Tuesday 17 December 2013

Leather nails and purple hair hmmm sounds yummy!

What a busy busy month it has been, Christmas being round the corner and all...presents to buy, wrapping, lesson to finish up, paperwork to finish and a million and one Christmas parties which all need pretty glitzy make up for ... that last one I love to do!

So some of you may of seem me around with my new hair colour, done by the fabulous Kokino hair salon, Blackburn... check it out...
I absolutely love it! Am tempted to dye all my hair purple....
Is it bad that I can now fill in my eyebrows as purple or red now! Love it!
 
Since its Christmas and everyone is going to their parties, I've been busy with not only make up and hair applications but also nail applications. Now some of you will have seen my nail art images on my Facebook page with the Christmas themes and those who know me know I adore textured nails, there's just something intriguing about it.
 
Leather is awesome....nail art is awesome...so some clever person decided to combine the two and thus complete my life! Or at least my nails! 
 
 
 
 
Nails inc. have got this fantastic polish and diamanté skull and cross bone set which as it says on the box gives a leather effect to the nails. 
So what pray tell is 'leather' effect nails I hear you all ask....well its this....
Click image for a larger view.
 
The effect is a matt textured look which as you can see in the photo, I've teamed with gloss black tips which I think gives quiet a cool edgy effect. The skull diamanté is quiet a chunky piece of bling bling! I can only really fit it on my thumb because my fingers are quiet thin but it does look good. The set included nail glue to glue in on and it is quiet strong glue, bit fiddly to attach but works!
 
 
 
I have to admit I am in love with this nail effect and am probably going to look into other effects created by Nail inc. 
Am definitely going to be wearing this over the Christmas holiday's and I've already had some clients wanting it for their Crimbo do's
 
Big thumbs up all around I feel!
 
Next blog is going to be focusing on my Christmas themed make up that I've been wearing all week (different one per day) during my makeup sessions.
I'll also be uploading a blog about my beautiful, shiny pretty, fabulous new fascinator and hair accessories by Pearl & Swine who is utterly fabulous!
For more images and other up to date happenings check out my Facebook page at; https://www.facebook.com/Ruth.E.Moulden.MUA
 
Much love my lovelies,
xRx

Saturday 16 November 2013

Voodoo Witch Character - prosthetic making

This has been a character that I have been planning to do for aaaagggeeees and every time I  sit down to do it my work teaching gets in the way or am busy doing another freelance project/job...the last one is acceptable...teacher related paper work necessary but not fun!

So this was the original design for my "Voodoo Witch"...an't she beautiful...am still developing my design skills/drawing and concept but at this moment in time I feel I've progressed!



So I got to work with sculpting the nose and chin...I would love to create a full facial prosthetic but alas am still saving up for a prosthetics short course so I can do a full face rather then elements of the face. Its my next step in my career and I have been looking into a few but am going to have to save up.

 
I made the nose and chin...I did have cheek bones but the mould didn't work so I decided that I'd sculpt directly to the face for the cheek bones.
I am still working on my sculpting skills but I definitely need to get some better plaster for my moulds.
 
The next step was the cast the pieces using Nimba Creation's gelatine, which you can get in slabs and then heat up and pour into the moulds. I'll be honest it has taken me a lot of practice before I could cast a good prosthetic as the material is difficult to heat properly without bubbles forming.
 
Click the link for a bigger picture.
 
Once that's done, its fun time with the application. And in typical Rufio style I went to town using a mixture of manual applications and airbrush applications.
 
 
So this was the first test of the application...the joins need disguising further but I do like the textured effect of her skin...my voodoo witch lives in a swamp so hence the skin.
The base is done using a mixture of mistair's silicone foundation and Ben Nye's master death wheel to add contouring/highlighting to the features.
The red and purples around the eyes are taken from Grimas's casualty palette and Ben Nye's master bruise wheel.
 
