Mask-making &
Lantern-making Classes

Photo by Ada Matusiewicz, 2024

Winter 2025 classes
at our North Portland workshop

Mask-making with Paper Mache

Learn how to make a unique wearable mask using traditional paper mache techniques. This is a two-part class offered on adjacent Saturdays, and it is limited to only 6 students.


Part one includes an introduction to the technique, sculpting the mask design with clay over a plaster face form, and applying paper mache in layers using a biodegradable paste.


Part two includes pulling the mask from the clay, reinforcing the inside and edges of the mask with additional paper mache, and adding paint, padding and ties. 

Participants who are unable to attend the second day of the class may be able to make arrangements to attend a make up session, or they can finish the mask on their own.

This class is taught by by professional mask-maker and Wildland Roots Artistic Director Moni Sears.

Age range: 16 to adult.
Duration: 2 sessions of ~4 hours each. (~8 hours total)
Tuition: $100 plus $15 materials fee
Location: The Wildland Roots workshop at Green Anchors, directions HERE
Upcoming class dates: 

Lantern-making with Paper & Rattan

Make a beautiful paper lantern from natural rattan and translucent paper. Chose either a star or pyramid shaped style. (Students who have made lanterns with us previously have an advanced option to create a globe-shaped lantern). Finished lantern sizes are approximately 12"x12"x3" (star), 8"x8"x12" (pyramid), or 9"x9"x9" (globe).

Class cost includes all lantern construction materials needed except for LED lights. We will look at suggested options for illumination, and there will be some basic LED lights available for purchase at the class.

Class taught by Wildland Roots Artistic Director Moni Sears.


Age range: 14 to adult.
Duration: 4-5 hours
Cost: $50 including materials (Except LEDs)
Location: The Wildland Roots workshop at Green Anchors, directions HERE
Upcoming class dates:

Upcoming Summer 2025 classes
at our North Portland workshop

Lantern-making with Paper & Willow

Make a beautiful, pyramid-shaped paper lantern using locally harvested willow branches. This method is based on willow lantern-making techniques from the United Kingdom, but is adapted to use materials easily found in the United States. The finished lantern size will likely fit within the dimensions of 12"x12"x24".

Class taught by Wildland Roots Artistic Director Moni Sears .

Age range: 14 to adult.
Duration: 4-5 hours
Cost: $60 including materials
Location: The Wildland Roots workshop at Green Anchors, directions HERE
2025 dates: TBA

Photo by Peraza Media, 2014

Mask-making with Simple Materials

This class teaches students to create a unique wearable mask from easily available materials including aluminum foil, tape, cardboard, paper, wire and white glue.

The basic forms are constructed in the morning and then are set in the sun or in front of a fan to dry over the lunch break. Immediately after lunch, participants reinforce their mask edges with wire, trim out eye holes and then apply final paper mache detail. We then take a break while the paper mache dries. Then finally, students paint their masks and add ties and other embellishments.

This class is taught by by professional mask-maker and Wildland Roots Artistic Director Moni Sears, and is based on a technique taught by Bruce Marrs at the Dell Arte School of Physical Theatre in the late 1990s.

Age range: 14 to adult.
Duration: ~5 hours
Tuition: $60 including materials
Location: The Wildland Roots workshop at Green Anchors, directions HERE
2025 dates: TBA

Mask-making with Natural Materials

This class teaches students to make beautiful, rustic masks from natural and biodegradable materials including natural fibers and earth-based pigments. It is designed to be taught outside in a natural environment without risk of contamination to local soil and water, and can even make use of local and onsite natural materials such as clay, moss, seed pods and other plant materials.

During the morning session we use clay to customize basic face-forms into unique designs. We then set our masks to dry in the sun or next to the campfire over the lunch break. In the second half of the class we make biodegradable paint with natural earth and mineral pigments, and then embellish our masks with painted color and natural objects.

This mask-making method was developed by Wildland Roots Artistic Director Moni Sears.

Age range: 14 to adult.
Duration: ~5 hours
Cost: $60 including materials
Location: The Wildland Roots workshop at Green Anchors, directions HERE
2025 dates: TBA

Face-casting

Participants pair up to do face castings of each other's faces with plaster bandages, then create a plaster a copy of their own faces which they can later use to build a custom fitted mask.

This class is taught by by professional mask-maker and Wildland Roots Artistic Director Moni Sears.

Age range: 16 to adult.
Duration: ~4 hours
Tuition: $60 including materials
Location: The Wildland Roots workshop at Green Anchors, directions HERE
2025 dates: TBA

Other details

Summer classes: Dress for a class in an outdoor location. We have a covered workspace but we are right by the river where it tends to be slightly cooler than the rest of Portland, and sometimes breezy.
Winter classes: Dress for a class in an uninsulated indoor environment. We have a heater but recommend lots of layers especially during cold mornings.
Also we will be using paste and sometimes clay or paint so don't wear your best outfit.

Classes have a 1 hour lunch break, so bring a bag lunch or plan to grab a quick bite up the hill in downtown St Johns.

Class Cancellation and Refund Policy

Registrant cancellations made 1 week or more in advance of the event date will receive a 100% refund.

For registrant cancellations made less than 1 week before the event, but more than 24 hours before the event, we can offer you a credit towards a future class to be used within 6 months, but we do not offer refunds.

For registrant cancellations occurring 24 hours or less before the class (or in the instance of your not showing up to the class) you will lose the payment for the class.

 If you are unable to attend you can give your spot to a friend, but the same refund and credit policy for your payment applies.

 When you register for a class, you agree to these terms.

Cancellations can be made by email (wildlandroots@gmail.com) or text (503-341-9176). Thank you!

Class Cancellation and/or Rescheduling Policy for Extreme Weather or Unusual Events

In the event of extreme weather, or unusual or hazardous events in the vicinity of Green Anchors and/or North Portland that make it necessary for us to cancel a class in the interests of registrant and instructor safety (including but not limited to snow and or ice storms, flooding, extreme winds, wildfires, or an environmental disaster) we will attempt to reschedule the class and/or offer make-up days to registrants. If it is not possible to find a suitable alternative date for a registrant within 60 days, class tuition and any materials fees will be 100% refunded.