The Making of a Mask
I predominantly us deer or sheepskins because they have the right stretch, are durable, and stay supple to the touch. Who can resist the smell of leather? I like to use a variety of natural colour. All masks are signed "Shamam" and dated with the year it was made. They are tagged with a natural paper description of the elements used, the masks name, series number and signature.
The stretching its self takes between 10-18 hours. All by hand. The decorating and mounting time varies. It is also very time consuming finding the various natural items I incorporate into them. It 's a labor of love... and a good excuse to climb through the wooded mountains, following old trails, rivers, creeks, exploring lakeshores and nesting grounds.
The furs I use are mainly remnants of fur coats from day's gone bye. Considered politically incorrect to be worn as fashion these days.
I use a variety of bird feathers found locally in British Columbia. They are mostly picked up off the ground at various nesting sights, gifted or traded for. I have used feathers of everything from Eagle to Hummingbird (Look what the cat dragged in). I do not go out and kill birds just to use their feathers for my art. I use only "VINTAGE FEATHERS". By vintage, I mean that they have all been gathered prior to the introduction of Avian or Bird Flu virus to migrating birds, which might migrate to North America. They are all cleaned and carefully stored to prevent deterioration from feather mites.
I also use real bones, teeth, antlers, branches, twigs, leafs, mosses, lichens, stones, rocks, and any other groovy looking thing I can gather from nature to incorporate into my art.