks are commonly used in America today?

What emotion do you think the artist is trying to show by this mask design?

How? Which colors, shapes or designs express the emotion?

Do you see pattern, or shape in these masks?

How does eye

shape express emotion

?

What emotions do you think different colors represent? Red? Orange? Green?

Blue?

What will we be doing? What type of ceremony are you creating

your mask for? What colors, shapes or patterns will help portray the emotion?

Paint your entire mask. You can use the tip of the paint brush or

q-tips to create small circles or add tiny detail.

Think about symmetry and design. Add embellishments such as twine,

buttons or colored noodles.