First practise with my MUA - Rebecca.

For our fist practise of my Elizabethan look, i was mainly trying to explain what i wanted to achieve in my look, and that one of the main aspects in my look was the imperfectness of my look. When telling this to Rebecca she further added that this was what she felt was going to be her struggle in my look, as she used to doing makeup to look as perfect as possible, and was a perfectionist when it came to makeup application. However on recognizing this we kept it in mind during the practice and I was able to tell her when i wanted a certain part slightly messier ect...
For our first attempt i feel it went very well, Rebecca did an amazing job at creating a design she had only seen a couple of times for the first time, and also for working with each other for the first time also. I also feel that made it so easy to communicate to one another was that our understanding form the beginning was that if we wasn't happy with what the other was doing we would let the other know straight away, so that we could work of what wee had done, and wouldn't waste time and be able to solve the problem. Also i feel we made good partners as we found it easy to talk to one another, which we both understand will not be the case all the time in the makeup industry, however did make our first project slightly less nerve wracking.
however on a technical note i feel Rebecca achieved what i wanted very feel, only with the mistake of using a little too much product and sometimes not pulling the makeup in the direction i wanted although i feel this could be me not explaining what i wanted fully, but it was our preactise and from this we learnt from our mistakes, making notes of them so as not to repeat them the next time.

First attempt on myself for contemporary Elizabethan look

This was the first attempt i had of creating my own look on myself. i referenced to my face chart however went slightly different as i found it hard to just stick to my face chart as i didn't want the look to come across as too thought about in its positioning and also where the strokes went out. Although i did keep mainly to the face chart i had to adapt to also fit my own face better. I feel although i was successful in some way there are aspects i would change such as not applying the black to the forehead, as this takes away the impression of having a large forehead and a reseding hairline, this being a popular fixture in the Elizabethan era, and with the black of the forehead is almost creating a contour which i only making the forehead look smaller which is having a reverse affect from what i wanted. Also the ears and neck needed to be blended out with the white also to make the look not look like a white mask on the face.

Step by step of how to achieve my look, given to my mua.

Contemporary Elizabethan Makeup.

1.       Apply matte primer all over face using foundation brush

2.       Apply white Illamasqua white skin base foundation all over the face, extending down the neck and also on the ears using foundation brush. Buff into skin using stipling brush. Apply foundation with sponge to gain more coverage

3.       Using a Q tip and some micellar water, using ‘scratch’ like movements remove certain areas of the makeup, these areas are above the cheekbone  on the right side of the models face, below the cheekbone, down the side of the nose, cupids bow and an area of the forehead.

4.       Using the corner of a powder puff apply some clear powder on the eyelid and underneath the eye to stop the foundation from creasing and allowing the makeup to sit evenly on top.

5.       Using the large pencil brush draw an outline using the black supercolour drawing along the cheekbone, working up towards the forehead, on the top eyelid and over half the eyebrow.

6.       Using a disposable mascara wand spread the product that is already on the face pulling towards the centre of the face and the hairline, avoiding area that is just skin.

7.       Over the top of the supercolour, take the mascara wand and using black lipmix apply to certain areas to create a wet look and add texture.

8.       Apply black to the other side of the face, avoiding the eye area, and spread product across face working towards the centre using the mascara wand and pulling inwards.

9.       Apply red to both under eyes using the large pencil brush, making sure not to go too far down and onto the nose and onto the temples of the face, using the dark red supercolour, and extending outwards using a clean mascara wand.

10.   Then using the same brush pat some red lipmix on the outer edges of the red previously applied and using a mascara wand brush out making sure to be able to see clear lines in the makeup.

11.   Then using the white sponge up from earlier, pat foundation onto the lip to conceal the whole lip making a blank canvas.

12.   Then taking the large pencil brush and the red supercolour and take it acrros half the lip pulling the product upward and slightly along the cupids bow using an angled brush. Using a clean mascara wand again, brush upwards towards the nose and pull slightly down the chin.

13.   Then using the angled brush and the black supercolour, outline the inside of the lip, but only a thin line as it will print onto the top and bottom, extend this line outwards towards the cheek using the same brush and smudge slighty with mascara wand.

14.   Taking the white supercolour and a clean mascara wand, colour eyebrows in and also top and bottom lashes so that they are completely white. Also take remaining white and just take across white areas that are already on the face, so as to create a starker white.

15.   Take out more of the white using a q tip and micellar water make prominate lines extending in all directions, just to make the flesh colours more visible and create sharper more visible lines.

16.   Take a clean brush and draw a line on the jaw line measuring from where one eyes is to another, so as the line does not go all the way around the jaw line. Then with what is there, diffuse the line using a clean mascara wand and pull the black down the neck, starting at the middle, this being the longest point and then graduated to the sides.