(click the image for a big picture)
 
So here's the finished result...
Personally I know it has some rough areas but to date I think its my best work and those rough areas are going to continue to develop...so am happy bunny...
Blood splatter was done using Bloody Mary's spray blood, god I love that product!
 
(click the image for a big picture)
 
What do you think?
 
There's more images being up loaded to my facebook page for you guys to have a ickle lookie lou at
 
Hope you like it.
xRx
 
 
 
 

Thursday 31 October 2013

This is Halloween.....Ripped out jaw zombie

Happy Halloween people!

As this is my favourite holiday to celebrate for obvious reasons I have created this rather lovely gory zombie look.

 
I created it using my trusty face cast and a lot of latex....latex is your friend at Halloween, never forget that...that and coloured contact lens.....and lashings of blood!
 
 
So I begin the piece by using latex and tissue to lay down the edges of where I wanted it to rip and then used cotton wool for the juicy inner bits! The teeth are made from none other then false nails...make sure you get the full none painted acrylic style ones as these are must easier to shape into teeth.

The products that I used for colouring is a mixture of Bloody Mary's fabulous products which I bought at IMATS, Ben Nye Bloods (got to love their zesty mint flavoured bloods!), Ben Nye's Death Wheel (always good for creating a good zombie!)  and my trust Grimas Creme Palette.

 
Thick blood...can't beat it for some glumpy lumps of blood!
 

The Bloody Mary Products used where mainly from her Zombie kit....
 
I used the Zombie Makeup paste like dirt which was pretty good as it didn't dry you skin out as some other fabricated dirt's can do.
 
 
 
 And I used to three wheeled creme zombie wheel, which again went on really well and I think one of the best things about Bloody Mary products is that its quick and easy to get off...no stained skin for me thank you very much!
 
 
My absolute favourite product from the Bloody Mary range that I bought at IMATS has to be her spray blood. Its the simple things for me...and remember washes off with soap and water so no pink skin after you take the make up off!
 
When use this product, take care you cover yourself/costume in a cape, cover the carpets...walls.....dog.....cupboards. Yes you can image I managed to get a little over excited with the spray blood and sprayed it every where...it went over my shoulder over the dog....Daisy looked like a zombie dog! All over my cupboards, carpet, walls....am a messy person!
I also got it in my ear...which am still cleaning out! But love the product, its so useful and effect. Best thing is its not expensive. The Blood Mary range is very good value to money and I would recommend it!
 
All in all fun days as a zombie....cause zombies have all the fun.
 
 
 
HAPPY HALLOWEEN MY LOVELIES!
 
xRx

Monday 28 October 2013

Blackburn's First Zombie Walk


What a busy week it has been…thank goodness for half terms.

So as mentioned in the last blog, I organised this…
 

My first fund raiser with all proceeds going towards The Sophie Lancaster Foundation. Have to admit it was a little scary being in charge of organising some much. I invited my students to join in the zombie walk and ended up with close to 50 putting their names down. Not only that, I got people offering their time to help organise a raffle, donating prizes and marketing at Blackburn College helping me advertise the event. Sa-Ra, a colleague at Blackburn College donated these amazing, white chocolate skulls as the main prize for the event…
 
 

Weeks before the event I spent ages making prosthetic pieces for the students to use in creating their zombies, most of them are latex pieces and some are gelatine. Can’t lie had a lot of fun creating these beauties….





 
On the day I had to get groups of students in at different times because there was too many to cope with in one go. Every single students there came up with some pretty amazing zombies, as their teacher I was (and still am) gushing with pride at how some of them came in on their day off to help raise awareness and funds for the foundation…
 
 
 
My army of zombies even invaded Blackburn Shopping Mall to sell Sophie wristbands…

I was totally blown away at the reaction of Blackburn, we got a lot of support and sold a lot of wrist bands…

My students also seemed to have lots of fun splatting blood all over each other, which is always good feeling when they’re your students and it’s something you organised.

 
 
 

So how much did we raise….an amazing total…that made me cry when I found out….£354.42!!!

