Makeup design & photographic shoot

So taking inspiration from the fashion research I collated I came up with this design:

So the day of the photographic shoot is here! I arrived half and hour early to set up and followed all health and safety regulations. To create the makeup I used Boujous foundation as a base and my Mkeup forever foundation palette to contour, as well as bronzer. My Makeup Forever flash palette to create the eye makeup. I used MAC vanilla pigment to highlight and MAC cherry lip liner topped with ruby woo matt lipstick from MAC followed by a small amount of lip gloss to coat. I used MAC face & body foundation on the skin so it looked glowing on camera. 

As I was expecting a long haired blonde model initially, my hair design was based on this so I used clip in extensions to create a pony tail on my classmate, this gave me enough length to play with, I then used her own hair to blend the two together. 

Shots from the shoot:

Overall I was really happy with how the shoot turned out despite having to improvise after being let down by various models! Now I just have to find a model for the final show!!

Making the costume!

I went to fabric land in Kingston and bought black tuille, black chiffon and black lace as well as other bits and bobs I'd need such as elastic and ribbon. All in all it came to £58 which is a lot but I did buy 6 metres of everything just to be safe! 

I wanted to create a midi length ballet skirt, and it was really important to me that the movement of the skirt flowed and wasn't restricted so it was visually pleasing when it comes to the show.

I used these youtube videos for creating a circle skirt to make mine:

I repeated this method 3 times with each fabric, I then pinned the waist sections together, I decided to remove the tuille layer as it made it look too bulky which is not what I wanted, after I did this it looked far better! I then created an elasticated waistband, I then sewed black ribbon onto the ends of the elastic so I could tie in a bow. 

Overall I was happy with the outcome but I may have to trim the length depending on the height of my model.

My final Design (s)!

My first design:

Initially I was going to body paint on the leotard but then 3 models cancelled on me for the show and the shoot so luckily a classmate stepped in but she wasn't comfortable with being nude so I had her wear crop top. 

Initial hair and makeup design. 

I decided to make a head piece so I would have more hair to work with to create the swan,so I created wings out of cardboard and false hair;

I bought 2 of the same cardboard masks from Cass Art and as they were asymmetric I had to cut off a part of one and stick it onto the other to create a symmetrical mask. I bought some fake hair used for weave techniques it was only £1.99 so a bargain! I took thin strands of it then twisted and looped, trimmed then stuck onto my mask. It was an extremely long process it took about 3 days to complete! I then cut out the mask section so it only became a headdress, as I want to create a makeup design, therefore not wanting the face to be hidden! 

In depth research for my final idea

I have decided to combine natural world, and literary subjects. So I want my final piece to something that everyone will remember so want to make it a performance, and what better way to do that then dance?! In particular ballet!

I looked at different ballets such as the nutcracker, Giselle, Swan Lake and a Midsummers Nights Dream. The one that particularly stuck out for me was Swan Lake its such a beautiful, haunting story. I remember watching the film Billy Elliott for the first time, then seeing it in the West End and it was just amazing and thats when I first discovered Swan Lake:

So I decided to go back and see where this beautiful story started...

The original idea for the ballet came from a story called  Johann Karl August Musäus, "Der geraubte Schleier" (The Stolen Veil) as well as another folk-tale called'The White Duck'. Although not stated as a fact they have similar storylines so rumour has it that composer  Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky drew his influences for his now world renowned ballet from them in 1875/6.

I then looked at modern interpretations of Swan Lake such as Matthew Bourne's version and of course the film The Black Swan 

I got the inspiration for the hair from this promotional poster for the black swan:

I thought how amazing would it be if I could create a swan out of the hair! It may not work for the actual performance but for the photo shoot it would be perfect! 

I looked at various high fashion images which had makeup inspired by swan lake/the black swan:

Japanese Vogue

Fashion editorial by Ana Martinez, hair & makeup by Eva Sanvivas, photographer: Mara Saiz.

Black Swan inspired makeup at the Jean Louis Sabaji for his spring summer 2015 collection.

Editorial for Vogue
natalia bulycheva by vladimir vasilchikov for stolnick january 2016

Unknown

I love all of these images but think that the last one is my absolute favourite its so striking.

After researching I finally came up with my final design!
See my next post!

Visual brainstorming

City Life:

I looked at city skylines, street artists such as Banksy, as well as street performers and illusion graffiti.

Fantasy:

I looked at films which depict mythical storyline and creatures such as Harry Potter & Lord of the Rings, as well as creatures such as mermaids, fairies, & dragons.

Literary Subjects:

I looked at novels such as the Great Gatsby, Der Geraubte Schleier (which is where the ballet Swan Lake stemmed from), and of course works from William Shakespeare.

