Category Archives: Stage Makeup Class

Classes, Distance Education, Makeup Designs for Theatre & Film, Stage Makeup Class

STAGE MAKEUP CLASS PAGES 58: Cuts and Bruises Makeup [Assignment]

[This page is part of a mirror of my Canvas learning system pages I created for my Drama 112 Intro Stage Makeup class at DVC.  If you want to use this content for another Canvas class shell you can find it in Canvas Commons by searching for “Tara Maginnis” and you can download all or part of this directly into your shell with all the extra cool formatting of colored divider lines, right side embedded Giphy animations, etc. already put in, if you are working with a different system, it is ok to copy and paste from here, and then customize the pages as you need  for your classes].

Apply at least 3  different types of Injury Makeup (Cuts, Burns, Bruises, Bullet Holes, Peeling Skin, burst pustules from disease, post-mortem decay, etc.) to your face and/or body or your model’s face and have Tara or the TA’s photograph it and upload for grading, or if at home, photograph it yourself. (Zombie decay makeup is ok.)

A group of DVC makeup student friends pose together in a comic horror pose with FX injury makeup.

If you  have dark skin, do not freak out that this type of makeup does not show up for photos on your skin as easily as it does on pale people.  Push the contrast as much as you can, especially with your highlight colors like yellow or orange, or consider going full zombie undead with bits of skin peeling up in pale peach/pink shades like something from Walking Dead or Lovecraft Country. 

Regardless of skin tint, try to also get some sort of fun, scary, silly or other “character” photo of the makeup to share on your social media.   Take LOTS of photos from many angles and post at least one overall picture, plus at least one clear close-up shot of each individual injury to the link below. If you have a friend or family member do your photos get them to go in close up so you record the details.

DVC makeup class student posed with cuts, bruises and bite marks applied to neck.

If you have problems getting the wax off, use thread (or even better dental floss) to “slice” it away from your skin.  Then take a moist washcloth and zap it in the microwave to hot-massage the wax bits off!

Classes, Distance Education, Makeup Designs for Theatre & Film, Stage Makeup Class

STAGE MAKEUP CLASS PAGES 57: Research on Cuts, Bruises and Other Injuries [Assignment]

[This page is part of a mirror of my Canvas learning system pages I created for my Drama 112 Intro Stage Makeup class at DVC.  If you want to use this content for another Canvas class shell you can find it in Canvas Commons by searching for “Tara Maginnis” and you can download all or part of this directly into your shell with all the extra cool formatting of colored divider lines, right side embedded Giphy animations, etc. already put in, if you are working with a different system, it is ok to copy and paste from here, and then customize the pages as you need  for your classes].

  DVC Student in severe injury makeup

Research online or in books for other makeup methods for creating bruises, cuts, burns, scars, etc. (Or you can search for images of real injuries to replicate) This is your opportunity to learn about more techniques than those covered in the official class video.  The internet is filled with TONS of great how to pages and videos on this topic so you can learn more. Gather together some of your source material and do a “Print Screen” capture of the web page(s) or video(s) you intend to use for inspiration. (You can do this on a PC by holding down the “Windows” key to the left of the space bar and hitting the “prt sc” key next to the “delete”.)  Upload the captures through the image upload link below.  Paste the URLs of any sites you find that were not on the previous page into the URL upload so I can add the link for future students!

Makeup student who has examples of 7 different types of injury makeup sampled on her face.

Want a free downloadable booklet on Trauma Makeup with 4 chapters from 4 Theatrical makeup books from Routledge (the folks who publish many of the best theatre tech books) ?  Go sign up for their mailing list and you can download it https://www.routledge.com/go/download-your-guide-to-trauma-makeup-for-theatre-and-filmLinks to an external site. 

Classes, Distance Education, How-to, Makeup Designs for Theatre & Film, Stage Makeup Class

STAGE MAKEUP CLASS PAGES 56: Watch Injury Makeup Video(s)!

