Mane Patterns

One of the more challenging aspects of this tribal mask is designing the lion's mane.  If you look at my other lion masks, you will see that the mane on each one consists of cord or wire going in and out of holes drilled into the base of the mask.  This one will have leather cutouts coming out of slots around the base of the mask.

The mask will be marked around the base using these brass markers while the polymer clay is still soft.
 

The brass markers produced the imprint designs shown here.

The imprints were measured using a string to get the base length of each marker.  The length of each marker becomes the base of each mane pattern.  Confusing, I know.

This is the approximate shape of the mane and used as a guide to design the mane patterns.

There are a total of 12 mane patterns.  The base of each pattern starts 10mm inside the perimeter of the mask.  As each pattern comes out of its' slot in the mask, it flares out on each side and ends on the mane guide line.