A make-up artist is an artist who creates makeup and prosthetics for theatrical,
television, film and other similar productions including the modeling world. In some
cases, the title of Make-up Artist can also include the responsibilities of hair
and wig design as well. Awards given for this job include the Academy Award for Makeup
and several Emmy awards.
Make-up artists are normally extremely well-paying jobs,
especially in the modeling and photography world. This is due to the ability to display
a face to its full potential as well as establish a working relationship with the
actor or person being worked on. Make-up artists are primarily self-employed (freelancers),
but they may also be represented by an agency, or employed by a production company.
Areas of Expertise
Fashion Make-up: Fashion make-up is used in magazine photography
as well as on the fashion runway. This branch of make-up design is often highly stylized
and is usually focused on making the model or actor look as attractive as possible.
Theatrical Make-up: Stage make-up is used as a method in conjunction with stage lighting
to highlight the actors' faces in order make expressions visible to the audience
from moderate distances. This often includes defining the eyes and lips as well as
the highlights and lowlights of the facial bones.
High Definition Make-up: A new area in the world of the make-up artist involves High
Definition Television. This strategy for filming offers a new challenge to make-up
artists; the extremely sharp resolution of the filming technique requires a new level
of coverage needed on a person's face in order to minimize flaws.
Special Effects Make-up: The use of special effects make-up can be found in all possible
areas of make-up and includes all blood and gore make-up techniques as well as fantasy
make-up and the use of prosthetics. This area often becomes a much more complicated
process as plaster casting and other crafts are needed to complete the make-up.
Curriculum Outline
Objectives and Benefits:
• Creating an effective and dynamic portfolio
• Coordinating a formidable wardrobe that lends compliments to photo-sessions
• The confidence to work as a team member or freelance Make-Up Artist
Modules and Workshops:
• Foundation air brush techniques and appliqués
• Bridal applications
• Glamour
• Avant garde
• Classic day and evening touches
• Smokey eyes
• Time eras and nostalgic appliqués
• High fashion/High society appliqués
• Character traits
• Bruises
• Burns
• Cuts
• Aging
Course Length and Schedule:
Daytime Three weeks - 100 hours
Monday - Friday 9:00 am
til 5:00 pm
Evening Four weeks - 100 hours
Monday - Friday 5:30 am til 9:30 pm