17.   Lastly take whatever black is left on the brush and softly blend on the outside of the ears.

Final design for Elizabethan project

This was my final design for my Elizabethan project, taking inspiration from both sources i feel i have been able to incorporate both designs into my own. I feel this has been a successful look as it has incorporated everything that i wanted in my design. i will now go away and practice on myself as i feel this will enable me to explain my design to my partner.

Val garland

Val garland is defiantly one of the most influential makeup artists around, known for breaking the rules of makeup and working with legends such as Alexandra McQueen and always being seen backstage at Vivienne Westwood, “I’m not afraid; I don’t mind if I’m wrong. I was a skinhead, a punk, and a New Romantic – I belonged to so many different tribes when I was growing up. I’ve always been a rebel, so if something’s wrong then I’m going to like it. There’s something about England that makes you not afraid to take a risk.” I looked at val garland early on in my project, starting from our summer project of where we was to see ourself in the future. Val garland has always been of great influence to me and I have always admired her work as it takes on a form of art. Some of my favourite work from garland has to be her work with Vivienne Westwood, her ability to think outside the box and create something completely original has always been of fascination to me, so it was no wider that I took inspiration from one of her looks for Westwood to inspire me whist creating a contemporary Elizabethan look. 

What i wanted to take form this look and put into my own work, as well as making it contemporary and also elizabethan was firstly the colours, as black and red were considered wealthy colours in the Elizabethan era as they had to come from different countries and therefor were expensive as to transportation reasons. 

Also the pale skin was very popular in the Elizabethan era as this was also a sign of wealth, as it meant you did not have to work outside which many slaves and lower classes had to do, which evidently resulted in a tan. Elizabeth was always painted looking very pale and also most had a white completion, which we know is due to the use of white lead used on the skin, and was also known for women to have veins drawn in to make there skin almost look translucent.

However, the thing i really liked and felt i made a connection to Elizabeth in  this portrait of Garlands work is how of course the look is unwearable and over exaggerated, but looking at what Elizabeth used to wear would also be seen as unwearable, as no one would ever paint there faces white and put on an insane amount of blusher. But although this image captures the queens obsession over an ideal image, i feel the makeup created by Garland also corresponds and holds to Elizabeth's personality and shows her real self. As underneath all the heavy makeup and the face that she puts on, she was put on such a high and unrealistic pedestal for the people and was looked at as the next best thing to God, people forgot that underneath it all she was just a human, doing her best for the country she loved and devoted her whole life to.

I feel that to show her strong personality i will be using the red and the black using strong bold movements and scratching into the makeup using a mascara wand. This represents her wealth and power by the bold colours, but the strokes show her control, as they will be placed following the contours of my skin. The scratches represent her council and the threats she faces in her position of power, and how others were conspiring against her in attempts to take her off the thrown, either because of her protestant values, because she was a woman, or because she was a woman ruling without a master or husband.

However through the pale completion which i will also be keeping as i feel this also keeps with traditional Elizabethan makeup, i want to remove some of the white makeup, as i want to show that underneath it all she was a human and a person, just like her people.  

The New Elizabethan - Marie Curie

Marie Curie 1920

Marie Skłodowska-Curie was a Polish and naturalized-French physicist and chemist who conducted pioneering research on radioactivity. She was the first woman to win a Nobel Prize, the first person (and only woman) to win twice, the only person to win twice in multiple sciences, and was part of the Curie family legacy of five Nobel Prizes. She was also the first woman to become a professor at the University of Paris, and in 1995 became the first woman to be entombed on her own merits in the Panthéon in Paris. Although Marie was definatly not considered a style icon, it is not this that makes me think of her a new Elizabethan, it is that she is an iconic woman for the work that she did. Elizabeth was also well known for making England rich once again, being a woman of intelligence and also being able to conduct a war against Spain, which resulted in victory. The thing i feel connects both of these figures together the most is that they where both underestimated as women, and instead of cower like many woman would of done, both decided to carry on and show just how strong they were. Another link that i find myself looking at is there love for new discoveries, Elizabeth was reigning when the discovery of the new world was found, as Marie conducted research on radioactivity. I feel both of these women are strong characters, and both found themselves in male dominating occupations, but where still able to stand there ground and able to make history.

Modern image that suggests wealth.

http://www.vogue.co.uk/spy/celebrity-photos/2014/10/30/mario-testino-60th-birthday-party/gallery/1281206

This picture is taken of Naomi Campbell, Mario Testino and Kate Moss at Mario Testino's 60th birthday celebration. for me there is a lot about this photo that suggests wealth. To start with just looking at the clothes can make you tell that these people are from wealth. From the rich colours of red, and also Naomi is wearing all sequins, and also the colours of silver show expense. Also the jewellery that Kate Moss and Naomi was wearing shows wealth, as the jewellery is covered in diamonds, which is an obvious sign of wealth. Also Testino is wearing a tux, this again shows wealth as everything they are wearing are all probably designer, or have been made to suit and fit around them. Also the car in the background looks like the end of a limo, this again shows wealth as they would of had to pay someone to drive them around and also for the limo hire.

