Stage Presence

Posts Tagged ‘Cosmetics’

Many makeup artists start as a makeup artist for a theatre company. If you’re not used to working with theatre makeup, it can seem like a difficult, but with a lot of practice, you can easily become a great theatrical makeup artist.

Learn all about theatrical makeup and all the tips and tricks for using it. For instance, when working in the theatre department you’ll notice that the lighting is going to completely wash out the color on the actors as well as flatten their facial features. These are important information that any new makeup artist should learn fairly quickly.

As a makeup artist you’ll learn how to use theatrical makeup to define the actor’s facial features and add more coloring to their faces, but still keep it looking realistic and not so much like a clown. A theatrical makeup artist will need to know how to work with the harsh lighting that’s used in the theatres.

Note the actor’s skin tone and find a base that’ll match perfectly. If the actor’s ears are going to be visible in the scene than remember to apply the base on the ears too. Don’t cake on the makeup, because it won’t look good in the lighting.

Use a dark liner to add some low lights. You’ll want the temples and both sides of the nose to be a bit darker. Find the cheekbones and apply some low lights to it. If you’re going for a more chiseled look than apply lowly around the jaw.

Once the makeup is done add some translucent power over the face. Do not use baby powder because it will make the face look a little pale and not in a natural way.

Mascara is a girl’s best friend and it’s important for actors in the theatre. Your eyes will disappear in all the lighting if he or she isn’t wearing any mascara.

There are many things you can do with working in the exciting world of the theatrics. If you love doing makeup and want a career in it, one option would be working as a makeup artist for the theatres.

Before landing a job you’ll need to have proper training. To get your training you should work for your local community theatre as a makeup artist or head of the department. This is a great way to gain real world experience doing makeup.

You’ll need to take classes in theatrical makeup from a professional school. These classes will show you why certain types of makeup being used for actors working in theatre. You’ll also learn how to apply the makeup for different types of people and characters and how to properly care for your theatrical makeup.  Makeup isn’t cheap so it’s important to know how to properly take care of our makeup and supplies.

If you have a few schools you have in mind than contact the theatre department there and find out if they offer any classes in doing makeup for the theatre. If they say yes than ask them if they will count towards continuing education or if they’re only offered to anyone that’s registered there.

You can even contact any performing arts center close to you since many of the larger places are going to have training classes for people that want to do theatrical makeup.

Contact local stores that sell theatre makeup to professional makeup artists. You can even ask if the stores offer any classes on doing theatrical makeup. If you take a class or two you might even be able to get a nice discount.

Kryolan is a popular makeup line that many professionals use when doing theatre makeup. Some makeup companies will even send people to teach makeup lessons. They’re fairly short and the payment, if there is one, will include a pretty nice makeup kit.

Take a class on learning how to remove your makeup and cleansers. Learning how to properly remove makeup is just as important as learning how to apply it.

When working as a makeup artist in the theatre you’ll need a lot of theatrical makeup. This ranges from foundation to blush, shadow, lipstick, brushes and other makeup tools. This will be your biggest investment as a makeup artist.

Keeping all your makeup and tools clean and completely sanitary is important in not just protecting your big investment but also protecting the skins of anyone you apply the makeup on. Once you properly clean you’re makeup, you’re going to have to make sure to store it the right way. Doing this will help make your tools and makeup last longer.

First you’ll want to wipe everything using a facial tissue. You will need to do this step if you’re transferring product from one contain into another.

Take a few paper towels and put them onto the counter you’re going to set your makeup on. You’ll want the lids to be facing up so that you can sanitize those as well. It doesn’t matter what type of makeup you have, all the containers and products will need to be sanitized.

Take a cheap spray bottle and put some rubbing alcohol in it. Before applying makeup, spritz the makeup with the rubbing alcohol. The rubbing alcohol won’t ruin the makeup in any way. Once everything has dried go ahead and change the lids on your products.

Use brush cleaners to clean all your applicators and brushes.  Wipe all your brushes until the makeup is completely gone. If you’re makeup brushes have a lot of makeup on it than keep grabbing fresh cotton balls. Keep cleaning until the brushes are completely cleaned.

If you’re out of brush cleaner, baby shampoo will clean the brushes. Clean your brushes using hot brushes until all the makeup and soap is removed. Let your brushes dry over night by placing them on a few paper towels.

Store all your clean brushes in a container that’s completely cleaned.  To keep your bristles from bending, warp them using a paper towel that’s cleaned. Make sure your container isn’t around anything that’s really hot or in front of a lamp.