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merimask — Frost Dragon by-nc-nd

Published: 2008-11-20 21:16:13 +0000 UTC; Views: 13061; Favourites: 444; Downloads: 336
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Description This is probably my most ambitious mask to date. Based on Asian dragon motifs, I made this my own creation by using a unique technique of leather sculpting that I have pioneered (because I'm self taught and I didn't know what the heck I was doing!).

The mask is carved out of several pieces of 8oz leather, three times the thickness of most Venetian-style leather masks. This allows me to carve the leather deeply, but requires me to shape the entire sculpture by hand with no use of molds or armatures.

I painted it with a variety of acrylic stains that are both waterproof and colorfast. I like to mix my own colors. I also do not use an airbrush...that's all done by hand.

This particular mask is appearing onstage in Japan, from October through mid-December of 2008. It is featured as part of the Muscle Musical "Magicarade" performance.

Many of these pieces are available for sale on my Etsy site; [link]
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Comments: 57

CLPennelly [2010-11-24 23:14:49 +0000 UTC]

Love it!

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BlackDog624 [2010-11-12 20:20:53 +0000 UTC]

Dragons are cool too for a fantasy animal.

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SwirlyEyesHypnotize [2010-07-31 03:51:01 +0000 UTC]

Oh, Awesome! Such a beautiful mask. 8D <3

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dragonwing1312 [2010-06-12 06:05:43 +0000 UTC]

Incredible! You did this all by yourself? Talk about freakin' sweet!

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merimask In reply to dragonwing1312 [2010-06-15 13:06:25 +0000 UTC]

Thanks so much.

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dragonwing1312 In reply to merimask [2010-06-15 16:25:42 +0000 UTC]

You are very welcome.

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bear48 [2010-02-28 02:55:58 +0000 UTC]

You do very nice work

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merimask In reply to bear48 [2010-02-28 18:46:49 +0000 UTC]

Thanks so much...glad you like it.

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silentbyacutthroat [2010-02-05 15:03:14 +0000 UTC]

is awesome! it has some brilliant or metallic blue effect, i love it!

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merimask In reply to silentbyacutthroat [2010-02-05 15:07:28 +0000 UTC]

Thank you! Yes, I mixed varying amounts of silver with my blue paints to make the scales shimmery. Dragons should sparkle.

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silentbyacutthroat In reply to merimask [2010-02-05 15:58:18 +0000 UTC]

I've been watching all the dragon mask you've made and they look stunning!

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Plum1990 [2010-01-18 17:36:32 +0000 UTC]

Wow this is really beautiful, all the detail that had to have done into it. I love it. How do you make them?

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merimask In reply to Plum1990 [2010-01-23 23:47:17 +0000 UTC]

Thanks so much!

There's a journal entry in here somewhere showing my tutorial, plus you can look at my front page to follow the link to my demonstration on Martha Stewart.

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Plum1990 In reply to merimask [2010-01-29 05:55:48 +0000 UTC]

How really cool, I haven't been on here long, I haven't even got any thing up..because I'm not on my computer. But I will check that out.

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Sayuki-kun [2010-01-17 23:49:09 +0000 UTC]

Your dragon masks are beautiful! What are they made of?

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merimask In reply to Sayuki-kun [2010-01-18 05:49:58 +0000 UTC]

Everything is made of leather.

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Sayuki-kun In reply to merimask [2010-01-18 16:08:40 +0000 UTC]

I would have never guessed. o.0

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DryadStudios [2010-01-09 17:41:38 +0000 UTC]

This is being featured here!

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merimask In reply to DryadStudios [2010-01-10 12:35:43 +0000 UTC]

Thanks so much for including me!

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Firestorm-the-Poet [2009-12-02 15:57:42 +0000 UTC]

Wow! Simply beautiful! Such amazing detail. I love all the little scales you carved into this. The colors are wonderful.

Whoa! You're self taught? And you hand painted this That is amazing! You are very talented.

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soulstrifer [2009-11-05 09:04:07 +0000 UTC]

Wow what beautiful work!

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Manicfool [2009-05-23 00:19:23 +0000 UTC]

Wow...you have a gift, and you use it well.
Is it expensive to make your masks?
Whats the average you spend on making a mask like this?

