Wolfe Hydrocolor

I have recently been able to work with Wolfe's Hydrocolor. It was actually a lot more difficult then I originally imagined. However in Wolfe's defense I was attempting to put glitter mixed into mixing liquid on top of water based makeup. Any way, that experience combined with the numerous customers who have recently asked me how to use the makeup have led me to this How To blog. There for today's topic is... “How To Use Wolfe Hydrocolor.”

This is the final product of today's story.

It's really not that hard; the simplicity of it is where the difficulty lies. 

Step 1) Decided on the makeup you will be doing

·      For instance I had to turn a man into a blue metallic version of Atlas. So I knew I would need sponges, brushes, glitter, mixing liquid, and a 90g blue Hydrocolor.

Step 2) Purchase the colors and any needed supplies.

·      If you live in Orlando here’s a store that carriesWolfe.

·      If not here’s a link to the same store online.

Step 3) Set up and get organized in a well-lit area.

·      On small shoots a bathroom will suffice.

*Make sure not to spill on carpeting, though this is water based it is also professional grade makeup.*

Step 4) Add water to the Hydrocolor until you have a paste like consistency.

·      Test the color on your arm to see if you like the consistency

        

Step 5) Always do a patch test on you actor or model before any makeup application.

Step 6) Take your brush or sponge and dip it into the Hydrocolor.

Step 7) Apply as many layers as needed to get the coverage you need.

·      Applying to larger areas I have found it is easier to start with a brush and then even out the tones with a sponge.

No powdering is needed since this makeup dries it is essentially setting it’s self.

In my case once I had the coverage I needed I then needed to apply the glitter. However every time, no matter what I did, it would cause the Hydrocolor to run. Until I remembered I needed a barrier spray. So I sent some one out to pick up hair spray (budget barrier spray). A light sprits of hair spray acts just like a barrier spray, only not as strong or as long.

Once I had sprayed the model with hair spray I was able to paint on the glitter. In the end he looked like a cross between Captain America, Iron Man, and an Avatar.

This is my Captain America, Iron Man, Avatar, Atlas

 I love Wolfe's products, especially the Hydrocolor. I don't know how I could have pulled that shoot off with out it. It is one of the easiest and best products I have ever worked with. 

Finally here is a video of the Wolfe brothers giving a demo. They are using their patented Hydrocolor makeup so if you are still unsure of how to use it definitely watch this and it should answer your remaining questions. 

Click Here for more information on Wolfe and their products.

What is Zombie Skin?

Zombie Skin was introduced to the public at Hauntcon in Pittsburgh Pa in 2012.  Zombie Skin was first sold at the Midwest Haunters Convention in Columbus, Ohio and SOLD OUT!!! 

Zombie Skin is an ammonia free latex product with the consistency of whipped butter. It has many uses from blending prosthetic edges to creating cuts, gashes, wounds, bites and even claw marks. That’s just to name a few.

Zombie Skin was first sold at the Midwest Haunters Convention in Columbus, Ohio, and was then introduced to the public at the 2012 Hauntcon in Pittsburgh, PA. Due to it’s fast drying, easy manipulation, and all around efficiency Zombie Skin seems to be taking the makeup world by storm.

How does it work? It’s simple, far simpler then latex with a much faster application time.

For cuts:

         1) Spread the Zombie Skin on the skin with a craft stick.

2) Give the ZS about 30 seconds to start drying

3) Take the edge of the stick and make a cut in the Zombie Skin.  

*As you make the cut you should see the Zombie Skin start to pull away just like when you cut your skin.

       4) Allow Zombie Skin to finish drying. 

5) Take your makeup and apply as you would normally

6) Add blood as needed.  

*Remember less is more in some cases.

Here is what a cut might look like using Zombie Skin.

Here is what a cut might look like using Zombie Skin.

For wounds:

       1) Spread the Zombie Skin on the skin with a craft stick.

2) Wait untill the Zombie Skin is about half way dry.

*About 45 seconds, but you may have to play with the timing to get it just right. With this it is important to remember that Zombie Skin dries faster the warmer the person is. This is because it uses a person’s body heat to help it dry so fast.  

3) Once the Zombie Skin is semi dry take a cotton swab and push it into the Zombie Skin.

4) Pull out the Zombie Skin.

