Sometimes as an artist you may find it hard to develop a concept or feel like your art is becoming repetitive and stagnant. As makeup artists we can only give the good old "smoky eye" so many times before we need to make a twist. So, as with any art, it is good to flood your system with new inspiration to keep your craft new and fun, and who knows what new trend you might start.
If you find yourself getting stumped or bored with your work try some of these methods for mustering inspiration:
- Observe your surroundings. You may be surprised what could spark an idea. Those mini-blinds on your bedroom window, the colors reflecting on the wall from the restaurant lighting, the texture of a new dress are all things you can find a way to translate into your creation.
- Research fellow artists. Study other make-up artists and their work. Begin to recognize their unique style and how they manage to branch out beyond that to create unique looks for every project. Try and put your own take on their classic looks.
- Immerse yourself in other art forms. Don't just focus on make-up artistry. Listen to new genres of music, go see a musical or ballet, catch an art show, read a book. New interests can lead to new inspiration.
- Partner up. Don't feel like you have to work alone, bouncing ideas off someone else is a great way to grow a new project. Collaborate with a fellow make-up artist or photographer or designer and help one another. Come up with a project for yourselves and set a deadline. Build your portfolio and help your art community at the same time.
- Experiment. Test out different mediums like painting or sculpting or drawing. Purchase new products from a cosmetics line you've never used before and practice new looks. Attempt a look you have never done before. Online tutorials are a great way to test the waters.
- Change your perspective. Look at a painting upside down. Zoom in to an almost microscopic level of a plant. Limit your focus to only one element of a pattern. Use color combinations that you never have before. Let the world be your muse.
- Take classes. Never assume you know it all. Take make-up seminars. Take art classes. Take computer classes so you can learn to design looks virtually. All experience is good experience and relatable in the art world.
- Research other countries. Not every country is sporting the same make-up, clothing, and hair styles we are in the United States. Gather inspiration from their choices, who knows where your art might end up?
*Scandanavia
*Bulgaria
*Italy
*Sweden
*New Zealand
*Bangladesh
Never get too comfortable with your medium. You should be constantly evolving just like the art world. New materials are being invented, new methods are being developed. Boundaries are being pushed every day. Don't get left behind. Always push yourself.
Wednesday, May 23, 2012
Wednesday, May 16, 2012
Dancing With the Stars
Each week over 16 million viewers tune in to watch ABC's hit series "Dancing with the Stars". The show, now in its 14th season, has been sustained by a revolving door of celebrities, loveable hot bodied professional dancers, flashy, flesh baring costumes, and dramatic stage make-up. With each musical number and theme change, viewers have come to expect a high level of intensity from each of these components every week, culminating in the final three couples dancing for the mirror ball trophy.
Just two weeks away from this season's dance-off, we were curious about the team behind those double faux lashes and bedazzled lids. Turns out, we were not alone. The "Dancing with the Stars" make-up team received so much fan-mail that they have started their own Facebook page where they break down trade secrets.
Here's what we have learned:
Each star gets around 3 to 4 hours of hair and make-up before show time. Forty-five minutes is spent on body make-up alone and the remaining time is split in half between hair and face make-up.
Contestants are not only spray tanned each week, but hand stained, covered in GLEAM, and dusted with a layer of glitter as well.
The show is shot in High Definition which means the camera will pick up and magnify any flaw so there is no room for mistakes.
The make-up on DWTS takes a cue from real ballroom competitions, where professional dancers have been using extreme make-up for decades to stand out in a room full of competitors.
Show nights are the most intense with anywhere between 7 and 10 artists working in the make-up trailer at a time, most of which are powdering down contestants from sweat and oil after dancing under the lights.
The woman who gets to make the final decisions on the hair and make-up is Department Head, Melanie Mills. Mills has been with the show since Season Two and credits the show's producers with trusting her instincts on how much to "go for it" and when to draw the line.
She served as Department Head for the 2010 Academy Awards as well as the Nickelodeon series iCarly, and Victorious. She was nominated for an Emmy four consecutive years (2007-20010) for her work in make-up artistry.
The talent and creativity on the show speaks for itself. If you want a sneak peak the day of filming, the team posts photos to Facebook from inside the make-up trailer and break down exactly what products and colors they have used. Checkout their page here: Dancing with the Stars Make-up Team
Good luck Semi-finalists, we'll be looking forward to seeing what the team has created next week!
http://www.facebook.com/dwtsmakeup
http://www.melaniemillsmakeup.com
http://abclocal.go.com/kabc/story?section=news/entertainment&id=5191881
Just two weeks away from this season's dance-off, we were curious about the team behind those double faux lashes and bedazzled lids. Turns out, we were not alone. The "Dancing with the Stars" make-up team received so much fan-mail that they have started their own Facebook page where they break down trade secrets.
Here's what we have learned:
Each star gets around 3 to 4 hours of hair and make-up before show time. Forty-five minutes is spent on body make-up alone and the remaining time is split in half between hair and face make-up.
Contestants are not only spray tanned each week, but hand stained, covered in GLEAM, and dusted with a layer of glitter as well.
The show is shot in High Definition which means the camera will pick up and magnify any flaw so there is no room for mistakes.
The make-up on DWTS takes a cue from real ballroom competitions, where professional dancers have been using extreme make-up for decades to stand out in a room full of competitors.
Show nights are the most intense with anywhere between 7 and 10 artists working in the make-up trailer at a time, most of which are powdering down contestants from sweat and oil after dancing under the lights.
The woman who gets to make the final decisions on the hair and make-up is Department Head, Melanie Mills. Mills has been with the show since Season Two and credits the show's producers with trusting her instincts on how much to "go for it" and when to draw the line.
She served as Department Head for the 2010 Academy Awards as well as the Nickelodeon series iCarly, and Victorious. She was nominated for an Emmy four consecutive years (2007-20010) for her work in make-up artistry.
The talent and creativity on the show speaks for itself. If you want a sneak peak the day of filming, the team posts photos to Facebook from inside the make-up trailer and break down exactly what products and colors they have used. Checkout their page here: Dancing with the Stars Make-up Team
Good luck Semi-finalists, we'll be looking forward to seeing what the team has created next week!
http://www.facebook.com/dwtsmakeup
http://www.melaniemillsmakeup.com
http://abclocal.go.com/kabc/story?section=news/entertainment&id=5191881
Wednesday, May 9, 2012
AGING MAKE-UP
This week at the Joe Blasco Make-up Artist Training Centers, students are learning the techniques necessary to execute the effects of old age. From age spots, to vein work, and accentuating highlights and shadows, the students begin to transform each other into their future selves for better or for worse. This is often considered by makeup artists to be one of the most difficult tasks in their craft.
Our students work mainly with paint & powder and stretch & stipple techniques to begin replicating the effects that environment, heredity, psychology, and many more elements have on the aging of a person.
There are many considerations to take into effect when approaching an aging make-up. How old is the performer? How old is the character they are to be playing? What environment did they live in - farmer vs. businessman? Were they happy or bitter? Did they suffer any illnesses or addictions?
All of these questions, and more, will play a part in shaping the final look of the character.
Becoming a master of the aging technique takes a lot of time, practice, patience, and research. You have to observe people around you, study the differences between males and females and how the aging process differs between the two, understand which features illustrate age the most. One of the most difficult things to understand and appreciate about aging makeup is how it's the subtlety that makes it believable.
A couple of artists who have become well known for their abilities to execute a realistic aging make-up include Greg Cannom and Matthew Mungle. Cannom is responsible for the Academy Award winning aging makeup on Brad Pitt in the Curious Case of Benjamin Button, and along with Mungle, the Academy Award for Bram Stoker's Dracula.
