Tuesday, 7 June 2016

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:
Fantasy:
Literary Subjects:
1.     http://www.utsc.utoronto.ca/~mcuddy/ENGB02Y/SCHMEDIA/WShalott.gif
Natural world:
Historical Portraits:

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.


Wednesday, 20 May 2015

Evaluation of the year

Evaluation of my Studies


This year has been a crazy one! It has definitely tested me, and I have found that I like rising to a challenge (organising our own shoots) and have really enjoyed trying new things (writing a blog)! It has really brought out a side to me that I didn’t know i had, I had no idea that I worked so well under pressure so that’s a pretty good thing to discover about yourself!
I have learnt so many new techniques and my product knowledge has grown so much. I think my favourite project has been our independent one where we had source a photographer and model, I chose to source a model and photographer I didn’t know by posting an advert online, I was so nervous about it, but in the end it went so well, and I was so happy! Getting those final images back and creating the magazine cover was one of my proudest moments from this course.
The year has definitely tested my mental strength; the workload has been quite testing at times, but at the same time it has taught me that if I really try I can rise to the occasion and produce not only what is expected of me but beyond that!
My personal strengths have come as a shock to me; I have found that I have a real passion for hair styling, and that I enjoy free styling with makeup when before I started the course I was so sure that I preferred doing structural makeup- if I had steps or a guide. I think my time keeping has been very good, and my organisational skills have improved so much as well! I think my weaknesses lie in not believing in myself as much as I should although i have got better as the years progressed!
I have loved the versatility of the course; one week I have been recreating a period portrait, or a theatrical character, and the next I could be doing a high fashion runway inspired look!  It has really kept me on my toes and opened my eyes to all the different areas of makeup and what they offer/entail. I went into the course thinking that special effects would be my favourite and that fashion wouldn’t really interest me, but now I love my fashion lessons!
It has also been really great to meet industry professionals and get an insight into what my future could be like! One of my favourite workshops was one we did with ‘This Mornings’ and ‘Strictly Come Dancing’s’ Bryony Blake, I thought she was amazing and the task she had us do was so much fun! She paired us up and gave us each a dress and we had to create a makeup inspired by the dress.
The most important `thing this course has given me is confidence; I recently got my first proper paid makeup and hair job doing a music video for the band Walking On Cars for their song ‘Catch me if you can’. It was the most amazing experience! Being on set and having to go from location to location, keeping consistent continuity and running in to do touch ups was so much fun, my adrenaline was pumping the entire day! If it wasn’t for this course I would have never had the confidence to put myself out there!

Overall I have loved every minute of the course, and wouldn’t change anything! Roll on next year!

Here are some pictures of hair and makeup designs I have achieved;

Recreation of the Gibson Girl 

Recreation of Marilyn Monrow

My recreation of an i-D magazine cover 

My end of year design inspired by high fashion and day of the dead


Tuesday, 19 May 2015

Assessment day!

Final Assessment...

So the day finally came!  And I can't get over just how well it went, everything ran smoothly without a single hiccup so that was great!

I thought my make up and hair application went the best it ever went, and I feel the shots are going to be great!

I arrived early so my model and I could get a coffee and I could get my mood-board laminated. 

I went into the assessment room at 10.50 to set up, my time slot was 11. I followed all health and safety guidelines, made sure my model was comfortable and content throughout, I even ran down to the canteen to get her a straw so she could have a drink so my ombre lip didn't get ruined! My time keeping was better than I thought I managed to finish completely with about 120 minutes to spare!

Here are some pictures from the day;






   

Final practice before final assessment!

Final Practice...


My model before once I had cleansed, toned, and moisturised my models skin

I then applied primer to my models face

I started by applying a full coverage cream foundation from makeup forever to the lids in my desired shape in order to make the colours as bright as possible.

I then applied colour shadows over the white using a shadow palette from Make up Revolution 
I then blended the colours together
I then applied white full coverage foundation to my models skin really buffing it in, the foundation went so much better onto my models skin, in comparison to the white aqua colour I previously used! I then went over with vanilla pigment from MAC using a powder brush. I applied matte bronzer to the cheekbones, 'bleached' the brows using spirit gum and concealer, and finally a hot pink, peach and white ombre lip using my make up forever flash palette. I was really happy with the make up application I fell 100% confident in the products I have chosen and in my make up application, and of course in my models ability! I just can't wait to do it now!


I tried out two of my hair designs as I wasn't 100% sure what I wanted yet I started by trying the braided loop.
I sectioned the hair down the middle.
I took s small section of hair at the nape of the neck and took a two weft extension and clipped it round the small section, I continued to clip extensions round the section until I was happy with the thickness. 

I then sprayed my postiche brush with hair spray and brushed my models hair back off her face, keeping it neat and tight to the head. 

I then secured the section with a hair band, and created a fishtail plait.

I then looped the fish tail braid around to make a circle and secured with a bobby pin.

Overall I wasn't really happy with this style it was just ,missing something for me which was a shock for me as I really thought this would be my favourite style! 

I then took out the previous style and created the all down style, I took small sections starting at the nape of the neck back combing the top of the sections before clipping a weft onto it. I stopped clipping in extensions when I reached the crown of my models head, as the front sections of her hair are very damaged so are very short and thin therefore I would really struggle to disguise the extensions! They didn't really need to apply any more anyway as my mask will be sitting across the top of the head.

The final look (obviously the extensions will be super straight on assessment day but they were still wet!)

Side view

Other side

Back view

Hair and make up without the mask 

Side view without mask

Im really happy with the second hair design and 100% this is what ill be doing for my assessment, I also think it really compliments the make up and mask design, it makes the look really clean.

Styling and Accessories for the final shoot...

Styling and accessorising the final design...

So as my final design is quite colourful I have sourced a few colourful options,as well as some black options as my mask has black diamontes and black detailing on a white background, so that could link in nicely.

Here are some of my options;


I love this dress it's from Topshop the colours match really well with the colours I have in the mask and in the make up but I feel it may be too much!

I love this little body suit it would look amazing with my design as it contracts with the white in the mask, and the white skin, it also will pick up on the black accenting in my mask.


These two bralettes I love although I'm warming towards the one with the black background more as I think the white background would get swallowed by the white skin. 


This is one of my necklace options I love the beading detailing I think they look quite similar to rosary beads which are linked to day of the dead festival.

This necklace is so colourful, I really like it but I think it would clash with the roses on my mask as the flowers are different and the shades aren't exactly the same.

I like this cross but I'm not keen on the rope it's on for the style of shoot!

Overall I have decided on the black lace bodysuit paired with the black necklace!

My model can wear it with jeans or leggings as the shot is only head and shoulders. 

I think the black will work so well with the white skin of my model and the black and white accents in my mask, and I think it will let the colour shine.