Masks

Cocijo's Mask
& The Weeping Mask of Mama Killa

Mixed Media Art
Senior Capsone
Art & Illustration
Helen KAssA
Medium:clay, yarn, and tissue paper; recycled painting, clay, silver thread, spray paint
This cumulative course blends traditional analog art with digital environments, exploring how illustration evolves across multiple formats. Students will use illustrated elements to create traditional and non-traditional product designs while engaging in focused, supervised studio time. Through independent study, team collaboration, and guided critique, students will create and refine projects in preparation for their final thesis exhibition.
Artistic representation of a golden face with closed eyes and tears, adorned with blue circular earrings and a colorful headdress showing moon phases, surrounded by two sun and moon faces on gold tassels, all set against a blue swirling background framed by a decorative golden-brown border with animal and symbol motifs.
The Objectives

Learning

Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to blend analog and digital techniques to create themed, client-driven illustration campaigns based on professional feedback. Additionally, students will reference and expand upon existing artwork to build a cohesive body of work, honing their final portfolio to industry standards. Ultimately, students will upload their refined portfolios online and strategically plan the display of their artwork for both in-person and digital thesis exhibitions.

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Work-01

Cocijo's Mask

A mask honoring Cocijo, the Zapotec god of thunder, featuring a clay base with a yarn background inspired by Oaxaca’s geometric textile patterns. The tissue paper feathers complete the headdress, reflecting traditional craftsmanship.

Colorful handcrafted mask with bold geometric shapes, blue and green face, red tongue, orange circular ear ornaments, and green feathers extending from the top, set against a vibrant patterned fabric background with stripes and squares in colors like red, blue, yellow, purple, and green.
Work-02

The Weeping Mask of Mama Killa

This work transforms a thrifted painting into a tribute to Inca heritage, framed with clay embossed with cultural symbols like the Chaka cross and puma. At its heart, the clay mask of Mama Killa, the revered Inca Moon goddess, sheds silver-painted tears made from glue, embodying her sacred ties to the moon, marriage, and feminine strength. Behind her, layered shades of blue form a wave-like spiral, enhanced by silver thread that adds depth and movement to the piece.

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Artistic representation of a golden face with closed eyes and tears, adorned with blue circular earrings and a colorful headdress showing moon phases, surrounded by two sun and moon faces on gold tassels, all set against a blue swirling background framed by a decorative golden-brown border with animal and symbol motifs.

See more work

The portfolio is deep. Keep moving. There is more to see and more to learn.

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