The mouth and chin are quite as important as the brow and nose. Beginners often have great difficulty in modeling them, because they forget to consider the profile. The lips and chin must be built out and shaped exactly like those of the human face. [Illustration: [Mask]] When you have the character of this noble king well in mind, take a pencil and paper and make a sketch of him, front view and side view. Keep in mind the general proportions of his face. Having made your drawing you are ready to begin your work with clay. Measure your face from chin to the crown of the head, and the width of your face from ear to ear. Do this carefully, for a good mask should fit the face of the wearer. Onto a slate or a board crush some newspapers into a mound, about 4 by 6 inches, and 3 inches high. This paper, acting as a core, will save your clay and insure its quick drying. Pack the clay over the paper as in the illustration, to a depth of about 6 inches. If the length of your face is 8½ inches, make the mound of clay 8¾ inches, since the clay shrinks in drying. For the same reason, add an extra ¼ inch to the width. With your drawing before you, begin modeling the clay. Remember that a face is not flat. Observe the plans of the forehead, the cheeks, and eye sockets. The expression which you imagine the noble king to have had should be modeled into the clay and the wrinkles cut into the forehead and about the mouth. You must study your mask from many angles in order to make it lifelike. [Illustration: _Characters from Christmas Mask_ ]