I want to put myself more into this project, but wasn’t sure how to do so. I like the idea of having something hidden on the inside- like secret thoughts or feelings- etc. So I decided to make a face mask, with my own face, and put glass beads on the inside so the outside would be rough and unnoticeable and the inside would be beautiful- and look kinda like a geode.

i started by rolling out some clay slabs.

and set up a little station to get things rolling.

and this was pretty straight forward- i used gravity and pressed clay to my face.

i used a needle tool to carve out holes to breath with. this sucked- i breathed in and the little bit that i carved went into my nose. yuck!

So, after being able to breath- i just smashed the clay on my face, molding the inside to my features.

from here, i used a hair dryer to harden the clay- the more moisture that is out of the clay, the stiffer and will be able to hold its form.

i did this for 20 minutes or so, for each one- and looked like a ghost.

from here i placed glass beads inside. when they are put through the glaze firing the beads melt and go crazy. its lovely.

i placed them outside to dry because i wanted to put them in the glaze firing which was happening the next day, skipping the bisque all together.