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How to Design a Kabuki Mask

Makeup is an integral part of Japanese kabuki theater. To make a kabuki mask, you can go the traditional route and apply makeup directly to an actor's face, or you can paint facial features onto a paper mache mask. There is plenty of room for variation in kabuki makeup, but when designing an authentic-looking mask, you should be aware of the significance of color and shape.

Things You'll Need

  • Face paint or paint
  • Blank mask
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Instructions

    • 1

      Paint the entire face white, except for the ears, unless you are creating a demon character. The demon character has a light red face with details drawn in red, black and blue, but other characters have a white face.

    • 2

      Choose appropriate colors with respect to your character's personality traits. Use deep red to signify anger, forcefulness, indignation or obstinacy; bright red for activeness, eagerness, passion and vigor; light red for cheerfulness or youthfulness; light blue for calmness; indigo for gloominess; light green for tranquility; purple for nobility; brown for selfishness and dejection; grey on the chin for dreariness; and black for fear, fright or gloom. In general, indigo is used for villains and ghosts; brown is used for gods; and purple is used for lions and tigers. Most characters use the typical deep red color.

    • 3

      Apply makeup or paint in bold lines to accentuate the eyes, cheekbones and jaw line.

    • 4

      Draw bold, black, curvy eyebrows and broad red lines from the nose and brow around the cheek for warrior roles. For a youthful hero, draw spatula-shaped eyebrows and red lines under the eyes curving up to the outer tips of the brows. Heroes also have thin, curvy red lips with a touch of black at the corners.

Theater Costumes

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