Anyone know how to make leather masks?

Hey all,


I'm a big wrestling fan, and for several years now I've been wanting to get a replica of a mask that was used by a character in WWE.


The character is Kane and he wore a mask from 2002-2003 that I've always wanted. I think it looks amazing.










So anyway, after spending a lot of time over the past few years searching on and off for it I gave up. Then, yesterday, I seen that someone had made a mask for his kid;





And I thought it looked fantastic and extremely accurate. So anyway, I've contacted the maker of the mask via email (he makes a few bits and pieces of wrestling gear) but he seems to have stopped making stuff for people, which means I'll have to do a lot of convincing or find someone else or make it myself.



So.. I was wondering if perhaps anyone out there would know how to make masks like this? It's a moulded leather mask and I've no idea of the process for making or painting them. Would any mask-makers fancy making one, or perhaps explaining (or linking to) how to make one myself (no doubt it'd take a long time to perfect such an obscure venture though).



So yeah... I'm rally just a little lost at the moment and looking for advice on what to do about this thing.


Cheers

(Sorry if this is the wrong section by the way)

:)
(WWE Made a piece of merchandise, a 'replica mask', that they released, which I purchased, but it looks crap in comparison and there's nothing 'replica' about it!)

irishlostboy

materials.
veg tan leather.
clay or carved wood.

first sculpt the mask in clay or carve a mold out of wood.
get veg-tan leather and soak it on water. it then becomes pliable and manipulatable. sculpt it onto the former you made in clay or carved from wood. pinch and stretch into desired shape. when shape is achieved, allow to dry. when dry, then paint.
find clay in your art store.
find veg tan leather in www.leprevo.com.

cannot provide more info as too drunk. just google leather mask making. it is not rocket surgery/ have fun.

Rocket surgery? haha.


I actually got the guy to agree to make it! I'm thrilled! May still invest some time into trying to make my own though. Would be a good, obscure skill to have.