I've recently learned about these beautiful masks by Nicola Toce of Aliano, Italy. They're hand-made by the artist, using traditional techniques, for the annual Carnivale festival in Aliano, and each year new masks are added to the collection, which is housed in a local museum when not in use for the festival. The masks are currently being featured in a traveling exhibit most recently shown in the nearby town of Avigliano.
I make art for fun and self-expression. I work in monotypes/monoprints, collage and painting, most recently small works on paper. I find the serendipity of printmaking, the order-from-chaos nature of collage, and the free-form, unfettered nature of abstraction both challenging and satisfying. In addition, I occasionally explore the self-portrait. Once I got over the discomfort of looking closely at my own image, I came to enjoy the process, and find wonder in the range of characters that emerge.