[This page is part of a mirror of my Canvas learning system pages I created for my Drama 112 Intro Stage Makeup class at DVC.  If you want to use this content for another Canvas class shell you can find it in Canvas Commons by searching for “Tara Maginnis” and you can download all or part of this directly into your shell with all the extra cool formatting of colored divider lines, right side embedded Giphy animations, etc. already put in, if you are working with a different system, it is ok to copy and paste from here, and then customize the pages as you need  for your classes].

This is the official class how-to video: 

This video covers a bunch of different techniques.  But, for this assignment you are also required to hunt down additional how-to web pages or videos to supplement this.    You are not required to do a makeup rendering, but you must do some research.   Happily, I can point you towards some links and videos recommended by students in the past:

For example, Spring 2020 during the lockdown we concentrated on accessing F/X recipes that used normal household products like soap, Vaseline, cotton balls, T.P., cheesecloth and Kleenex as well as food products like syrup, food color, egg white, gelatin, flour, oatmeal, etc. because students had no access to the latex or silicone makeup products we keep at DVC.  The results of this were promising, as frankly, every FX makeup before WWII was done with items like these, and those you already have in your kit (spirit gum & wax).  Now you can easily get more exciting stuff like latex, silicone, (and perhaps even the great old-time product rigid collodion), but this costs $$$, and you are starving students, so this stuff is optional. 

These famous movie makeup fx designs were made using spirit gum, wax and those household items mentioned above (and wounds are even easier):

Boris Karloff as the Mummy
Lon Cheney in his Phantom of the Opera Makeup holding his kit
Makeup by Lon Cheney in Phantom of the Opera
Makeup for Max Schrek in Nosferatu
Man in the Moon makeup from Georges Melies "A Voyage to the Moon"

So here are some web pages of text & pictures tutorials we found:

You can also research in books for other makeup methods for creating bruises, cuts, burns, scars, etc. (Or you can search for images of real injuries to replicate) This is your opportunity to learn about more techniques than those covered in the class video.  The internet is filled with TONS of great how to pages and videos on this topic so you can learn more. Back in 1996 when I first went on the internet (and it was pretty primitive) even then, this topic was the single biggest theatre makeup topic to be found on it.  Gather together some of your source material and submit it in the Injury Makeup Research Assignment (on the next page).    You can also find lots of great videos on this at my links list here:

Bruises Cuts and Injury Makeup for Dark, Medium, and Light Skin(Links to an external site.)This one has lots of good options, including unique uses for q-tips and press on nails….

The 5 Minute Crafts YouTube channel actually has even more Halloween makeup tutorials that use household stuff.Links to an external site.

Your kits have a little tub of Scar Wax, but if you need a lot more, here are the household products you can use to make more.  Students in past semesters have often had better results with making their own custom made and colored scar wax using household stuff. 

Classes, Distance Education, Makeup Designs for Theatre & Film, Stage Makeup Class

STAGE MAKEUP CLASS PAGES 55: Activities: Bruises, Cuts and Burns

[This page is part of a mirror of my Canvas learning system pages I created for my Drama 112 Intro Stage Makeup class at DVC.  If you want to use this content for another Canvas class shell you can find it in Canvas Commons by searching for “Tara Maginnis” and you can download all or part of this directly into your shell with all the extra cool formatting of colored divider lines, right side embedded Giphy animations, etc. already put in, if you are working with a different system, it is ok to copy and paste from here, and then customize the pages as you need  for your classes].

