Lion Head Mask

Handbuilding:

1. Place clay in between the dowels and roll the clay to ¼” slab. The slab should be wide and long enough to extend slightly beyond the width and length of CD777 Oval Slump & Hump Mold – the slump portion.
2. Drape the slab over the mold and lightly pounce a sandbag on the slab until it takes the shape of the mold.  Trim away the excess clay using the needle tool.
3. Let the form rest for about an hour until it can be handled without losing its shape.
4. Create a second slab for the mane. Texture the clay with various stamps and mats listed in Decorating Accessories.
5. Use the needle tool to cut various sizes of circles from this textured slab. You can use paper templates made using a paper punch or things like bottle caps, jar lids, shot glasses, etc.
6. Remove the oval shape from the mold, add clay to build a nose, muzzle, ears and mouth. Roll two balls the same size, press flat, score and wet area to fix eyes in place.
7. Score clay on the flange around the head, wet, press in the textured circles, layering sizes to keep the look random.
8. Use the needle tool to poke holes in the muzzle for copper wire whiskers.
9. When dry, fire to cone 04.

Glazing:

1. Lion’s face is done with a series of washes. Thin slightly SC-42 Butter Me Up brush two coats to the face with CB-604 #4Soft Fan.
2. Use CB-106 #6 Script Liner to shade SC-5 Tiger Tail around the shadow areas, sides of the nose, muzzle, under eyes, and in the ears, do additional shading with SC-25 Crackerjack Brown. Brush parts of the face with SC-24 Dandelion to brighten.
3. Tip of nose is two coats of SC-15 Tuxedo, float Tuxedo around the top of the eyes and around the head. Use CB-110 #10/0 Mini Liner to outline the mouth and muzzle.
4. Use the various colors in the product box to brush two thinned coats of color over the textured circle shapes. Brush various circle shapes with S-2726 Cheetah use CB-106 #6 Script Liner, two coats.
5. Shade SC-15 Tuxedo under the circle shapes for depth.
6. Brush on one coat of S-2101 Crystal Clear Brushing with CB-604 #4 Soft Fan, make sure to clean out the glaze from the holes in the muzzle.
7. Fire to cone 06/05.
8. Cut lengths of copper wire glue in the holes of the muzzle.
9. When leather hard, remove the piece from the mold, Gently clean edges with a sponge, and when bone dry, bisque fire to shelf cone 04.