"What are your masks made of?

All my pieces have a papier mache base. I use a wide variety of materials to make the designs and surface details.

"Why papier mache?"

I like the flexibility of the medium. It allows me to produce a wide range of styles while still being lightweight and cost effective. The other big reason is the recycling aspect of what I do. So much of our society is based on the cycle of buying new things and then throwing away the old, this is bad for us and bad for the world. What I do is a form of recycling and it is an important aspect of my work. Many of the jewelery accents and lace are salvaged, as well as the leather. Most of these things are bought from charitable organizations in support of my community. I'm also careful to use feathers from farmed birds where they are a by-product of, and not the reason for, harvesting. I buy directly from the farmers when ever possible. I have tried to make my work as environmentally sustainable and animal friendly as I can.

"Are the flowers real?"

No, they are not. Real flowers would be too fragile and don't maintain their looks well over time. I use high end silk flowers. Artificial flowers are no longer the fake looking plastic things we made fun of, now they are highly realistic and available in almost as wide a range of styles as real ones. It was this realism that inspired me to use flowers on my masks and helped me to develop my unique style.

"How long do they take to make?"

Each mask takes about a week to ten days to finish. I have several forms which I use and so can get more than one started a day, but can do no more than one piece per form, per day due to drying time. If you want to order a number of custom pieces keep in mind that the production time will be affected by how many forms I have for that design.

"I'm a retailer/event planner, do you work with us?"

Yes. My work is carried in some retail locations. Nobody knows your clientele better than you so it is possible for me to make/modify designs to better suit your specific needs. Please send me your company name, number and contact name and I will be in touch to discuss the possibilities with you.

"How do your prices compare to actual Venetian masks?"

I think I'm highly competitive. The look is very similar since I use some of the same techniques and types of materials for my traditional designs, but the cost is lower, especially when you figure in the duty fees and charges from the importing companies. You also get more with my masks. Each one is a signed, titled, original work of art, not one of "this years design" produced in a factory. My methods also produce a mask that is more flexible and therefore, more comfortable to wear.

"How do I take care of my mask?"

The masks are pretty easy to care for. Just remember that they are paper based so they need to be kept away from moisture. If your feathers get a little ruffled then they can usually be smoothed back into place gently by hand. If they get bent then generally letting them rest in the proper position for a day or so will allow them to straighten out. A light dusting is all that's generally needed to keep your mask looking great!

"How about fit?"

The forms I use are based on a number of faces, including my own. The result of this is that different masks will sit differently on your face. Most of my pieces are fairly flexible so they will shape to your face to a certain degree and most will fit a standard adult face. Unfortunately the only way to be certain of the fit is to try the mask on. Another aspect of this is that because of each mask being unique there are differences in the eye-hole shapes, width, length and borders. These variations will be more or less flattering on different faces. Something else to consider if your primary interest is in wearing the mask: we are biologically programmed to find symmetry more attractive. Many of my pieces are asymmetrical and they tend to be a little less flattering, when worn, than the symmetrical ones.