TUTORIAL - Evil Clown SPFX Makeup

So I'm sure we've all been scared of clowns at one time or another - usually the type that have evil eyes and bloody smiles.  I'm not sure where this deep seeded fear came from but I can imagine movies and books like IT by Stephen King and the wide variety of paintings, digital art, drawings, and makeups that have brought the most terrifying versions of clowns to life hasn't helped. 

For me however, it has always been more of a fascination than a fear.  I have always been intrigued by how every clown is wearing a disguise, pretending, and can be whoever they want to be.  I have also always loved how something that is supposed to represent fun, laughter, enjoyment and entertainment for children can carry such terrifying connotations.  With that in mind, I wanted to create a clown makeup that portrayed the exact thing I've always loved about clowns - EVIL - and what better way to do that than to slash out the cheeks and give my clown a great big bloody smile!

So here's how I created this look....

Step 1 - Silicone Slash

The first thing you should always do when creating a makeup that involves prosthetics is to put  the prosthetics on first! Why? Because silicone and latex prefer to stick to skin than  other makeup products such as foundation or Supra.  It also makes the whole process faster and more efficient as Silicone can take up to 20 minutes to dry so it can be drying whilst you finish the rest of your makeup.

Like any silicone prosthetic that you sculpt straight onto the skin you need to mark out where you want it then apply the desired amount.  Then, using a sculpting tool, smooth out the edges to the skin so that there are no visible ridges.  You then need to gouge out the inside of the wound to create your desired effect and pattern - remembering that wounds of this nature will usually be jaggered and imperfect.

Now leave the silicone alone till it is completely dry!

Step 2 - Pale Base

Almost all characters of this style and genre start with a pale base (you can also do this step after eyes if you like, depends on personal preference).  To achieve this I used a mixture of a very pale foundation and white Supra, buffed into the skin with a setting powder over the top.  I made sure to blend this down the neck also.

Step 3 - Eyes

For the eye makeup I went with greys, ice blues, dark navy and black eyeshadows - most of which were shimmer.  I started with an eye primer, then a base ice blue, contouring the socket line with the darker colours.  I highlighted the inside of the eye and under the arch of the brow with the ice blues and darkened under the eye with the navy and black.  

I then blackened my water line and under the eye with a Mac smudge liner and penciled in my eyebrows with a waterproof black liner.  Once I had everything looking very perfect and pretty I smudged and blended the eyeshadows and ran Mac gel liner under my eye line, up through the brow and down my cheeks to give the eyes a creepier look.  I didn't want this makeup to look too pretty, but pretty enough and I also wanted it to resemble the stereotypical clown eyes famous in pop culture.  I then added a set of luscious lashes for the glam look and completed the eyes by adding Mac gel liner to my upper eye lid.

Step 4 - Adding Colour to the Silicone Slash

Before I applied any colour to the silicone I first powdered it down with translucent powder to remove any un-natural looking shine.  I could then move onto the fun stuff.  I used red and lake RMGP for trauma around the edges and for inside the wound.  I then moved onto using fresh scratch to add a bit more depth and chunkiness to the wound.  It is important when painting prosthetic wounds that you leave some areas bare, as showing natural skin makes a wound more believable to you're audience. 

Step 5 - Lips

I wanted deep red lips that resembled blood so I lined them with a Lake pencil, over accentuating my lip shape.  I then used Mac 'Diva' lipstick,  to fill in the lip colour, and outlined the lips with black gel liner which I then blended inwards into the red.  Finally I finished the lips with a clear gloss to pump up the 'bloody' look.

Step 6 - BLOOOOOOD!!!!
My favourite part, as always, is adding the blood :D I had to restrain myself from adding too much, as I didn't want to ruin my sculpting and painting efforts by drowning it in blood.  I strategically placed blood in the wound where the cuts would be deepest and dripped blood down from the wound at balanced points along my cheeks and chin.

The final touch was the blood spatter surrounding the wound - very subtle but I think effective.  I created this using the brush I've grown accustomed to calling my 'spatter' brush.

Step 7 - Contact Lenses

For the finishing touch I applied "Manson" contact lenses which really finished off the look by adding that extra creep factor.  However - I don't recommend applying or removing contact lenses unless you know how and have the right equipment to sterilise and clean the lenses.

All in all, this makeup wasn't overly difficult but turned out quite well and definitely as creepy as I 'd hoped.  I can only wish that my makeup and others like it make their way into peoples nightmares all around the world. :D

Yours in Blood & Gore,

Caity

Blood

"Death Cab" (2012), David Kiolle
MUA: Caitlyn Worland

There is just something about blood that makes everything in life so much more exciting.  I’m not sure whether it’s the colour, texture, or sometimes even the taste (depending on the brand) that makes blood, the fake kind, so appealing.  

What I do know for sure is that I love everything about it.  As a special effects makeup artist I take advantage of and use fake blood quite often in my line of work.  Due to this I saw it fit to sum up what I've discovered, learnt and love about fake blood , whilst also providing some examples of how I've used it.

Whilst I love the effect a bucket of blood can have when dropped onto the head of a pretty, curly haired blonde in a nice pastel dress, I do understand that there is a time and place for fake blood and that the rules surrounding this need to be understood. 

Most makeup artists will jump straight to whatever blood they can get their hands on and just throw it onto a wound or smear it onto clothing, thinking it will automatically make the overall effect somewhat better.  As much as I love blood (in the least serial killer way possible), I know from research, experience, and the teachings of a wise SPFX makeup artist, that the addition of the wrong blood, in the wrong amount and in the wrong pattern and place can ruin a perfectly good, well crafted wound or overall character.  It is important to learn about and experiment with all the different types of fake blood that are on the market.

FAKE BLOOD

1. Rubber Mask Grease Paint (RMGP)

It's all about layering when it comes to creating wounds and injuries so why not start with something that isn't actually blood.  RMGP, when used in combination with products such as Fresh Scratch and Mouldlife Arterial Blood can create a very realistic looking wound or injury. There are two colours in this palette I use quite frequently for special effects - Red and Lake, and I advise you to get yourself familiar with both of these.  

However, as this isn't a tutorial on how to create a wound or injury I won't venture much further into how to use this palette effectively.  All you need to know with regards to RMGP and fake blood in general is that you should never just grab the first bottle you can find and throw it on your prosthetic.  You need to layer it and combine it with other products to ensure you create the most realistic effect possible.


2. Kryolan Fresh Scratch

"Death Cab" (2012), Kurt Norvilas
MUA: Caitlyn Worland

Fresh Scratch, an actual fake blood, is ideal for almost all open wounds, lacerations, scratches and wound effects.  Personally, I use it to give my wounds a little more depth and impact as the deep colour, thick  consistency and freshly glossy look this blood has allows for the wound to really come to life.  

It can be used heavily as a wound filler or sparingly in the areas you really want to stand out and look even more grotesque.  The shot of the facial wound to the left is an example of how Fresh Scratch can create depth in a wound.  As can be seen it allows for a relatively 2-Dimensional latex prosthetic to appear much deeper than it actually is and therefore more realistic.



3. Mouldlife Arterial Blood

Professional
Makeup Academy

My preferred and most commonly relied on fake blood is the Mouldlife Arterial Blood.  I buy mine in a 1L bottle and go through it way too quickly.  I find it to be just the right density and thickness to  hold its' shape and body when applied but to also be able to run and move when prompted.  The Arterial blood in this brand is my preferred colour and tone as it is dark enough to be believable but still has a powerful impact on the audience.  

Also, there are a  couple of added bonuses with this blood - not only does it wash out of clothes, hair and brushes but it is also peppermint flavoured and non-toxic so can be used in and around the mouth safely and without discomfort to the actor or model.

The most important thing to remember when adding this kind of blood to your work is to not overdo it.  It is tempting to just throw buckets of the stuff at a wound but creative control is vital when it comes to the application of fake blood.  There should only be as much blood as the wound would produce in real life, regardless of whether it would look more dramatic or theatrical with copious amounts of blood.  Sometimes, just by adding the slightest amount of blood you can create something more breathtaking, eerie and realistic than a mere blood bath ever could, and this is what will have the greatest impact on an audience.

"Death Cab" (2012)
Caitlyn Worland

To be honest though, there are thousands of types, brands and colours of fake blood out there and it comes down to personal preference and style.  These are just a few of the products I've enjoyed using when it comes to special effects makeup and I hope to come across some new and exciting products to play with in the near future.

One last thing to remember, when it comes to fake blood - you can't be afraid of getting your hands dirty...


Yours in Blood & Gore,

Caity

Finding the World of SPFX Makeup

I am a 21 year old Aussie girl who, after having completed a Law degree at one of the most reputable Universities for Law in Australia, decided to quit my decently paying graduate program job with the Queensland government to pursue a career as a Special Effects Makeup Artist for the film and television industry. 

My whole life I’ve been fascinated and intrigued by the creative industries – the imagination and creativity that you find in art, film, theatre, costumes, and special effects.  Despite the obvious magnetic pull this world has had on me over the years I managed to somehow avoid entering the creative industries straight out of High School. 

At the end of grade 12, I entered the world wide eyed and did what I thought I had to – go to University and study something the world considered valuable and somewhat difficult.  Although being a lawyer was never really what I wanted to be and having a law degree won’t ever really help me be a better special effects makeup artist – I will never regret my time at Bond University or obtaining a Bachelor of Laws.  I feel as though the experiences I had, the knowledge and skills I obtained and the future prospects I will gain out of having a law degree made the time and effort I spent all worth it.

So there I was, 6 months out of university, working in the Brisbane CBD in a building with 37 floors, 24 elevators and security card access – and I just knew there had to be something else out there for me – something more.  It may have taken me 12 years of schooling, a law degree and 6 months in a graduate program to figure it out, but finally one day I stumbled across a career I’d never considered before – a career as a Special Effects Makeup Artist.

After ample research into the industry, the job itself and the various academies that offered Diplomas in SPFX Makeup, I found the place for me – the Australian Academy of Cinemagraphic Makeup.  With that, I put in my letter of resignation, completed my final two weeks’ notice at work, had one week off and began the journey that will hopefully lead me to the rest of my life…