My Latex Mask Gallery

[kelillo]

wow.. what can I say? I have no words for this.. Don´t know much about sculpting masks but your work is simply awesome

[bluworm]

@kelillo Thanks! When you learn the tricks of sculpting and how to work with particular materials (latex, plaster, etc) it's quite easy. The only boundaries are set by your imagination.

[Velocette1964]

Hi Bluworm. I've not watched this one before and I am totally impressed. Your sculptural skills are excellent, especially the surface textures. What do you do to the clay for really fine details. I find my inscribed lines look inscribed, not like natural wrinkles..Artdecovampire

[bluworm]

@Velocette1964 Thanks! I use a fine loop tool I've made myself by sticking thin wire into a wooden dowel (old brush handle). To create wrinkles, I make a groove into the clay with the loop tool, and then gently scrape across the edges of the groove with the same tool, smoothing everything out. Then I slightly wet my fingertip with Vaseline and rub over the clay surface. This creates very smooth wrinkles. Please contact me at my inbox if you want to talk more sculpting :)

[ape69tst]

DAMN you are awesome!

Could you make a satur or a Pan? :) That would be freaking nice!

[bluworm]

@ape69tst Thanks!! I did make a satyr mask a long time ago. It turned out pretty nice. It was a simple mask made for a stage show. You just pulled it over your head, and you were ready to go on stage.

[ape69tst]

@bluworm Nice! :)

could you oploade a video of the mask? ^^

[bluworm]

@ape69tst Actually, I don't have a photo of the Satyr mask. It was quite a long time ago I did it, and I'm sure it's pretty worn out now from appearing in lots of films and stage plays (I don't own it). Sorry!

[ape69tst]

@bluworm Damn :( but okay ^^ 

[soccergirl2594]

your stuffs amazing. what clay do you use? and is it a solid clay mask for your sculptures or are they on like a styrofoam head? I want to use gel10 to make my mask, do you think it would work on sulfur free clay? i was told it would. any answers help. Thanks:D

[bluworm]

@soccergirl2594 Thanks! Glad you enjoy my work. I use a clay called Chavant, which I think is superior to anything else I've tried. I sculpt my masks on a styrofoam bust bought from MonsterMakers. I've used Gel10 and I know it works terrifically with Chavant (which is sulfur free). If you have any other questions, please drop a message in my inbox, so I have room for more detailed answers :)

[TheShadowFan123]

how do you make the molds are they hard or do yuo have a method?

[bluworm]

@TheShadowFan123 I make my mask molds with Ultracal 30 plaster. I first brush the plaster onto my sculpture in order to reduce air pockets. Then I add more plaster, reinforced with burlap. If I make a two-part plaster mold I build up a deviding wall between the two mask halves using a softer clay than the one used for the sculpture. After having made the top mold, I use vaseline as a release agent on the top mold, before adding plaster for the bottom mold. These molds are very hard.

[Godzilla5alien]

Do thos mummifed heads take alot of time, and effort, like other masks? and where is the werewolf chronicles, the mask is really, really good! you're great at making them!

[bluworm]

@Godzilla5alien The mummified haeds are actually quite quick to make. I build them up with cotton and latex over a plastic skull. Then paint them and add hair. It usually takes two days, drying time for the latex included. I actually have no idea what happened to the werewolf chronichles. It's a project where filmmakers in different countries made a short each. Maybe Google can yield some answers? Glad you like my masks. I enjoy making them:)

[dirtdanne95]

2:25 =D

[MrTwigandstump]

Old Joker at 0:52

[airsoftcandyboy]

sell?

[bluworm]

@airsoftcandyboy Sure; I've made masks for both LARPers and stage shows.

[hataskane]

Tjena, säljer du masker eller något?

[bluworm]

@hataskane Jodå, jag brukar göra masker till folk som håller på med lajv, teatrar och sånt. Brukar ta en 600 spänn för en mask som täcker hela huvudet ner till axlarna och 200 för en ansiktsmask man klistrar på.

[AudreyAudio]

lol thats so creepy!! i love it!

[warpedwiselegoman]

the fish monster mask at the end was so lame!i fucking love it! XD

awesome masks

[GreenJanuary]

very nice work

[DeeJayMontevideo]

The wolf from 2:50 reminds me of the cartooms from 50's jajajaj

[Godzilla5alien]

How to do you make masks/stop-motion models, with fur?

[bluworm]

@Godzilla5alien If it's a big area to be covered with fur I just cut a patch from a soft fur fabric and glue it on using flexible contact cement. Where the fur is thinning out, I cut tufts of hair and glue those down with ProsAide prosthetic glue. Om my stop-mo puppets I usually go the tufts-of-hair-way, so the puppet will be as flexible as possible. It's a bit of work, but worth it.

[Godzilla5alien]

Where do you get the liquid latex? and those mask are great! your excellent at these!