The Danger Dress.

Where have all the surfing cowboys gone?

This dress is called the danger dress for a reason, however, it may not be clear on first glance why it would be called the danger dress. The white colour contrasts the models bronzed skin, making the white starker, not to mention the innocent look the model is giving off, from her relaxed body language to the tousled locks giving off that beack babe 'i just walked from the beach' vibe, relaxed. White being a colour mainly known for it's pure connotations, to have a white dress and refer to it being a 'danger dress' may come as a bit of a surprise, as a dress being given a description of dangerous, i automatically come to the colour red, especially not white.

However it is only when we look at the image from the front that we see why the dress has been given its name, with a split that goes far up the leg, you would have to be careful how you walked in this one...

I think the choice in the colour white though is appropriate. The title of this blog post, 'Where have all the surfing cowboys gone?' i think is a reference to fashion today. Everyone seems to be copying everyone else's style, and i think that really what the title is trying to suggest is that we should become our own fashion icons. 'Surfing Cowboys' is not two words i would put together, but then thinking about it, why not? Surfers are known for being cool calm and collected, and cowboys are known for being roofless outlaws, together is what we should be when exploring our own fashion. Be cool and own what you are wearing, break the rules and become your own surfing cowboy.

New Elizabethans

Micheal Hussar
http://www.collater.al/en/michael-hussar/

Whilst looking through my Instagram feed i came across an artist called Michael Hussar, an  American painter from Southern California. He was trained at the Art Centre College of Design in Pasadena. His images are dark in a sense that they are slightly twisted, and in my opinion have strong references to the devil with many of the women looking like they have horns on there head, also the repeated use of red which can symbolise danger and is strongly referred to when looking at devil. This aside, i can clearly see heavy referencing to the Elizabethan period, as many of the women are seen with ruffs around there necks, big hair sometimes with curls around the back and front of the hair, a typical Elizabethan style, and most importantly a pale face, rosy cheeks, high foreheads and red lips. 

I like these images as i like the twist on the traditional look, in particular this image. I like the idea of the face being made up in black and white and then having the pungent red lips, drawing your attention there, but in this image the dripping of the blood makes me think of blood. This reminds me of Queen Elizabeth as it not only has a similar style to her, but also reminds me of her long and powerful reign.

In this image the red reminds me of just how powerful Queen Elizabeth was, her head is lifted, showing her nobility by keep her head up, having people to look up at her and she to look down at others. However, although her head is lifted it is also slightly tilted, it almost looks like the subject in this painting is having a hard time having to keep her head up, and also looking at the eyes, looks as though she is sleepy, one eye is literally rolling in a different direct then the other, showing exhaustion. This to me reflects on the many struggles Elizabeth had to face on her time on the thrown, as she had many difficult and challenging decisions to make, these differing from having to marry to defeating the Spanish Armada. 

The thing i like most about this image is that it's not perfect, the women whom is the subject of the painting looks dishevelled and this to me reflects on Queen Elizabeth, behind the mask that was she was a strong independent woman, she was worn, as any human being is let alone having to run a country.

When thinking about my final idea for my new Elizabethans look, i feel i defiantly want to keep the colour scheme of a pale completion and berry coloured lips, but i want it to be slightly disorientated and break out of the perfect look that was so classically expected of Elizabeth, and look at what the reality would be like behind closed doors.

Halloween!

So as you all know Halloween has been and gone for another year.

For Halloween this year I tried out two different looks, the first being a Sugar Skull inspired by the Day Of The Dead, a festival that is traditionally known for the day where the worlds of the living and the dead are at their thinnest, people will dress up as sugar skulls and decorate graveyards with skeletons. A traditional skull is usually a white face with black to draw decorations around the eyes and mouth. However i wanted to make this look my own, so instead of using the traditional black and red i used white for the detailing and deep purple shades for the shading, as i thought this was less harsh then black but still gave a hallow dead look to the face.

If i was to do this makeup again i would change the shape of the teeth and also make the size of the cobweb so that it was smaller, as i feel it was too big and interfered with the eye design. 

Overall i was pleased with the outcome and it is a pretty alternative to a traditional skull. 

The second look which i wore for Halloween is of a traditional skull, I used black and white face paint for creating details, sharp lines and also for getting a denser colour. I then went in with black and white eyeshadow for shading and contour.

I gave this look two attempts as i wanted to make sure i had the anatomy of the skull correct, by feeling my own bone structure to be able to correctly place the skull makeup to my own skull, making the look as realistic as i could make it.

I also took inspiration from Lady GaGa and her 'Born this Way' video. A realistic skull paired with a exaggerated hair style and normal clothing to give a contrast between being alive and dead.

This skull is the look i went for on the night of Halloween, as i felt it was more realistic and also scarier, which in my opinion is the whole idea of Halloween!