Technical Design Solutions for Theatre

A Milliner’s Approach to Maskmaking: Part II

Laura G. Brown

The key to maskmaker Katherine Snider’s art lies in the creation of non-toxic, form-fitting mask bases which conform ideally to the actor’s face. Part one of this two-part series introduced her process for creating lightweight masks, an approach that uses milliners’ techniques and a favorite millinery material — buckram — to establish each masks basic shape. This article describes the use of non-toxic materials and methods to produce a wide variety of looks and finishes. Every masks design presents a new challenge, but whether it is to be a three-foot radiating star point or an oversized Einstein mustache, any feature can be built from materials that are lightweight and that present ...