[bluworm]

@Godzilla5alien Thanks ! I live in Sweden, so I buy liquid latex from all sorts of retailors I find over here. You should be able to find someone selling it close to you after a web search.

[TaylorLuatner]

Wow, you are extremely talented.

I really want to do this...

Any beginner tips.

[bluworm]

@TaylorLuatner Thanks! Well, just start reading up on the subject and see what would be cool for you to try out first. I'd say, start with something small, like a fake nose. Also, check out what's on YouTube. There are loads of tutorials here.

[TaylorLuatner]

@bluworm

Okay.

Keep doing what you are doing, your very good.

[nyalasteve99]

I bet Talent is your last name.. :D You should try 3d Coat, its a very good sculpting software for PC, you can model with any material, any tool, that you want....and much more (im not advertising, just tought its cool)

You can search for some videos with it here on Youtube!!!

[bluworm]

@nyalasteve99 I haven't gotten into digital sculpting software -yet. But some very prominent makeup guys seem to like it.

[gclord14]

hey i love that clown mask

[themaskboy1234]

you are extremely tallented bro!!!! i collect latex masks so this vid really interests me, i hope to make my first mask soon!!! : D

[bluworm]

Thanks! Yes; Start making some masks yourself -I can promise you it's very addictive! And the creative journey you take while learning the craft is incredibly fun.

[GingerAnne]

WOW !!!! You need to get into movies. This is amazing!!!

[bluworm]

WOW right back to you!! I was wowed by your films! It would be nice to get into proper movie making, wouldn't it.

[GingerAnne]

I will indeed be keeping you in mind. You never know and I will need talented and creative people to make some beautiful things come to life. With your skills, we could make some great stuff together. Thank you for watching my videos I will indeed be doing the same right back.

[hasisjuuso69]

thats so awesome and cool! i want to make one too how did you do the granpa mask ?

[bluworm]

Thanks! The old guy mask was sculpted in a clay called Chavant over a hard foam bust. When I was happy with the sculpture I made a plaster mold in two parts, put the mold halves together and poured in latex. This created a thin mask that was flexible enough for my friend Eli to use it in a one man stage show. Good luck with your mask making! Mail me if you have any questions.

[mrbanana101]

Very impressive work! And great attention to detail - all of the lines and wrinkles and folds, and the painting details look incredible too! What kind of supplies do you use to paint?

Also, I've seen a few artists who don't cast in plaster. Instead, they just paint liquid latex ontop of their original clay sculpture, and after a few coats, peel it off and use that as the mask. I was curious if there's disadvantages to doing it like that - just brushing the latex on and peeling it off?

[bluworm]

Thanks! I mostly paint with "PAX paint" -a 50/50 mix of ProsAide glue and acrylic paint. I use ProsAide No-Tack, which means the paint won't go sticky on you.

If you brush latex on top of your sculpture you won't get that much detail into it. And you only have the one latex mask. Casting in a mold made from a sculpture means you'll get all the details of that sculpture in your mask, plus you can make copies. The paint-on method is cheaper, though.

[thejokerbatmandarkin]

who's the hot blond chick at 2:53

[bluworm]

That's the daughter of my boss (so hands off!)

You can also see her in my "Jabberwocky" clip.

[albertansportsman]

How did you learn all this?

[bluworm]

By reading a lot of horror film magazines in the 1980's mainly. The bulk of my knowledge comes from before the internet.

[strawwberryred]

wow you are very talented!! how long have you been doing this?

[bluworm]

Thanks! I've been doing this stuff for about 15 years or so. First attempt to stick a mask to a friend's face didn't go so well. I've still got the mask and his eyebrows are still stuck in it.

[syafiqdell]

why latex smell bad?

[bluworm]

Because it's got ammonia in it. When the ammonia evaporates the latex cures. The mix of ammonia and latex sap from the rubber tree makes that foul smell.

[Django5198]

Those masks are fantastic! I've been on your website lots of times and I think you're so talented. Your stop motion is also amazing and the models are great!

[bluworm]

Thank you! I enjoy working with stuff like this and I hope it shows.

[Winstoni94]

The ending was awesome! Hail from Finland!

[bluworm]

Kiitos! Glad you liked it :D

[TheCyberController]

Your masks are brilliant. The way you mimic the natural word in your art really brings life into your creations. The old man is one of the best examples, if I hadn't have known it was a mask, I would have guessed it was real.

[bluworm]

Thanks, mate! It looks like the play that old man mask was created for will be revived. In such a case I'll redo the mask in silicone.

[lizardguy9]

Wow great work! I just started becoming interested in mask making and was wondering, did you make the lifecast or bought it, and if you made it how?

[JesseRex1]

WOW those masks are awesome!!! i am making a short film soon and this vid has given me a LOT of inspiration.

P.S

the mask i like the best was the fish monster mask.

[bluworm]

Happy to hear that you got a kick out of this! If you have any questions or need any cheering on (for your own project) just drop me a message in my inbox.