About Wet-Formed Leather
I'm often asked how I came up with this method of working in leather. Well I didn't "come up" with it alone. Some form of wetting and molding leather has probably always happened, whether it was for making armor, containers, masks, or bindings. I started doing leather like most folks, with a kit from Tandy, and made a wallet or a belt or a bag. I then drifted over to sewing bags and small goods using soft chrome-tanned leathers.After some time I started seeing some new and interesting things being done with vegetable-tanned leather. In the early eighties there were folks from the US, Canada, Australia, and England sharing ideas and techniques for "Art" leather via a newsletter and a couple of wonderful conferences. I was also inspired by a book by Rex Lingwood (Leather in Three Dimensions), and a workshop given at Arromont by Marcia Lloyd.There was talk during the workshop of masks being made in Italy that revived those used in the Comedia 'dell Arte; an early form of improv. Theatre.
The techniques for making these masks were very long and involved, and I felt there had to be a faster, easier way. Thanks to our modern tanners who make wonderful molding leather, and 
new technologies in molding and casting for pattern forms it is a lot easier to make molded leather objects.I have made some videos and booklets describing the techniques I've learned and would like to pass them on to you.
Start by downloading this free pamphlet containing the basic information about wet forming faces and masks. Then hop over to the other pages to browse other booklets and patterns.