After making leather theatre masks for commedia dell’arte, I’m now exploring the characters further through glaze and wax finishes over stoneware.
Unlike Venetian masks which beautify the wearer, commedia dell’arte masks exaggerate personality traits to flatter fools and ridicule pomposity. This satire lends itself to life-size masks that are asymmetrical; I do like a broken nose!
I particularly enjoy how using clay permits greater facial expression and emotion than traditional media.