Lion Mask for Aerosmith

That is just too cool. I have been actually using a still of the mask from the music video to help me plan a full face mask--I've been asked to remake a Lions Club mascot, and the head has been giving me fits. The video gave me the idea to make the face of the mascot out of leather.

That is just too cool. I have been actually using a still of the mask from the music video to help me plan a full face mask--I've been asked to remake a Lions Club mascot, and the head has been giving me fits. The video gave me the idea to make the face of the mascot out of leather.

Very cool to hear that this piece inspired somebody! It was a lot of fun to make, but challenging, as they only contacted me 3 days before they were shooting, and I had not tried the venetian technique of forming and hammering over a positive form. I bought a cement lion head sculpture at a garden store, and built up and resculpted some of the features in Durham's Rock Hard Wood Putty. The hammers used for the technique are made from cow horn mounted on a hammer handle, with the tip rounded and polished perfectly smooth. then further smothing and compressing accomplished with mirror polished ironwood rub sticks.

If anyone is interesed in a good tutorial on the technique, it is detailed in Thurston James' book: "The Prop Builder's Mask-Making Handbook" Which appears to have been re-released as: "The Mask-Making Handbook" Both are available on Amazon and other sites. I actually called Mr. James during the process, and sent him photos, and he was impressed at the size and scope. HE was great to speak to and it was nice to be able to thank him for his wonderful guide.