*The Zombie Skin will be attached to the cotton swab. This is perfectly normal; you want it to look as though the skin has been torn.

 5) Move around the Zombie Skin to make the hole look like a deep wound

6) Take your makeup and apply as you normally would.  

This is my attempt at a shallow wound, I was going for a cigar burn. This is my attempt at a shallow wound, I was going for a cigar burn.

For bites:

1) Spread the Zombie Skin on the neck with a craft stick.

2) Push a cotton swab into the Zombie Skin.

3) Rotate the cotton swab in a circle

4) Pull out the cotton swab

*This should leave a perfect circle/ bite in the neck.

5) Repeat steps 3 and 4 to make multiple tooth punctures if needed If not skip to step 6.

6) Take your makeup and apply as you normally would.  

7) Add blood as needed.  

This is to give you an idea of what a vampire bite might come out looking like.

There are a million and one uses for Zombie Skin all you have to do is use your imagination and try out a few ideas. 

For more information about Zombie Skin check out these links.

Zombie Skin Home Page

Instructables

To purchase Zombie Skin check out these links.

Zombie Skin Clear

Zombie Skin Flesh Tone

AEOstudios

How to Clean and Reassemble an Airbrush

Today I’m going to teach you how to thoroughly clean an airbrush gun.

This is highly important to know because a dirty airbrush can clog and if it doesn’t clog the spray will not work properly and may be chunky.

1a) First you need to soak a cotton swab in acetone. Then remove the makeup on the outside of the airbrush by rubbing it with the cotton swab. Depending on how dirty your airbrush is, hopefully not that dirty, you may have to use more then one cotton swab.

2a) Then blow a small amount of acetone through the airbrush. This will work a lot of dried makeup out of the airbrush.

3a) After you finish blowing the makeup out of the airbrush scrape away any buildup that gets stuck in the nozzle.

4a) Disassemble the airbrush. Most airbrushes can be dissembled by unscrewing the paint cap, nozzle and back end. If you need more specific instructions you check your owners manual.

5a) Now you need to soak the small removable parts in a cup filled with acetone.

6a) While soaking the small parts you can rub a cotton swab soaked in acetone over the airbrush needle to remove the makeup debris.

7a) Then you can use a small brush soaked in acetone to clean the inside of the airbrush.

* If this technique proves unsatisfactory you may want to use a syringe or a baster as well.

Now that you are finished cleaning the airbrush it is time to reassemble it.  To do this you…

 

1b) Hold the handle part of the airbrush in your hand and slide the trigger into the open slot on the top of the handle.

* Make sure that the trigger lines up with the interior spring. It should slide in with out much force.

2b) Carefully drop the rocker into the back end of the handle and carefully slide its spring over it.

* In some airbrushes the rocker and spring are connected, but in other cases they are separate.

3b) Take the collar of the airbrush and tighten it into place and then slide the lug nut on.

*Leave it a bit loose so adjustments can be made.

4b) Slide in the needle so that it comes out the other end of the handle.

5b) Tighten the lug nut onto the end of the airbrush

6b) Take the small tip and tighten it on around the needle.

7b) Slide the head over the tip and secure it using the provided wrench.

* If no wrench is provided a small universal wrench will work just as well.

8b) Slide the casing onto the back of the airbrush and tighten it.

*Each airbrush will tighten differently. Some simply snap into place while and others may need to be tightened with a wrench. If you are unsure of how your airbrush tightens check the instruction manual.

9b) Connect the air supply to the airbrush and use a test paper to check that it is functioning.

*You can use a paper or your hand to check the air supply. Simply hold the trigger for the air supply to test the airbrush.

10b) If it is functioning place the head cap over the tip to protect the tip until you need to use your airbrush.

For more info check out these sites

cleaning an airbrush gun

assembling an airbrush

Or these videos

how to assemble an airbrush

airbrush cleaning and maitinance

How to fake a scar

You can achieve scars like this using rigid collodion

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Now I know I have talked about scars in other post but I figured since scars can appear different depending on age I’d do a post to get a little more in depth on them.  

For this you will need:

- Rigid collodion

- Astringent

- Cream makeup scar wheel

- Skin tone cream make up

- Makeup sponges

- Small brushes

- Setting powder

- Brush Cleaner

- Powder puff

Basic preparation steps:

1. Decided how new the scar will be (depending on if this scar is shallow or deep.)
2. Research pictures of scars (shallow or deep)

·       A makeup artist always has reference pictures of what they are going to do.

