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

 

Dragon Lady Character - prosthetic sfx work ala Game of Thrones!

Here is it my Dragon Lady character which did take me quite a while to make as well as find the time to apply it!

I've been wanting to do a dragon character for a long time, its a way of challenging my sculpting skills with all the smaller scale details but also I love Game of Thrones so dragon lady seemed to be the best way to go. This character is half human/half dragon, the Queen of Dragons. The design I had in mind was slight more futuristic in style using the spiral dreadlocks to create a kind of dinosaurs bump down the centre.

So the first step is the sculpting, I'll admit this one did take longer then my previous ones due to the smaller scales and layering of the centre pieces. As you can see I kept the sculpt to the centre of the face with the idea to use my airbrushing skills to give the illusion of scales on the cheeks.
Like my other sculptures, the video of the making can be viewed on YouTube---> Dragon Lady Sculpture

I was worried about the casting of this sculpture just because of the layered scales, there was a major risk that the cast would break in these areas or not fully casted the areas. This is when using a silicone mould material would work best and then adding the layer of plaster. But with a lot of care I managed to get the cast pretty clean with only a few areas that required patching up.

Below you can see that moulding process as well as the finished prosthetic piece in gelatine, which was purchased from PS Composites. Again I would of like this character to be in silicone but I don't have enough to do this size piece and I don't think I have enough skills in silicone to do a big piece like this.

Some cleaning out was required with the final gelatine piece, with some scales needing to be remoulding manual on to the piece but everything worked out well.

 

Once the prosthetic is done and cleaned its time for my favourite stage...painting.

Below is my general setup for colouring my prosthetic pieces, I like to sit at the table to do this stage as well as mix manual application with airbrushing.

As you can see I used my Iwata airbrushing system with mel products, my brand new PAX paint products that I bought from IMATS.

 

I was very happy with Mel products PAX paints, thinning the paint out and using the airbrush to paint was very easy and enable me to build up the colours as well as cleanly mix them. The other good thing about them was that I would paint manually to add the finer details to the piece. I was very pleased with the selection of colours in the packs that I got.

 

The colour scheme was something that took me forever to decided upon, first I thought of going darker, with gold tones...then I thought about a blue toned dragon with green features. Finally I decided the red tones with gold and yellow highlights. I think that the colour scheme works really well as well as enabling me to create those darker tones of red to contouring and give the illusion that the scales are deeper then they actually are.

Another new toy that I bought from IMATS and used for this application were my new bdellium tools, sfx set, which consist of 12 fantastic brushes, each with specific uses for texturing and detailing you work. Love them! I don't know what I did without them!

The hair styling was a simple faux hawk using red and black dreadlocks, which you can view the how to here ------> Faux Hawk Hair tutorial
I tried to create those bumps that you get down the back of dragon's back, because of how big the front of the prosthetic was I had to push the hair back quiet a bit hence why the hair is a little more lose.
The dreadlocks were given to me by a good friend and I promised her that I would make good use of them, because they are so fantastic am sure I will be creating further characters using these extensions.

 

The final look...I am pretty pleased with how all the elements of this character have come together. I think it worked and I have further challenged my skills since my last character create which as I mention in alot of my blogs this is my main aim. Because I can't afford the SFX school just yet, I want to make sure that my skills are challenged and developed with every character creation.

I wish I could do something further with the ears but unfortunately I didn't have any ears to attach. Contact lenses in yellow would of also rocked this look further but work with what we have and I think it had worked well.

 

I am very happy, my new products have worked fabulously and I've learnt some good skills as well as some lessons through my mistakes!
Here is the Application YouTube link this shows all the steps for the application.

Hope you guys like the videos and blog!
Don't forget to follow me on Twitter --->https://twitter.com/RM_Makeup
                                               Instagram --->http://instagram.com/ruthemouldenmua
and like me on Facebook ------->https://www.facebook.com/Ruth.E.Moulden.MUA?ref=hl

Check them out for more up to date uploads of my work!

xRx

Creature From The Black Lagoon SFX work

This creature creation has been something that I've been working on for a while, just because of all the different elements connected to making it work plus I've fairly busy these past couple of days! 
 

