Now you don't have to have one specific monster in mind really when you go to Monster Camp, although you really should have an idea in your head before you go of what you would like to create, so you can go ahead and sculpt and not be stuck.
You don't have time to fool about as the first day is very busy as I will go over in the next blog post.
Plus, you really don't want to duplicate another's work but instead, make something more original, more so a monster of your own making. At least, that's what I wanted to do.
The moment I had heard that Allen Hopps was going to have a Monster Camp where you could go and learn and make your own half latex mask there in his shop, using his tools and with him right there with you...I knew right away I wanted to go AND what I wanted to make!
Now I've watched him make a lot of masks over just the past 2 years and one of my favorites of his is this one, more like a 1/4 mask, evil elf! Oh wow, check this creepy guy out!
I love him!
So I am sure you all must have heard of Krampus by now. And yep, Allen makes a wicked Krampus mask! Lots of different styles and types! Full costumes and probably on stilts too!
There in Dallas, there is even a Krampus walk and I found the New England Society of Krampus! How exciting! I have not seen them do a parade yet but they have had some get-togethers and that's cool! I would so love to be a part of that, the whole Krampus thing. But ya know? I didn't want to be yet another Krampus, I wanted to bring a more female energy to this hoopla parade!
So I began to research and who did I find?
Perchta, the belly slitter! Oohhh yeaaa!! Now she is downright wicked!
Check her out on Wikipedia:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Perchta
And here are some more glorious horrifying pics of her!
http://boredomtherapy.com/frau-perchta/
I did a lot of research on Perchta, Frau Berchta, Frau Holle so that I could get a feel for this fierce goddess, including talking to a few friends of mine. I did learn that those Krampus masks that have more than one set of horns, are actually followers of Perchta, called Perchten! Only one set of horns, makes them a Krampus.
Perchta follows Krampus, as his day is December 5th. From what is cited from the Brothers Grimm, her traditional feast day falls on the calendar day of December 31st. On that day, your meal should consist of gruel and fish stew. Some say if you didn't eat enough on Epiphany, January 6th, that was the day she would slit your belly, remove your intestines and fill the empty cavity with straw, stones, and trash. Perchta the Punisher was more active during the 12 days of Christmas.
You can read even more about her and others here:
https://www.tor.com/2016/12/15/the-witches-of-winter/
Now she wasn't all nasty like that all the time, if you did your allotted spinning for the year and ate fish soup or stew and gruel on her feast day, she may reward you with a silver coin left in a shoe or such for you.
Perchta also had a beautiful side to her when you were good and did what you were suppose to, that was the side of her you saw.
So when it came time for Monster Camp, I knew I wanted to create a Perchta mask so I could join in on the Krampus parades or gatherings.
Now as my friend from Germany asked me, why would Perchta be here in the U.S.? She saw a lot of these beings like Krampus and Perchta as part of the land and culture there in Europe. Why would they appear here in the U.S. and how would they appear as they differed in name or guise from region to region over there. Of course we know many people did come from Europe here and they brought their customs and folklore as well. But she has a good point. The United States is very different than Europe, so how would Perchta look here?
I spoke to a few friends, one from Austria, one from Germany and another friend who is into her as well about their take on Perchta and how they saw her. It led to some really great conversations and discussions!
It also got me to looking into the local Native American stories of the Wabanaki, especially those who have lived here in Maine for many, many years.
http://www.strangenewengland.com/2015/06/23/the-kiwakwa-or-chenoo-maines-white-walkers/
Did they have a Perchta type of goddess or story? I am still reading of the stories that I found that have been published about the Wabanaki and have found it very fascinating as now I am learning more of the history of the land here and her native peoples. I did read some mention of fairies, elves, and gnome like creatures tho' not an actual story in particular aside from the story of the Chenoo. I am still reading however and enjoying it immensely!
In fact, I already know that that will be my next monster or creature to make, that is after the skull mask that Allen recommended I make so I could become more familiar with the human anatomy.
So after reading and researching on the internet for months, I had to choose my pictures to which I would draw some inspiration from.
Many of the masks in Europe are carved out of wood so I wanted to keep elements of that. Perchta is known for a bird nose-beak so I decided in honor of the owls on the land here in Maine, I would give her an owl nose as well as in honor of the Native American folktales, her ears were pointed like an elves' and I gave her a lot of lines and sharp angles to her cheeks that could very well appear more wooden as a nod to those in Europe who carve masks from wood. The final touch of course was the brand like mark on her brow, a magic symbol that is for divine justice, as a nod to her Pagan roots as a Goddess.
And so, Perchta was born out of clay and latex, paint and hair and infused with the breath and tears of joy from a Druid.
And how did I make her? From start to finish...that is coming up in the next few blog posts---SOON! :)