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anonymous-strawberry [2009-04-28 23:42:51 +0000 UTC]

That's amazing!!!

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BahamutFury82 [2009-03-19 20:20:19 +0000 UTC]

OMG! That's awesome man!!

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merimask In reply to BahamutFury82 [2009-03-21 08:05:29 +0000 UTC]

Thank you!

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BahamutFury82 In reply to merimask [2009-03-22 13:24:21 +0000 UTC]

No prob!

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BobbieBerendson [2009-02-13 19:39:17 +0000 UTC]

Stunning, just stunning....

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merimask In reply to BobbieBerendson [2009-02-14 00:10:07 +0000 UTC]

Thank you.

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666nanuchan [2009-02-13 02:02:16 +0000 UTC]

your masks are beautiful i hope i can see how they are made one day

Q? have you ever tried just staining the leather insted of painting it so you can see the natural colors too

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merimask In reply to 666nanuchan [2009-02-14 00:17:56 +0000 UTC]

Check out my front page journal...I have links there to a mask-building tutorial with pictures.

I've used acrylic antiquing stains also, in conjunction with the paints, to show off the texture & color of the leather. I do a gray wolf that way, with black watered down stain over bare leather.

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bickywerewolf-su [2009-02-03 05:07:48 +0000 UTC]

absolutely love it!

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merimask In reply to bickywerewolf-su [2009-02-03 17:50:02 +0000 UTC]

Thank you!

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purplerebecca [2009-01-07 17:22:21 +0000 UTC]

I have to go around faving half of your gallery.

I LOVE your dragon masks.

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merimask In reply to purplerebecca [2009-01-08 03:28:38 +0000 UTC]

LOL...thank you! ^_^

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Ja-Kitsu-Ryou [2008-12-08 07:41:19 +0000 UTC]

Beautiful, simply beautiful, though that word does not adequately describe the exquisite detail and the sheer magic of this mask. It is amazing that you are self taught!

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merimask In reply to Ja-Kitsu-Ryou [2008-12-08 07:48:52 +0000 UTC]

Thank you very much!

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antoniocardenaslopez [2008-12-08 04:55:18 +0000 UTC]

amazing

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merimask In reply to antoniocardenaslopez [2008-12-08 07:01:26 +0000 UTC]

Thank you!

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antoniocardenaslopez In reply to merimask [2008-12-09 04:48:41 +0000 UTC]

np

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SkyeTrinity [2008-12-08 04:50:02 +0000 UTC]

Self taught? WTF...sorry if that is insulting... My God you must have an amazing natural talent.

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merimask In reply to SkyeTrinity [2008-12-08 07:03:30 +0000 UTC]

Thanks! Yeah it's just better in a lot of ways if you can learn a thing on your own...you never have to struggle to find your own style.

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Treyos [2008-12-08 01:40:42 +0000 UTC]

Another beautiful piece and very cool that it's being used on stage!

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merimask In reply to Treyos [2008-12-08 03:31:56 +0000 UTC]

It was pretty amazing to see all those beautiful people wearing my masks. ^_^ The guy who got to wear this one is a real cutie!

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Treyos In reply to merimask [2008-12-08 14:33:42 +0000 UTC]

... Or maybe they were beautiful masks who were wearing all those people?

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thebasileone [2008-12-08 01:09:26 +0000 UTC]

That is absolutely fabulous! You have such a way with leather it's astounding! Beautiful gallery. How long did this take you to make?

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merimask In reply to thebasileone [2008-12-08 03:34:12 +0000 UTC]

Thank you!

This particular mask was about 8 hours, start to finish.

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s0ulsurvivor [2008-12-07 18:06:35 +0000 UTC]

Mien gott, you are just absolutely stunning

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merimask In reply to s0ulsurvivor [2008-12-07 20:46:16 +0000 UTC]

Aww...thank you! ^_^

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s0ulsurvivor In reply to merimask [2008-12-07 22:55:53 +0000 UTC]

You are very welcome, and I am totally going to buy a mask. Love the lil japanese fox. But then there's like a bunch of others too

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DragonstormStudios [2008-12-07 17:13:53 +0000 UTC]

It is amazing how you self-taught yourself this style of art. Such detail is simply incredible!

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