I collected research and inspiration images during a visit to the Art Institute to Chicago. I also made a few inspirational sketches beforehand.

I used a pre-made cardboard mask as the base for this project. I taped additional cardboard strips onto it to make the top dome. Next I covered the cardboard structure with paper mache to strengthen it. I added additional strips of cardboard to the crest and paper mached those as well.

I then coated the entire structure in a paper mache clay.* To add the wood grain texture I raked the clay with plastic cutlery. From there I painted the clay with a few coats of brown paint.

For the moss I mixed model foliage with glue and just applied it like plaster. To protect the paint and moss I sealed the mask with spray on plasti-dip. Finally I glued fake foliage into the space behind the crest.

*Learn how to make paper mache clay here

I used almost the exact same process as the previous mask on this one.

Rather than building the comb entirely out of clay I taped Dixie cups to the top of the dome and covered them. This made the teeth of the comb mostly hollow and kept the mask from being too top heavy. I used a similar method on the beak to keep it from being front heavy.