It was done for a live demonstration at Blackburn Market with my students using the theme "under the sea", I decided it would be a good idea to challenge myself by doing a complete head prosthetics with "add on's!" I had the fabulous Alice Ashley assisting for this one as well as the equally fabulous Alex Gillet modelling for me…it was the dream team!

So it all began with the sculpture, which I used my shiney new tools that I got from United Makeup Expo back in April by the extremely helpful PS composites, http://www.ps-composites.com/ .Love them, they are so easy to use and create such definition in the sculpt. 

 

I did create a video showing my sculpting of the piece which can be viewed here .... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UaYXxT4IrZ0

 

After I casted the piece in plaster, I created the piece from gelatine...also bought from PS composites. I have to say that this prosthetic looks a lot better then my others, so am really happy with the development in myself. I think it was down to the tools I used as I was able to apply more details within the clay this time.

 

 

The next process was a DIY moment, I needed to make fins for my creature and a Mohawk fin. So I thought wire was the way to go. Just normal garden wire, bent into the shape of fin and then I used tan tights pulled over the wire frame and stitched it on to the frame.
To get that fish scale effect I added liquid latex all over the fins then left them to dry.
To paint them I used my brand new Skin Illustrate palette, which I bought from PPI http://www.ppi.cc/

 I used the NecroManic palette in Darth Moss and Vile Bile over the fin and then the FX palette in Aged Blood to highlight the "veins." This is the first time that I've used these products (its taken me a while to save up for them!) And I love the build up of shades that you can create with them. Brilliant product to use for dimention.

Once the fin's were done, I started colouring the piece using similar colours as well as airbrush work on the base colours and contouring of the creature using Temptu Dura Liquid Pro Set - Trauma (http://temptu.com/pro/dura-pro-liquid-pro-set-5024.html), in various colours. This is the first time I've used this set and it worked for what I wanted to do. It was easy to build up the colour and mix for added dimention.
I also used the Skin Illustrator palettes for more detail and added dimention.

 

 

And here is the final look, Alex Gillet model for me and I had the lovely Alice Ashley assisting with the application.

It was all done live at Blackburn Market and although there were a few moments of "improvisation", it all worked out.

 

I am happy with the way it turned out, there are ,obviously for me!, areas that I want to work on and challenge a little further but am happy.

 

 There is a video of the application which can be viewed here: http://ow.ly/x95cw

 

I have also uploaded more images on my facebook page; https://www.facebook.com/Ruth.E.Moulden.MUA

 

Let me know what you think.

xRx 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

White Walker Prosthetic

 This is a creation I've been hovering around completing for ages, its something that one of my friends from work challenged me to do and since Game Of Thrones is one of my favourite shows, I couldn't resist. The White Walker.
 
Once again am creating this with what I have, am not rich and am still saving up for my SFX courses which will show me the more advanced techniques. Having said that this is the first time I've attempted a full face which was quiet cool.
 
So it all starts with my initial design drawing, which took me a far while to complete with all them wrinkles and lines. I focused more on my skills in highlighting and shading with this one for obvious reasons...
 

 

Next, I started the sculpting. I'll admit after seeing this in the photographs, he does look like an angry White Walker...that's my creative stamp on the character. After all I don't like coping straight from the character, its got to have my own element to it.

 

 

Now time for the messy stage...casting!!!

For this one I decided extra strength was needed so I put plenty of plaster bandages around the sculpture so that it wouldn't crack when I released it.

 

 

The above image is of the mould with the gelatine material inside...I thought it looked like one of those optical illusions...is the face coming forwards or going backwards???

Am a geek what can I say!

 

 

I decided that because the White Walker is so detailed in colours/shading that it would be easier to paint up the piece first and add final touches when it was on.

I used Mistair FX airbrush paints to colour to piece and I tried to keep the colour palette to similar colours; blue. white and black.

I think I'll be investing in a new airbrush gun as mine is a basic IWATA but I think I need an up grade to one able to apply more detailed work. But am happy with what I did do.