DVC Student with makeup as a murder victim
DVC Student with wound makeup with face in a silent scream
DVC student dressed in widows weeds with facial injuries like the undead
  • Watch Cuts & Bruises Videos and some pages and videos on Home Recipes for Makeup FX.
  • Research how-to info on injury makeup.
  • Do free-form Cuts & Bruises Makeup (no rendering required).
  • Have Tara take photos of your makeup.
  • Upload your pictures of research, & makeup to Assignments.
Classes, Distance Education, Makeup Designs for Theatre & Film, Stage Makeup Class

STAGE MAKEUP CLASS PAGES 54: Week 6 Schedule

[This page is part of a mirror of my Canvas learning system pages I created for my Drama 112 Intro Stage Makeup class at DVC.  If you want to use this content for another Canvas class shell you can find it in Canvas Commons by searching for “Tara Maginnis” and you can download all or part of this directly into your shell with all the extra cool formatting of colored divider lines, right side embedded Giphy animations, etc. already put in, if you are working with a different system, it is ok to copy and paste from here, and then customize the pages as you need  for your classes].

•Fill in Date: Group 1: Angry Aged Character makeup rendering due at beginning of class.  Angry Aged Character Makeup, completed in class.  Group 2: View Angry Aged Character Video.

•HOMEWORK: WATCH YOUTUBE VIDEOS ON HOW TO REPLICATE MORE INJURY AND HORROR FX MAKEUP OR ON REAL INJURIES

•Fill in date: Watch Cuts & Bruises Videos Group 2: Angry Aged Character makeup rendering due at beginning of class.  Angry Aged Character Makeup, completed in class.

Classes, Distance Education, Makeup Designs for Theatre & Film, Stage Makeup Class

STAGE MAKEUP CLASS PAGES 52: Congratulations on making it to the end of Week 5!

[This page is part of a mirror of my Canvas learning system pages I created for my Drama 112 Intro Stage Makeup class at DVC.  If you want to use this content for another Canvas class shell you can find it in Canvas Commons by searching for “Tara Maginnis” and you can download all or part of this directly into your shell with all the extra cool formatting of colored divider lines, right side embedded Giphy animations, etc. already put in, if you are working with a different system, it is ok to copy and paste from here, and then customize the pages as you need  for your classes].

 You got your ANGER On!  Animation of Man screaming Angry Mad

Classes, Distance Education, Makeup Designs for Theatre & Film, Stage Makeup Class

STAGE MAKEUP CLASS PAGES 51: Veg Out and Watch Some Videos on Cosmetics in History

[This page is part of a mirror of my Canvas learning system pages I created for my Drama 112 Intro Stage Makeup class at DVC.  If you want to use this content for another Canvas class shell you can find it in Canvas Commons by searching for “Tara Maginnis” and you can download all or part of this directly into your shell with all the extra cool formatting of colored divider lines, right side embedded Giphy animations, etc. already put in, if you are working with a different system, it is ok to copy and paste from here, and then customize the pages as you need  for your classes].

You are thinking right now: “Ok…….we keep getting these.  Is there going to be a test later?  Should I take notes?  Why isn’t there a quiz right after the “Veg Out”?  What are we expected to do with these????!!!!”

Be Calm.  There is no test, no quiz, and you can skip these videos if you don’t have time for them.  These are all just cool food for thought that you may enjoy.  I find the more I learn factually about faces the better I can see them, work with them, and achieve our ideal of enlightenment.  So, I share these with you so you may do the same…. if you have the time, watch and enjoy. 

If you do not, chill, and repeat Your Mantra: There is NOTHING Wrong With My Face!

Repeat Your Mantra: "There is NOTHING Wrong With My Face!"
Classes, Distance Education, Makeup Designs for Theatre & Film, Stage Makeup Class

STAGE MAKEUP CLASS PAGES 50: Angry Aged Character Makeup

[This page is part of a mirror of my Canvas learning system pages I created for my Drama 112 Intro Stage Makeup class at DVC.  If you want to use this content for another Canvas class shell you can find it in Canvas Commons by searching for “Tara Maginnis” and you can download all or part of this directly into your shell with all the extra cool formatting of colored divider lines, right side embedded Giphy animations, etc. already put in, if you are working with a different system, it is ok to copy and paste from here, and then customize the pages as you need  for your classes].

Ice Queen Makeup

  • Apply the Angry or Negative themed Aged Character Makeup to your face (or your model’s face) based on your makeup rendering.
  • Go to the hallway with your rendering and have Tara take your photos.