The Natural World:

Pictures above show animals and their different character traits, the power of nature, and also the sheer beauty of it. 

Historical Portraits:

Historical portraits above include famous works from artists such as Frida Kahlo & Andy Warhol. As well as some of the most famous portraits of all time such as; The Girl with a pearl earring & Mona Lisa.

References:

City life:

1.     http://az616578.vo.msecnd.net/files/2016/04/27/635973353399336445-1421152854_NYC-1.jpg

2.     http://www.123inspiration.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/Banksy-Street-Art-2-e1330035449160.jpeg

3.     http://www.artgraffiti.info/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/awesome-3d-graffiti-artwork-515x493.jpg

4.     http://media02.hongkiat.com/3d_street_art/5.jpg

5.     http://wallpapers.ae/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/Colorful-Graffiti-Street-Widescreen-Image.jpeg

6.     http://london.bsuatthegames.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/Street_Performers_08.jpg

7.     https://i.ytimg.com/vi/XDP95TSSwzU/maxresdefault.jpg

8.     http://assets.londonist.com/uploads/2016/05/i875/3320639520_c90130478d_b.jpg

Fantasy:

1.     http://vignette1.wikia.nocookie.net/wings-of-fire-fanon-tribes/images/6/67/Fantasy-dragon-dragons-27155012-2560-1600.jpg/revision/latest?cb=20140715121410

2.     http://vignette1.wikia.nocookie.net/lotr/images/8/87/Ringstrilogyposter.jpg/revision/latest?cb=20070806215413

3.     http://cdn.betches.com/sites/default/files/article/list/images/Harry-Potter-Characters-442x240.jpg

4.     http://mayimmermaidacademy.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/mermaid-academy-bournemouth-mayim-1.jpg

5.     https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/236x/52/e0/4b/52e04bcb9d4b9b5636b2e437b5d057e3.jpg

6.     http://mayimmermaidacademy.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/mermaid-academy-bournemouth-mayim-1.jpg

7.     https://i.ytimg.com/vi/Z2VKUMB4JMc/maxresdefault.jpg

8.     http://www.greekmythology.com/images/mythology/centaur_108.jpg

Literary Subjects:

1.     http://www.utsc.utoronto.ca/~mcuddy/ENGB02Y/SCHMEDIA/WShalott.gif

2.     http://quotesology.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/great-gatsby-quotes.jpg

3.     http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41vvmnANvgL._SX271_BO1,204,203,200_.jpg

4.     http://www.media-connect.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/Johanna_originaltitles.jpg

5.     http://cdn.rainbowresource.netdna-cdn.com/products/031619.jpg

Natural world:

1.     http://science-all.com/images/wallpapers/beautiful-nature/beautiful-nature-23.jpg

2.     https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/2c/21/63/2c216380d7155d309358d40d7584189c.jpg

3.     http://savewallpaper.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/Beautiful-Nature-Wallpaper-X9C.jpg

4.     http://animalia-life.com/data_images/swan/swan4.jpg

5.     https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTZBlfFMBr6xiVZ-0LnzIyFWcqu5aKmcFeFUFYJDR1t-brwUGOC

6.     http://img13.deviantart.net/f7b2/i/2015/356/1/a/winter_nature_by_thunderi-d9l246l.jpg

7.     http://www.surfertoday.com/images/stories/lairdhamilton6.jpg

Historical Portraits:

1.     http://totallyhistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/Johannes_Vermeer_-_The_Girl_With_The_Pearl_Earring.jpg

2.     http://whudat.de/images/top20_most_expansive_paintings_04.jpg

3.     https://allthingsmundane.files.wordpress.com/2010/03/mona-lisa.jpg

4.     http://hoocher.com/Thomas_Gainsborough/Portrait_of_a_Lady_in_Blue_1777_79.jpg

5.     http://cdn2.hubspot.net/hub/40667/file-14018913-jpeg/images/frida_kahlo_self_portrait-resized-600.jpeg?t=1458073098479

6.     http://www.transfigurephotography.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/Philippe-Halsman6.jpg

7.     https://filtergrade.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/Great-Depression-Portraits-by-Dorothea-Lange.jpg

8.     http://cdn.earthporm.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/Top-10-photographers-for-travel-portraits27__700.jpg

Genre mind maps

Final ever assignment and brief

Assignment purpose:
To represent the culmination of studies across the two years. The main emphasis of the project is to complete a character hair & makeup application for a live installation staged in the atrium. We were given different themes which were: Culture traits, city life, literary subjects, fantasy, war & death, natural forms & historical portraits.

Scenario:
You have been booked to independently create a production, with the view of exhibiting a range of technical hair, makeup & costume styling skills. The show will be supported by an exhibition of the learners work & portfolios.