As a newbie onto the makeup scene within Manchester, I have decided to reach out to makeup artists who are currently working within the Fashion and Media industry as this is the career path I have decided to follow.
When starting out within this industry, many established makeup artists are quite hard to approach, especially when asking questions about the industry and it is even harder trying to ask to shadow them within their working environment.
I stumbled upon the House of Makeup Facebook page by chance and decided to try my luck by sending a message to request the opportunity to join them for work experience. To my surprise I received a message back with an invitation to go and help their experienced makeup artist and teacher Hannah Brooke within one of their popular training courses. This experience was to start on the 2nd of February and finish on the 4th.
Day 1 – Television/Film Makeup
On Day 1. I started the day helping set up the teaching area ready for the students to arrive by cleaning the makeup brushes, preparing the work space for the busy day ahead. Hannah started off teaching the students the theory behind makeup, covering the basics including colour theory and health and safety before moving onto demonstrating an makeup look designed for television and film.
The look the students had to recreate was a bold gold eye paired with a winged line and false lashes.
Day 2 – Fashion Makeup & SFX Cuts & Bruises
Within day 2, the students were learning how to recreate a makeup look that was inspired by the catwalk and fashion which had to stand out but still be beautiful. The look Hannah created was a spotlight effect using browns and peaches to create a smoked eye effect but used an Illamasqua pigment in the center of the lid to make the eyes pop.
After the students recreated this look using the same products as Hannah she then moved onto teaching them how to create a simple cut and bruise often seen within productions and film. Using scar wax she molded a shape onto my face, blending in the edges using a bruise wheel and then added fake blood to add to the effect.
Day 3 – Catwalk Makeup
The last day of my work experience with Hannah included teaching the students how to recreate a catwalk inspired look taking inspiration for the look from the Spring/Summer 2012 Anna Sui show. She used a MAC paint pot in electric blue.
I loved this look!
This experience has made me more determined to push myself within my career as an hair and makeup artist.
Leah Clarey MUA 