Evil Queen makeup and rendering
  • If you do your makeup at home, give yourself over to doing a serious photo shoot on this project, because (in my experience), this makeup is often the one where the ideas you have been absorbing for weeks finally “click” and people do a great makeup.  Give yourself time to get some perfect clear photos from many angles (including with your rendering) and upload at least the best 3 to this assignment. Dig up a bit of impromptu costuming and/or props from around your house for best results in your home photo shoot. It is OK to have a friend take your photos, but if they do, MAKE THEM WATCH THE VIDEO BELOW!!!

Angry Aged Woman makeup
  • This is a reminder of how to get good photos of your work:

Classes, Distance Education, Makeup Designs for Theatre & Film, Stage Makeup Class

STAGE MAKEUP CLASS PAGES 49: Angry Aged Character Makeup Rendering [Assignment]

[This page is part of a mirror of my Canvas learning system pages I created for my Drama 112 Intro Stage Makeup class at DVC.  If you want to use this content for another Canvas class shell you can find it in Canvas Commons by searching for “Tara Maginnis” and you can download all or part of this directly into your shell with all the extra cool formatting of colored divider lines, right side embedded Giphy animations, etc. already put in, if you are working with a different system, it is ok to copy and paste from here, and then customize the pages as you need  for your classes].

Angry Age Makeup shown on a makeup student next to her Makeup Rendering

Definition: Makeup rendering- drawing of a makeup design one intends to execute

 Draw a color makeup rendering on one of your personalized face outline sheets, a generic outline sheet. or freehand, or with computer software of your planned Angry or Downbeat Aged Character Makeup Design. You may base your Angry or Downbeat aged character on a character from a play, or novel, or a real person.  Any character is fine so long as they use elements of one or more downbeat emotions like anger, frustration, hate, disgust, fear, sadness, etc. in the design. It is OK to alter or even abandon your design if you find there are problems once you try it on your face, but still do a rendering.  Bring your rendering out in the hallway to be photographed with your makeup.  If you do this project at home, photograph your rendering (preferably alongside your finished face makeup as shown above).  Submit the photo through the link below . Remember afterwards to also to save any research you did as well as the rendering assignment into your digital Makeup Morgue  so you build up your morgue/portfolio gradually and easily over the course of the semester.

Classes, Distance Education, Makeup Designs for Theatre & Film, Stage Makeup Class

STAGE MAKEUP CLASS PAGES 48: Watch Angry Old Age Character Makeup Video(s)! 

[This page is part of a mirror of my Canvas learning system pages I created for my Drama 112 Intro Stage Makeup class at DVC.  If you want to use this content for another Canvas class shell you can find it in Canvas Commons by searching for “Tara Maginnis” and you can download all or part of this directly into your shell with all the extra cool formatting of colored divider lines, right side embedded Giphy animations, etc. already put in, if you are working with a different system, it is ok to copy and paste from here, and then customize the pages as you need  for your classes].

This is the official class how-to video.  Again it has pieces of advice that apply to all skin colors, ages and gender identities, but you may want to watch more than this video of you don’t happen to be a middle aged white chick, and/or want to express a downbeat emotion other than anger :

Happily, I have found a number of other videos of different sorts of age makeup for different downbeat types of characters and different types of faces! Scroll down to see if you find any you think you’d like to watch!

This one is based on the “Witch” disguise of the evil Queen in Snow white which looks very predatory:

This makeup is inspired by the same Disney character:

and yes, a third makeup inspired by the same animated character from Snow White:

This seems to be a nice character with a very sad looking face:

This makeup is kind of attractive looking, yet emphasizes a look of disapproval:

More sad than angry:

Woman does a great Angry Scrooge with a false nose:

Not actually a tutorial, but an inspiring slideshow of all the old ladies in a production of The Madwoman of Chaillot:

This one combines Age makeup with Female to Male Transformation!: