Professional Make-up Artists are often called upon to create fantasy characters. This could be undertaken on the set of a film, TV show or a photoshoot. It could also for a theatrical performance or even for events and special occasions where a client requires a fantasy character e.g. summer festivals. Creating complex fantasy character looks can be quite challenging, however with the right tools, such as professional make-up kits, you can be sure of success. Follow our tips below on how to create fantasy characters using professional make-up techniques.
Invest In The Right Kit
First and foremost, in order to create fantasy characters, there are a number of items that you will need in your professional make-up kits. These include tools and products to create hair art and body art, for example, body paint and special fx make-up products. Make sure that you have a wide range of colours and finishes, so you may mix them accordingly and choose products that are easy to remove for quick changes. You may also want to undertake some specialist training in fantasy make-up to improve your skillset.
Find Some Inspiration and Practice
You do not want to turn up to a job with next to no experience of special fx make-up. Practice on friends or models, using looks that you've seen on TV or film - in order to recreate them and put your own creative spin on the looks. Make sure that you take photos of your work to use for your portfolio too. Comic book movies, fantasy films, animated films and music videos are great places to find inspiration.
Create Your Looks Step By Step
When creating a fantasy look, it's important to prep in advance to work out exactly how you're going to put your look together. Then, as you're completing your look, take photos (a smartphone or a classic Polaroid is a great asset to have here) during each step of the process, in order to help you figure out to how to complete the look. When working on shoots or on longer jobs, it's possible that you may need to recreate the look many times over (exactly the same), for continuity purposes. If it helps at all, write each step down.
Airbrushing Creates More Realistic Results
Whilst we may be talking about fantasy characters, it is still important for Professional Make-up Artists to make the look as realistic as possible. Using products such as airbrush body paints and hair art tools will make the look appear flawless, like a second skin; therefore the results will look extremely professional and suitable for HD productions. There is also training available if you're unfamiliar with airbrushing make-up techniques.
As with any theatrical make-up style, creating fantasy characters takes practice and patience. Ensuring that you have a large number of products in your kit, will allow you to get on with the task at hand and to produce some excellent results. Keep track of your progress - to add to your portfolio and practice wherever possible. Creating fantasy characters is fun and is a useful skill to have and will mean that you're suitable for a whole new range of Make-up Artist bookings.
Radina Simeonova is associate author at Skin by Sterex - The global leader for professional make-up, also offering professional make-up kits, hair art, body paint, make-up courses, professional make-up, theatrical make-up, high definition make-up cosmetics and accessories for personal and professional use.
