District 9 "Prawn" Alien ... the application

In this blog am going to focus on the application process of my District 9 character that was created for a live demonstrate at +Blackburn College  's live open day event. Check out the previous blog for how I create the pieces!

I'll admit there was a little issues at the time of applying this character mainly due to the fact at the same time I was filming the application... bring on forgetting to press record as well as filming unnecessary parts of our break time! But it was done, we managed it!! On my team for this event was the fabulous Elly Booth modelling as well as Liv Makinson, Ben Slack and Chelsea Fox assisting with a little bit of Mel Nelson helping out.

Ok so here's what I had in front of me... transforming this beauty into this Alien!

 
Using these prosthetics and pieces....see the previous blog for more about how I made all of this...

 

So here are my crazy team of assistant makeup artist, Mel Nelson, Liv Makinson and Ben Slack. First step in this transformation was the application of the bald cap. Now my favourite cap to use is +Kryolan Professional Make-up  's vinyl cap...easy to blend the edges, easy to work with.

 

For this application the aim was to achieve the look of Elly in mid-transformation which meant that the head needed to look Alien but still have bits of hair poking through.

 

We coloured the cap using Mel Products USA , as you all know by now its my favourite way of colouring any prosthetics as it covers the piece 100% with excellent blending abilities. A must for any SFX artist.

 

 

The next stage is to apply the silicone prosthetic pieces, I used ProsAide to apply them but am looking at acquiring some Telesis 7 +United Makeup Artist Expo  which am going to this April as it is one of the best adhesives on market (or so I  have been told) But I'll use what I have for now which is my good old trusty ProsAide. 

 

 
The silicone pieces had to be patch worked together to give that impression that the skin was tearing apart and the alien skin pushing through...sounds disguising but that was my vision as it fitted with the +Weta Workshop 's aliens from the District 9 movie.
 

 

I'll admit I was so happy with how this turned out as this was the first time I have ever made a silicone piece this big! (Again check out previous blog for information on the products used to create this.)

Above is the final arm pieces all together with the hand piece attached...kinda looks like pounded meat...niiiice!

 

 

Next step is painting...

I did it all by hand with my assistants being wicked as always, I could of applied this via the airbrush but I had a mixture of level 2 and 3 media makeup students assisting me and the level 2 haven't covered airbrushing application yet so to make it fair, I kept it all manual.

 

 

Using Skin Illustrate from +PPI Premiere Products  , FX palette. This palette is the best SFX palette ever! I love it for creating gory, injuries because its so realistic!

 

 

Once the base colour is covered its starting to all come together!

 

 

Next coat, again using Skin Illustrator to add further depth, always remember that like a painting, SFX makeup takes several steps in building depth and colour for the effect to look realistic.

 

 

Tools used to paint the piece were from +Bdellium Tools  's SFX range; design by the amazingly talented SFX artist Thomas Surprenant. As stated in previous blogs this is must for any SFX artist out there, they really managed to create a brush for all jobs!

 

 

Add the blood; for this piece I used +bloodymarvellous scab blood as well as their thick dark blood which really pulled the gory together. If anybody is looking for a good blood check out this brand, they have a vast array of realistic blood, pus and blister products!

 

One of the lessons I always like to teach my students when doing gory injuries or wounds is don't go crazy on the blood application. If you splatter blood all over the shop, it will look like your hiding something. Its always better to 'position' the blood realistically to enhance the effect.

 

 

The join on the bald cap to the face prosthetic piece was achieved using silicone gel, moulded around the edges to give the illusion of the skin splitting. This design chose was specifically made to pay a little homage to the film "The Fly" which is one of those ultimate monster movies, as a SFX artist I love!!

 

So the finally...the finished character...

 

I would have to say that the final look is pretty damn good if I do say so myself. Obviously there are areas that I would do differently if I redid the look but am happy! 

 

Am loving how the arm turned out, I think it probably would of turned outa little better if I wrapped the bandages around the hand further up as well as round the arm but live and learn!

 

 

The head turned out better then I thought it would, the join worked out ok but am sure I would be able to figure out an even better way of blending. Its times like these that I wish I was able to use foam latex....still saving up....

 

 

The arm pieces came out wicked though, so happy with how my skills have improved in this area.

 

 

And here is a crazy picture of me and my team...trust me, thanks to Ben there was a million photo's taken that day...many many baaaaad photo's of dodgy angles buuuut check out more via my facebook page @ Ruth.E.Moulden.MUA

 

You can also check out the application video on my YouTube channel @Ruth E Moulden MUA

(http://goo.gl/xTVLHq)

 

That's all for now, don't forget that +United Makeup Artist Expo is happening very soon...April 11-12th to be exact! ... Can't wait!! My next blog will probably be covering that event...so stay tuned people!

 

xRx

 

District 9 "prawn" prosthetics ... the making of....

Hey hey,
Well it appears I have created another one of my crazy crazy live demonstration characters for Blackburn College's most recent Open Event showing off what the college has to offer.
I love doing these events because I see them more as a chance to prove to prospective students who want to study media makeup what we can do and offer them. And I like to wow the crowds, its a case of "go big or go home" ... I get a little worried sometimes that I may not be able to top the last character but hey life's no fun without a few challenges!

This open day event was no exception and I aimed to top the last one...(which I'll admit I have not blogged about but check out facebook for the photos!)

A while ago I was challenged to recreate "District 9" prawn Alien, as usual, I don't back down to challenges so off I went designing.
Unlike the other characters I've done I wanted to create more costume/limb parts as well as play with doing a large silicone piece which I've never done before. (I've created small ones but never as big as this)

My design for this character was a mixture of the character, Wikus transforming into the Alien from the film but I wanted to take it bit further and give it a bit of "The Fly" sort of transformation with a full head prosthetic plus bald cap.

So the first thing you think about when you think of District 9 transformation...the hand...

 

As you can see it took quiet a few steps to get it right, starting with a washing up glove!

Add plenty of tape to get the shape of the fingers...

 

 

Little bit of good old latex and cotton wool to mould the details in the fingers....

 

 

Colour with Mel Products USA in delightful swampy green brown colours and voilà you have a "prawn" hand.....

 

 

 

So the next stage is the arm pieces, which as I mentioned before this is first time I have ever done a large scale silicone piece which was epic for me because silicone is one of those materials which can work out...sometimes doesn't. I've done smaller pieces before which worked out well so I figured why not!

 

For the silicone I used EcoFlex from Smooth On which I got in a starter silicone kits at IMATS last year....it was a very good kit, taught me a lot!!

 

 

First port of call...the casting of the piece....

 

 

As you can see I did multiple pieces just in case something went wrong or pieces didn't come out clean. If I've said it once, I've said it a million times...always be prepared for little whoopy daisy moments!

 

 

As you can see above...lots of just incases....

 

Now my favourite part of any character make...the face, cause its allll about the face face face baby!

Theres just something about sitting down for hours sculpting weird and wonderful creations that really puts me in a good mood.

With this Alien piece, there were a lot of logistics that needed working out...such as the bug eyes, the nose breathing hole and antenna.

Trial and error my friends....as well as some creative imagination whilst designing is the key to over come any problem.

 

Isn't he a delightful fella...I named him Fred...
Now I originally opted for a full face when designing but then decided to stop at the bottom lip as I wanted to create weird tentacle things to dangle down and disguise the lip. (Which you'll see below)
The bug eyes are in fact....Easter Egg packaging...yes that good old chocolate treat, I did have to maniple the shape a little to try and get that almond eye shape going.  

 

And here's the bad boy casted out in gelatine... works well...I did have to scoop out sections to relieve some of the weight as gelatine can be pretty heavy at times. But I was very pleased with how it came out.

 

Next step is colouring in!

Another one of those tasks that just chills me out, and I love using my IWATA airbrush to painting it all up. Again using Mel Products USA...I love the products they are amazing and come in a wide variety of colours. Easy to use, can be used neat or mixed with their mixing medium for use in an airbrush/thinning. Totally recommend them!

 

 

The eyes were painted using glass paints...as you can see the middle part is left as when I came to apply the piece I decided to paint the models eyes black so when you looked through the eye it looked like a pupil.

(Plus visibility was a little foggy with the paints all over and I really needed the model to be able to see!)

 

As you can see the dangly bits over the mouth work as a clear way to hide the "real" lips but still allow the model movement of the mouth/talk/eat...breath...

Plus they moved with the movements of the model which I thought looked really cool.

As you can see below I had to try it out! ....

 

 

So there you have the making of...

 

I will be uploading the application process in a later blog but I think I've held you attention for long enough. All the photo's from the event will be uploaded to my Facebook page, so feel free to have a little gander over there.

 

There is also an application video up on my YouTube, if your feeling intrigued as to how it all turned out.

 

Tomorrow am doing another event at Blackburn College with my wonderful media makeup students for Comic Relief which involves full body painting! This will be blogged at some point and if I can get a camera, I'll be filming parts again.

 

Don't forget to like, follow me on my other sites:

Facebook page @Ruth.E.Moulden.MUA

  Instagram @ruthemouldenmua

YouTube @RuthMouldenMUA

 

xRx

 

 

 

Manchester Vintage: Ramsbottom Event

As many of you may know I have my little pop salon which I take to different vintage fairs around the area offering various treatments from hairstyling, makeovers to gel nail polish and manicures.

 I love doing them as you meet the most interesting people, not just those buying the treatments but also the stall holders. One of the main reasons why I love vintage fairs so much is the quirky stuff that you can pick up; from household ornements to teacup bird feeders!! And of course there is the vintage clothing. Am not going to lie am a retro/rockabilly sort of a girl so some of the classic vintage clothing doesn't suit me but the things that you see are amazing. Truely is amazing to see how styles have changed over the eras as well as how incredible that most of it is still in style today.

The event is held every last Sunday of the month by Manchester Vintage (check them out here: http://goo.gl/xyLweC ) and is fully of vintage curiosities and clothes as well as myself who this month was joined by the fabulous Jenny Martin photographer (check her out here; http://goo.gl/1bAwJj ) who was offering mini photo-shoots and prints. She took a few snaps of my models as well as a few of me...often pulling a funny face with my tongue stuck out concentrating! So you will have to stay tuned for the pro photos and follow myself and Jenny for up to date posts/photos!

There was also a fantastic lady by the name of Grace Havana who is a fabulous vintage blogger, if your interested in the Vintage life style in anyway shape or form check out her YouTube page @Havana_Vintage as well as her facebook page (check her out here: for more advice on the vintage style.

She also received a vintage makeover in the form of some beautiful victory rolls by yours truly! Stay tuned to her channel for a video of the event (and of me doing her hair)

 
So my own styling for the day; as mentioned before am one for the retro clothing rather then the classic vintage and like to add a little of the rockabilly spice to all my looks.

My makeup was focusing on my favourite power colour. Purple! And I had the chance to use my brand new Kat Von D eye shadow palette, "True Romance, Poetica". I will be doing a post/review on these products this week, so keep following for that but I will say I love the sparkly shimmer this palette gave.

So I went for a smoky purple eye look, I kept the lashes subtle for this look.
 

 

As normal I have my red brows using +Inglot Cosmetics Eyeliner Gel

Lipstick is one of my favourites by Kat Von D, Studded Kiss Lipstick in "HomeGirl", love the deep berry colour that it creates and its lasts sooooo long! One word of advice, if your using this product make sure you prep your lips with a good scrub (LUSH lip scrub is highly recommended) and a moisturiser (No.7 Lip moisturies or Decleor's is what I would recommend and what I use!)

 

 

With my hair I decided to take it all up, I need to re-dye my hair so I thought I would bring out the all the different shades my hair is going.

With this style I used a big donut ring for the foundation then create a series of pin curls and rolls up and around the sides and back of the piece with a mini victory roll in the front.

I then decorated it with random places flowers and butterflies all over for a pretty but sophisticated look.

 
My outfit for the event was this...

 

My brand new bag from Debenhams Floozie collection, which I love love love! How cute is it!

 

Dress/Skirt from the fantastic Collectif clothing range, its Prue Herringbone Underbust Pencil Skirt. If you haven't heard of this range yet you should definitely check them out. All the clothes are amazing and fit beautifully, I have never bought anything from this store that I haven't loved! With a range of styles from different eras as well as beautiful accessories and bags. This is one brand that if I won the lottery I would buy the whole range!

 

I will be attending next months Vintage Fair so check out the Facebook pages linked above for more updates on the events!

 

Bye for now lovelies!

xRx