Advice on making Plague Doctor mask

[suzika]

I tend to go toward the typical witch, vampire, voodoo priestess costumes, a lot. This year I decided to go as a plague doctor. I have a base mask to make mine on. As of right now I am going to paper mache the mask to make it look right, but wanted any opinions on how to best go about it.

The base mask is one of those cheap hockey masks so it will have the over the head strap to help anchor it.

http://www.delpiano.com/carnival/html/medico_peste.html shows an example of a plague doctor.

[CombichristGirl]

sweet idea for a costume!!!!!!
defiantly cardboard for the beak so it has a strong starting point.
if it were myself, i would probably start with a few layers of regular paper mache. then i would bust out some paper clay the fine pulp stuff to be able to give it a smooth texture. once all was dry i would give it a sanding to further smooth it, unless you want it textured

[Zombie Pumpkins!]

I like CombichristGirl's advice, and I love the costume idea. Those beaked masks are freaky!

[JayFamous]

Check out this website. It has 4 images that will help you out I think.

http://creepypasta.wordpress.com/2009/0 ... ue-doctor/

Best of luck to you.

[CombichristGirl]

Check out this website. It has 4 images that will help you out I think.

http://creepypasta.wordpress.com/2009/0 ... ue-doctor/

Best of luck to you.

ha ha awesome find!! i didnt even think of those little cones, doh!!!!

[suzika]

You all rock. JayFamous, that is the perfect site to help me. I think it is hilarious I already have the hockey mask ready to go.

[monstermash]

I think CCG and Jay have nailed it. Just wanted to say great costume idea. Really creepy.

[JayFamous]

Glad to help. Best of luck.

[CorpseBride]

Check out this website. It has 4 images that will help you out I think.

http://creepypasta.wordpress.com/2009/0 ... ue-doctor/

Best of luck to you.

Wow! Nice find!

And wicked costume choice hun! Thats a stellar idea. I cannot wait to see pictures!

[suzika]

I have the first layer of paper mache on the mask. I couldn't find the same size cone so I modified it, but, it is going fairly well. The fabric for the ret of it is sitting here waiting for me to figure out how to do it best.

[suzika]

My mask is done, albeit it ended up completely different than it started. I started with the cone and paper mache, went through all that, and painted it yesterday, and hated it. It just didn't look right, and I went ahead and pulled out last year's vampire costume thinking I'd rewear that.

Well, while looking at the mask, and pulling out some other Halloween stuff I remembered the felt I had left from a Thanksgiving project last year. I ended up hot gluing felt to the mask, brown for the face, orange for the beak, cannibalizing an old pair of Harry Potter costume glasses and now I love the mask. As soon as my husband leaves for work I'll be finishing the robe, then I'll try and get pictures. I wish I had taken pictures through the whole process but, I always end up in a Halloween rush with way too much going on.

[Zombie Pumpkins!]

Sounds like your creative process took you in all directions on this project. Happy to hear that you are pleased with it though. Can't wait to see photos.

[CombichristGirl]

yeah when do we get pics

[suzika]

And yes, my husband is a whoopie cushion.

[Zombie Pumpkins!]

Creepy costume!!!! (the plague doctor is good too.)