Faces can express a wide range of ideas and emotions. Distortions in a face can be both disturbing and funny to people. Explore the expressive potential of faces in the following drawing games:
  • Divide a 12 x 18 inch sheet of paper into 8 sections. In each section, draw a face which expresses a particular emotion or idea such as happy, angry, afraid, brave, and so on.
  • Divide a 12 x 6 inch sheet of paper into 3 sections. In the first section draw an imaginary face. In each of the next sections, distort the face by dramatically changing its features.
  • Divide a 12 x 6 inch sheet of paper into 4 sections. In each section draw a face which represents one of the four seasons: spring, summer, winter and fall.
Show your drawings to others and see if they can guess the emotion or idea being expressed. Using materials found around your home or classroom, create a mask based upon one of your drawings.
Want to Do More? Examine masks from different cultures, primitive to modern times. Identify the purposes for various types of masks and categorize them by design, materials and function. Express how specific masks make you feel, especially masks which transform the personality. Analyze how various emotions are conveyed in the masks through the use of line, shape, color and texture.

Learn why people make masks.

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Old warrior wooden masks from Mexico.