3. Clean the area of skin with astringent
4. Apply a thin layer of rigid collodion
5. Allow the rigid collodion to dry
6. Repeat steps one and two until desired result is achieved

·       Shallow scars may require up to 4 or 5 layers

·       Deep scars may require only 2 or 3 layers

The next few steps are for shallower scars:

1.     Using a makeup sponge lightly add some red makeup directly onto the scar and blend out about a centimeter or two, not even

2.     Powder to set the make up

3.     If the scar still appears to faint or is to close to the color of the surrounding, now pinkish, skin take the small brush and a little bit of red and brush it into the scar

·       You may need to blend the red with some skin tone to achieve your desired results. This can be done before or after the application. I would suggest after. You can use it to blend the color out a little further, almost like a safety net.

4.     Take a clean edge of your sponge and dab at the scar until it is blended almost evenly

5.     Powder to set the makeup

6.     Using a makeup sponge lightly apply a think layer of skin tone makeup to the scar and surrounding area

7.     Powder to set makeup

8.     Repeat steps 6-7 until desired result is achieved

The next few steps are for deeper scars:

1.     Using a small brush lightly add some red makeup directly onto the scar

2.     Using a makeup sponge blend out, no centimeter or two, onto the skin

3.     Powder to set the makeup

4.     Using a small makeup brush, the same one is ok, add a small amount of purple to the scar

5.     Using a clean side of your wedge blend the purple out, no more then a centimeter, onto the skin

6.     Powder to set the make up

7.     If still not the desired result repeat steps 4-6 using blue

8.     Using a makeup sponge apply a thin layer of skin tone make up to your scar and the surrounding area

9.     Powder to set the makeup

10.   Repeat step 8-9 until desired result is achieved.

That is how you fake a scar, new or old. If you wish to spice up a brand new scar you can add some congealed blood directly onto the rigid collodion after you are done shading the area with red makeup. This gives the appearance of a recent cut. 

Scars combine with bruises always give a cool effect.

Here are some helpful links

Rigid Collodion Info

AEO Studios

YouTube Tutorial 

How to Make a Severed Head

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This week I am going to tell you all how to make a severed head.

The supplies you are going to need are:

1.     A head mold

2.     Casting latex

3.     Poly foam

4.     Acrylic paint

5.     A hot glue gun

6.     Hot glue

7.     Fake eyes

8.     A wig or crepe hair

9.     A dremel

10. Something to hold the two half’s of the head mold together

11. Packing peanuts (optional)

12. Screwdriver (optional)

13. Scissors

14. Spongy material

The first step is to tie your two halves of your mold together very tightly.

The second step is to slush the mold. To do this you pour the casting latex into the head mold to about the half way or quarter point. They you slowly rotate your mold while pouring out the latex back into it’s original container.

Step three let the latex dry over night, or up against a fan for 6 to 12 hours. You want to make sure it has set and is no longer wet, sticky, tacky, in any way not completely dry.

Step four. Mix the two active components of your poly foam. It should be about a 25 to 12 ratio.

If you are using the packing peanuts add them in first and make sure they are up to at least the half waypoint. Then you add your poly foam. You ratio should be about 14 to 7.

Step five. Once your foam has risen and set, about 20 to 30 minutes after you added it, you are now ready to pull your mold. You may now untie your mold and carefully pull it apart. You may need to use a screwdriver to separate the two halves.

Step six. Once you have pulled the mold it is time to dremel. You must dermal down the edges where there is a seam. You need to make this as smooth and invisible as possible.

Step seven. Once you are done dremaling you now need to trim the excess foam from about the neck. SAVE THIS! DO NOT THROW IT AWAY!

Step eight. Now heat up your hot glue gun and decide how you will position the let over latex that you have trimmed off the neck. This will be your arteries, guts and gore factor. NOTE! Do not glue these into the center! Leave the center open incase you decided to add a vertebra.

Step nine. Glue the latex.

Step ten. Mix your paint with some of your casting latex. Attempt to get a dark purplish reddish color.

Step eleven. Sponge paint the white poly foam and latex.

Step twelve. Let the paint dry.

Step thirteen. Cut out the eye area.

Step fourteen. Choose a pair of eyes and gently insert them into the now open eye area.