As usual the airbrush application is always my go to for quick and easy application of the base colours; I then went in closer with a fine paint brush to add more detail work.

 

I also applied the crepe hair work before I applied the piece.

 

And there you have it....the final piece.
Its turned out pretty good and am happy with the overall look, as normal I can see areas that need work and development but that's a good thing cause that how I develop.

 

What do you guys think?

 

 
 Check out my facebook page for more images of the character...

https://www.facebook.com/Ruth.E.Moulden.MUA

Also check out the video on there....Video of the application (click here)

Next blog will be covering the Makeup Artist Expo in London which I'll be going to next weekend...eeeeeekkkkkk am very excited!!!

Bye for now lovelies...

xRx

Goblin Character

This is a really late blog, I did this look a few weeks ago but I forgot to put up a blog about the creative process I used.

Keep in mind am still working my skills on this area and it is something that I want do a course on, especially in using different materials such as silicone or foam latex but I use what I have and try to make it work! I feel like my skills are progressing well since I last did a gelatine prosthetic and my sculpting skills are also getting better which is always a plus.

So I begin with the design idea which was original meant to follow the theme of an evil goblin style character with occult style carvings in the face as well as a bald head, this was primarily so I can practice my skills in applying a bald cap.

My design idea was basic and to be honest a little rushed, I did some of it whilst I was waiting for my students at college and some whilst I was in-between workshops. It could be better drawn I know but I got the idea in my head and was eager to run with it. Also there are a lot of other elements to it such as teeth, horns, fingers and costume that I wish I could add but I don't have the budget.#

The sculpting went pretty well, I decided to try and create a wall around the main piece just so I could try to get the thinnest lines around the piece which will make it easier to apply and blend.

Pretty happy with some of the sculpting elements however I think my ability to build up the brow shapes needs work. Back to the anatomy books I go!

 

Next stage is the casing of the piece, I used some plaster bandages to reinforce the mould and ensure that if the plaster cracks then I've got some strength to hold it together with the bandages.

Again am using gelatine just because am still saving my money up for the prosthetic courses on foam latex and silicone prosthetics. Until I can raise this money I got to work with what I have. I would love to create something from foam latex or silicone but that’s in my future and this is the now.

The scars are little mini prosthetic pieces that I created using plasticine to sculpt the scars and then I put a silicone putty around this to create a mould. The silicone mould worked very well and was pretty easy to create and use. I picked mine up from Make and Bake…who supply cake moulds or icing/chocolate mould. Once these moulds were created then I filled them with gelatine and placed a sheet of baking paper over the top to create a nice flat surface for the when I come to apply the piece.

So all the elements were there for me create my goblin creature. The first step was the bald cap. The best bald caps that I have used to date are Kryolan's, I love the easy in blending the edges away by melting them down using acetone, it's so quiet and easy and looks smooth. I find  bald caps hysterical and I'll admit that I was crying with laughter when I  had applied this…I do not look good bald!!

After this I applied the prosthetic pieces, starting with the biggest main pieces and then adding the small scar pieces. I coloured everything using my airbrush, using Mistair FX water based colours. It worked well and I think my shading abilities are developing and improving with each character creation. My main colours were white and black but I think I could of used some blue tones just to create more of a cold feeling to the character.

Overall I like what I did and its definitely an improvement from my last character creation which makes me happy.

In my next blog am going to cover the crepe hair day with my level 3 students, they did amazingly well and I want to share the creativity with you guys!

Don’t forget to check out my facebook page:
https://www.facebook.com/Ruth.E.Moulden.MUA?ref=hl

Tumblr:
http://ruthmua.tumblr.com/
 

Twitter:

https://twitter.com/RM_Makeup

Instagram:
http://instagram.com/ruthemouldenmua

Don't forget to get your tickets for the +United Makeup Artist Expo , it's going to be an amazing weekend filled with professional artists for you to chat with and learn from not to mention many many stalls selling professional products, tools and equipment for all your makeup artist's needs!

Ciao for now my lovelies!

xRX