 

Soooo very very happy and would like to thank everyone who help me, listen to me panic and ran to my aid.
If anyone reading this would like to donate, check out The Sophie Lancaster Foundation website for information on how…http://www.sophielancasterfoundation.com/

For more photographs from the zombie walk check out my facebook page…https://www.facebook.com/Ruth.E.Moulden.MUA

 

For now, Happy Halloween people…….

Thursday 17 October 2013

Professional Beauty Show and Zombies....oh my!


So it’s been a long time since updating my blog, all I can say is I have been a busy bee. Vintage fairs and wedding makeup trials (check out my facebook page for details for future fairs; https://www.facebook.com/Ruth.E.Moulden.MUA) not to mention my new gang of media makeup students joining Blackburn College’s Hair and Media Makeup courses...as well as my wonderful progress-er’s from level 2 who have made it on to level 3.

This week I attended Professional Beauty in Manchester with my level 2 students, its basic a massive trade show specific to the beauty industry. With tanning, lashes, nails to health supplements and even a few of those jiggle exercise machine for toning (cannot tell how funny it is to watch random people try the machine and try to talk!) It’s specific for makeup artists but there are some good things to look into/test and it’s always good to keep up with skin care break through and things like that. It was quiet interesting however to be honest I was quiet shocked at the level if what I would consider cosmetic procedures such fillers. Not to start a big debate as this is just my opinion but I do think these sorts of procedures are best done in medically approved facilities rather than beauty salons but any way back to the makeup.

Art Deco Makeup Company was present and I couldn’t resist buying some products from the Dita Von Teese range. Two different strip lashs; 10 and 39.

Love half lashes and I wear them everyday so some glitzy ones are perfect for me!
 

 
 
 
As well as Golden Vintage Lip Lacquer in 70, which is beautiful glossy red colour with an iridescent shimmer to it. Have to admit, love lip lacquers that have a staying power like lipstick but a lushous shine like lipgloss.


 
I was also intrigued by an American company called G The Body Art Professional (http://gbodyartpro.com) who supplied glittery body art treatments and stencils, which last up to 7 days, waterproof and describes their stencils as high definition designs.

Image take from the offical G body art webpage.

 I did love some of the designs offered and the result of the applications was pretty amazing for just putting some glitter on the skin as it wasn’t messy, it was very chic and perfect. I pretty sure my next wage will go on some of their products as they are quiet unique and some of the stencil designs (hello phoenix and swallow designs!) are very pretty. I will definitely put up a review of this once I’ve got it in my little mitts. (I would of bought at the show but alas they were only taking orders and the queue was big!)  Those of you in the Uk can buy their products through Ellisons, www.ellisons.co.uk.

At the show I was also introduced to an airbrush company that I haven’t heard of before, so I figured I’ll give them a go. Hollywood Air is a company that states that their products are paraben and oil free as well as being water based odourless. It’s developed in Japan with a product range including airbrush kits, foundations, make up colours, silicone aqua proofing mist etc. The lady who was doing the demonstrations was lovely and showed me the products in action, I’ll be honest sometimes I think eye shadow airbrushed on can look a little flat but with some clever use of contouring/highlighting can look good and from the demo these products looked like they do the job well. So I bought a Black, Champagne and Party Bronze as I thought I’ll get some basic colours first that can be used for blush/highlighter and build up if I liked the products.


I also bought the Silicone Aqua Proof mist to allow me to set the makeup fully as I do love the effect silicone has as well as the amazing waterproof, sweat proof and general flawless look it creates.
 
(Click the image for a bigger view)
 
 
So I tested the black airbrush product out, it is over the top of manual yellow eye shadow and I've tried to create a smoked out edge. To be honest I though the product felt amazingly watery however once applied on the eyes seem to blend easily. Only a small amount is required, 1 drop for my eyes and the ability to mix the iridescent and bronze colours allowed easy highlighting to take place. I think I will buy some more colours, probably the primary colours for obvious reason on mixing. The pricing of the products is very reasonable when you think how many applications you can get out of one bottle. Well worth the money!

