(ECNS) -- Ma Long, 47, a provincial inheritor of wooden ladle facial makeup, or "mashao in Chinese," has been practicing the craft for more than 20 years.
Mashao facial makeup is a traditional art form painted on a wooden ladle.
It evolved from the facial makeup of Shehuo, an archaic totem-like festive occasion with songs and dances mainly performed in the countryside of north China.
Mashao facial makeup has a history of thousands of years and bears the features of western China.
Ma is known as the "treasure craftsman" because of his innovative techniques such as gilding and engraving.
He also incorporated modern images and color elements into the masks.
Ma said that delineating is the most difficult part of the whole process, because only if the lines are of even thickness, will the finished product be vivid.
