Motorcycle Riding Masks

I create all of my Motorcycle Riding Masks by hand from start to finish.

I begin by conferring with my client in much of the same way as one works with a tattoo artist on a custom piece. We talk about the overall impression of the mask – the feel and message it will convey, then delve into the design and possibly the color scheme. After emailing sketches and concept proofs, a design and color scheme are decided

I then select one of the three mask patterns that I developed when creating my initial series of Motorcycle Riding Masks. This pattern will form the basic shape of the mask, with all the cuts and sew lines needed to get the correct shape of the mask. The pattern will be modified to fit the design and artwork of the final mask.

With the pattern finished, I transfer it by hand onto a hide of fine quality veg-tan leather. After this I cut the pattern from the larger hide and hand-sand the edges. Using marking tools and a hand punch, I put all the sewing holes into the pattern.

The pattern cut and sew holes punched, I can now cut the design into the mask shell. Once it is cut, I painstakingly tool the leather using small, metal hand tools of various shapes and sizes to achieve the topography and texture I desire. This is tedious work and can take up to 8 hours of intensive hand work.

Once the mask shell has been tooled, I begin the color work. To create the color effects in my work, I use leather dye, leather stain and professional acrylic paints. The dyes, stains and paints all interact as they are layered together, creating colors and patterns that took me years to properly understand. The color process generally takes as long as the carving job, but can sometimes take even longer for intricate work. An average mask requires up to 8 hours of color work.

Carved and colored, the mask shell is now ready for an aerosol wax sealant that protects the color and leather while adding a healthy sheen to the leather. The mask shell is now ready to be sewn.

I use a braided, waxed nylon thread to sew my masks together. This is a very strong thread with excellent properties. I hand-sew the cheek, nose and chin cuts using a criss-cross “x” stitch. This is an amazingly strong stitch and is made even more so by the waxed thread, which binds to itself and the leather in the sides of the sewing holes to create stitches that will not come undone if one stitch is broken.

Once the the cheek, nose and chin cuts are sewn together, the mask becomes shell gains shape and dimension. I then cut and hand-sew a complimentary soft leather lining, foam nose pad and custom-shaped brass nose strip. I fix the nose strip into the leather mask shell where the bridge of the nose and top of the cheeks would be. Once it is affixed I hand-mold the nose and cheeks so that the brass will keep them in the right shape. Then I add the nose and cheek pad, and finally the leather lining.

With the lining attached, I punch sewing holes in it along the entire edge of the mask that match up with those in the leather mask shell. I hand-sew the shell and lining together using the same criss-cross “x” stitch. Then I cut the lining edges to match with the edges of the mask.

Once the shell and lining are sewn, I cut and hand sew the leather straps that will tie to hold the mask on the face. The straps are then sewn to the mask, a soft leather cover is added to smooth the transition from the mask to the strap, and a rivet is added for extra strength and look.

From start to finish, the mask takes anywhere from 20 to 27 hours to finish. It is now ready to be shipped to the client via USPS Priority Mail.

Below are various masks that I have created, from my earliest to my latest. Click on the photo to visit the blog entry detailing each mask.