the workshop
A mask painting workshop in Venice, step by step
The stages of a session in sequence, with a tip for each.
Reserve your place at the painting bench ↗The session, stage by stage
| Stage | What happens |
|---|---|
| Welcome | The mask maker greets the group in the shop or studio |
| Choosing | You pick a papier-mâché mask to decorate |
| Painting | Steps are shown, then you paint in rounds |
| Drying | Short pauses with stories about masks in Venice |
| Finishing | Final touches, then the mask is yours |
Arriving
Check the title of your option and its meeting point before you set off. Wear clothes that can take a splash of paint.
The welcome
The mask maker explains what you will do. Guests value the short lesson on how masks were used in Venice in earlier centuries.
Picking a blank
Every workshop has a stock of papier-mâché masks. Take a moment, because the shape you choose steers the colours.
The first round
You are shown the steps and then choose your own colours and style. Ask as you go, because the mask maker is there to help.
Between coats
Paint needs time to dry. The pauses are when the stories about Carnival masks come in.
The last details
Guests describe a finishing flourish once the painting is done. Then the mask is yours to carry home.