Cannom recently appeared on this season of SyFy's reality show, Face Off, as a consultant and judge for the contestants' aging make-ups in the episode "Triple Threat." Groups of artists had to age triplets 50 years, 75 years and 100 years. (View the episode here: "Triple Threat")
Fans of the hit show, "How I Met Your Mother," may recall an episode where the Barney character was disguising himself as an older man in order to win a bet in the episode "Intervention". Mungle was hired on on for this episode to do a realistic aging makeup. (A glimpse of his work can be found here "Intervention.")
Both Cannom and Mungle are featured on the Joe Blasco Online Professional Make-up Seminars Website, The Make-up Space, sharing their knowledge of aging make-ups.
Now here is a challenge for you:
Try to think of five films in which the aging make-up was incredibly subtle and believable. Now check out this slideshow at Celebrities in Old Age Make-up to see how many of your favorites made their list
Our students work mainly with paint & powder and stretch & stipple techniques to begin replicating the effects that environment, heredity, psychology, and many more elements have on the aging of a person.
There are many considerations to take into effect when approaching an aging make-up. How old is the performer? How old is the character they are to be playing? What environment did they live in - farmer vs. businessman? Were they happy or bitter? Did they suffer any illnesses or addictions?
All of these questions, and more, will play a part in shaping the final look of the character.
Becoming a master of the aging technique takes a lot of time, practice, patience, and research. You have to observe people around you, study the differences between males and females and how the aging process differs between the two, understand which features illustrate age the most. One of the most difficult things to understand and appreciate about aging makeup is how it's the subtlety that makes it believable.
A couple of artists who have become well known for their abilities to execute a realistic aging make-up include Greg Cannom and Matthew Mungle. Cannom is responsible for the Academy Award winning aging makeup on Brad Pitt in the Curious Case of Benjamin Button, and along with Mungle, the Academy Award for Bram Stoker's Dracula.
Cannom recently appeared on this season of SyFy's reality show, Face Off, as a consultant and judge for the contestants' aging make-ups in the episode "Triple Threat." Groups of artists had to age triplets 50 years, 75 years and 100 years. (View the episode here: "Triple Threat")
Fans of the hit show, "How I Met Your Mother," may recall an episode where the Barney character was disguising himself as an older man in order to win a bet in the episode "Intervention". Mungle was hired on on for this episode to do a realistic aging makeup. (A glimpse of his work can be found here "Intervention.")
Both Cannom and Mungle are featured on the Joe Blasco Online Professional Make-up Seminars Website, The Make-up Space, sharing their knowledge of aging make-ups.
- Matthew Mungle - Aging Make-up Using Stock Gelatin Appliances
- Greg Cannom - Old Age Make-up Using Encapsulated Gelatin Appliances
Now here is a challenge for you:
Try to think of five films in which the aging make-up was incredibly subtle and believable. Now check out this slideshow at Celebrities in Old Age Make-up to see how many of your favorites made their list
Wednesday, May 2, 2012
ADVANCED BEAUTY SEMINAR
MARK YOUR CALENDARS!!
Joe Blasco Make-up Artist Training Center in Orlando is preparing for their annual
Advanced Beauty Seminar
and would like to invite you to join them!
JUNE 11 - 16
Monday - Friday
(6pm - 10pm)
Saturday
(9am - 6pm)
Participants are asked to bring their own make-up supplies but will also be receiving select products during the seminar.
The cost of the seminar is $950, a deposit of 50% is due no later than Friday, May 11th to secure a seat.
Topics covered in the seminar, by Ms. Cordi Frei, include:
- Color Theory
- Working in HD
- Mixing Mediums
- Product Types
- Ethnic Make-up Techniques
- and Conceptualization
Feel free to contact us for more information and to save your spot!
407.363.1234 orlando@joeblasco.com
** Also mark your calendars for the Airbrush Seminar, September 24-29, $1,200 (includes airbrush, compressor, and sample silicone-based make-up)**
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