Step fifteen. Add some blues and reds very subtly around the neck area. This just adds some realness and depth to your head.

Step sixteen. Pick out a wig and hot glue it to your head.

Optional step seventeen. If you wish you can use more paint to apply make up to your head, if you wish it to be a girl, or to add color to the lips and cheeks.

Optional step eighteen. You can now add some of your reddish latex to the hair and on your head’s face to make it appear beaten.

Optional step eighteen. If you wish you can use more paint to apply make up to your head, if you wish it to be a girl, or to add color to the lips and cheeks.

Hooray! You now have your very own severed head. Use it at Halloween, in a movie, to scare your friends, scare your mom, your teacher, a person in a car accident (well that would just be rude). What I’m trying to say is enjoy it!

 

For more tips on how to make your own head or other body parts check out these links.

http://halloweenerrific.co.uk/tag/make-your-own-severed-head

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6QR2C32eBAw

Negotiating and Deal Making Interview

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This week in class we had to interview a professional in the media industry. I went in interviewed my friend Jenny. She is a teacher at Full Sail University and worked in film for a while. She used producer and write. So I called her up and explained the situation and she graciously agreed to answer a few questions.

Me: So Jenny, how would you deal with negative emotions in your line of work?

Jenny: I actually had to deal with a lot of that when I first got back to Jacksonville from LA. All the theaters I tried to talk to would tell me that I was too young and that I should try acting and not directing. The best way to react to something like that is to just ignore it and not react. I would just thank the theater for their time and look for other work. The best way to deal with some one telling you your inexperienced is to just keep doing the next right thing and eventually you will show them up.

Me: Wow thanks for the advice Jenny. Now how you ever had to deal with some one using tricky tactics to get what they want?

Jenny: No problem. I actually have many times. Most of the time they are some one who feels entitled to their position, as if they know more then you. Or sometimes it’s some one who has been at the job longer then you and doesn’t like that you, the new comer. One example I can think of is I had just gotten onto a project as a script analyst and a development assistant who had been there since the start didn’t like all the attention I was getting. She was the assistant to the head producer and didn’t like how I seemed to be stealing her thunder so she started talking behind my back. Now I could have fought back, called her out, or done something about it but instead I decided to let her hand herself. I just kept doing the next right thing and soon people started to notice how much of a b***h she was. And if no one had noticed that doesn’t really matter either because then I wouldn’t want to know those people any way.

Me: Wow Jenny that’s really insightful of you. Thanks for all your help and I hope to talk to you again soon.

Jenny: Thanks for asking Taylor, have a good night.

I think what I really learned the most of from Jenny is to just keep doing the next right thing and everything will work out for the best.

How to Hide a Tattoo

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Sometimes you may need to cover a tattoo on an actor. They may be playing a role that doesn't have any tattoos or the tattoo just doesn't fit the part. I got the idea for this blog post by watching the transformation of Rico Zombie on YouTube. It is a really cool video where see him looking “normal” then you see him rub of thee makeup and you see his tattoos.  The video starts out by asking, “How do you judge a book?” and then you see the commercial, which is what the video is, for Derma Blend. So today I'm going to teach you how to hide the tattoo.

This is the behind the scenes of the Go Beyond the Cover commercial.

Here are the steps to covering a tattooo.

1. Match the make up to the actors skin tone
2. Cover the entire tattoo with a layer of makeup
1. This is just one of many layers you will be applying
3. Powder it 
4. Apply another layer
1. This time blend the edges out
5. Powder
1. If that last layer covered the tattoo completely stop here.
6. Apply yet another layer
1. Yet again blend the edges out
7. Powder
1. If that last layer covered the tattoo completely stop here  
8. Apply a last layer 
1. For the final time blend the edges out 
9. Powder for the last time

• If the tattoo is still showing slightly repeat steps 3-9 until the tattoo is completely covered. 

If you uses a really thick layer you may only need to use one or 2 layers. 

Here's an example of what the process looks like.

This is a very good technique to have. I use it every day for work. I work at Disney and am not aloud to have tattoo showing.  So every morning before work I wake up and use the same technique I just told you about to hide the tattoo on my food. So I can tell you for a fact that it works.

I hope you liked this blog and can put this technique to work.

Here are some websites if you need more help.
Everydayhealth.com
About.com
eHow.com