 

In  other fun new, I am organising a Zombie Walk at Blackburn College to raise awareness and funds for the Sophie Lancaster Foundation. If you haven’t heard of the charity look it up as it’s all about stamping out prejudice hatred and intolerance everywhere and was set up by Sylvia Lancaster after her daughter was brutally beaten to dead just because of the way she looked. Its something close to my heart so I wanted to do something with my students for it.
 
 Last count, I have over 50 students becoming zombies and invading Blackburn Mall. So if your around pop by and see us, at the New Victoria Centre there will be a raffle (main prize is this... created by the lovely Sa-Ra in marketing at Blackburn College )
 
Cakes/biscuits to buy and face painting available. For more details please check out my facebook page. I will be posting a blog about all the prosthetics I have made especially for the event…and there’s been a lot!!!

For now ciao my lovelies, till next time

xRx
p.s. don't forget to keep checking my face book page for more up to date info; https://www.facebook.com/Ruth.E.Moulden.MUA
 

 

 

 




Sunday 8 September 2013

Steam Punk; my first facial sculpted prosthetic

It has been a very busy few weeks, at college the new term for media makeup has started so I have all new lovely students to teach and I have been made level 3 personal tutor which is great!
As well as all this teaching work and college business, I've been developing my own skills in prosthetics and sfx. Its an area am very interested in (what with the theatre studies degree and my love of horror), so I decided over the summer to buy all the materials, read all the books and give it a go and the results are great...well I would say that but I think its pretty damn good for the first fully designed/sculpted/moulded and applied piece!

So, it all started with a concept, everyone who knows me knows I love all things Steam Punk...I think this is where my love of vintage and retro came from cause those genre's do share some similarities.
I have a vision to do this Steam Punk Pinocchio with body art and sfx elements and once I find a photographer and model willing it will get done but for now I just focused on the facial designs and eye piece prosthetic.

Next I began the fun part....sculpting. Its important during this stage to work somewhere you don't mind if clay/plaster splatters everywhere...oh and wear an apron!!!  
I made a big mess!!!


Another thing to remember is that you need buff water clay which you can get here; http://www.benam.co.uk/products/clay/buff-clay/
The Facial sculpt that I use was purched from Hobby FX ,http://www.freewebs.com/customfangs/ or https://www.facebook.com/HobbyFX.co.uk. They are a fabulous company who provide top notice sfx products/casts/prosthetics and they do custom fitted fangs which are amazing, in all different styles (Probs going to be my next buy!) They kept in contact with me which was a nice difference from other suppliers, and gave it a nice personal touch and delivery was in good time. Definitely recommend them!!

Next part is the casting of the mould, which is tricky to do as you need to make sure whatever plaster is being used its thick and not runny. You also need to make sure to get rid of any air bubbles...otherwise your mould will be as holey as that cheese with holes!

The following steps involve actually casting the prosthetic...I used latex as its a cheap material and very hardy when used. I think in the future I'm going to invest in gelatine and one day silicone to create the prosthetic.

 
 

The whole process of creating the prosthetic was so much fun, it was a challenge but to be honest well worth it. This is the first time I have had a facial sculpture to mould onto and its the first prosthetic I've made that fits the facial features, I have made cuts and smaller prosthetics but nothing that's fitted or on this scale and I think I did great...and its only going to get better, I have a lot of ideas swimming in my head right now!

So what do you think....

I am going to be putting more photographs up on my Facebook page so please check it out; https://www.facebook.com/Ruth.E.Moulden.MUA
And please feel free to leave a comment or Like Me
 
In other news...next weekend I'll be working on a photo shoot with a fabulous boudoir photographer...back to my roots! and Vintage Fair demonstrations on Sunday...check the Facebook page for more details.
 
xRx