A short update: I’m doing a lot better. Leagues better than where I was a year ago, and that’s for dang sure. And even better than a few months ago. I’m on a medication called oxcarbazepine, and I’d never heard of it until now. Not only does it take away a majority of the dark feelings of depression, it doesn’t make me feel like my head’s in a cloud. Just a few hot flashes and restless legs in the night-time. It’s wonderful, and I’m really hoping I don’t get ‘used’ to this medication to the point where it stops working. I’ve heard stories on reddit of lithium being this way…

But oh well. No use worrying about it. It’s working now, and that’s what matters.

And I’m sculpting again! I should be writing again , too. But now I am! Sorta!

Here’s a pair of pictures of the masks I’m making.

Sith Mask

I’m making this mask for my cousin who is putting together a Star Wars film of some kind in the near future. It’s a half-mask kind of like the Phantom’s mask from Phantom of the Opera, but with a decidedly more imperial look. It’s got teeth, but at this point, I’m not sure what other details if any I should include (making the cheeks and cheekbones more pronounced and skull-like, or recessed like Boba Fett’s Mandalorian helmet).

Also, how terrible are the Styrofoam heads at Hobby Lobby?! They’re so dang small! I don’t think even kids have the kind of proportions we’re talking about here. So to compensate, I gave more much more room for the mask’s length. Whether the width of the mask is too small is yet to be seen. I’m hoping one casting is all I’ll have to do and get it right the first time. If not… Let’s do it again! *grumble*

I will admit, this is the first time I’ve ever tried to sculpt a mask instead of doing it Pepakura with paper from a three-dimensional model. It’s exciting! Now to figure out how to smooth clay to get a stormtrooper helmet feel.

Majora’s Mask

I’m really excited about this just because it looks like I got the proportions of the eyes and color designs of the mask properly the first time!

This mask is from The Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask (naturally), and I noticed a lot of things about its design I hadn’t really considered while sculpting it. First of all, it’s a heart (of course). It’s also a head (a freaky one). The spikes on its sides and top move like fingers (and that’s creepy). And the evolutions of Majora himself in the video game use the mask as a chestpiece. Whether Majora was male or female isn’t specified. Majora’s Mask has a lot of uses, besides the fact that it’s a cursed mask that possesses the wearer. You know, all the terrible planet-destroying, moon-summoning power. I mean, just look at it.

…I won’t be making that thing as a mask. It would frighten children. And adults. And myself. Man, what kind of designer thought that was okay? And what kind of creative manager said to himself, “yeah, I’m good with that”?

😀