In September 2016 I started studying "Level 2 Theatrical and Media Makeup." As excited as I was to start something new and chase something I had only imagined, I was also extremely sceptical as I had no artistic background. I thought this was going to make me the weakest one of the group, after all, I was there to become an "Artist".
The course was split into 3 sections; Fashion Makeup, Theatrical Makeup and Hair. I am no hairdresser and this was probably the part of the course that I often worried about. However, you can't run until you can walk. So we started from basics and worked our way up. We started with simple wash and blow drys, then conditioning treatments, we then started to style hair by adding different types of curls. Gradually, I saw an improvement in my skill. Before this course i could not do one plait but by christmas I was able to do 4 different types of plaits confidently. Then came the dreaded Up Dos. Still something I struggle with but I never thought I would see the day I could complete a bridal hair piece. My tutor had the patience of a saint but we got there in the end. The Hair element is something I saw the most amount of progress in because I walked in with next to no skill but I finished the course confident with things I had been taught.
Theatrical makeup was a huge part of the course, here we learnt how to apply different makeup for stage. The hints and tips I picked up along the year I will carry throughout my career. Again we started with Basic Makeup for stage, this then developed into character makeup by applying prosthetic pieces and facial hair. By then end of the year, I had carried out a half body paint. I had never seen myself enjoying body painting. It is now something I love doing. Sometimes you have to do the things that scare you the most because you don't know where it will take you. Everything we developed was gradual so I never felt overwhelmed or out of my depth.
Fashion makeup was something I had the most amount of passion for. we had to carry out a day, evening and bridal makeup look. We were all used to this kind of makeup so there was nothing we were overly challenged by. our biggest project with fashion makeup was the Fantasy element. This could be as big as we chose to make it. We could be as creative as we wanted to and had no limitations. Everything we had been taught over the year lead to this assessment. Again, our skill had built up over the year so by the time the project can around we were all extremely confident in carrying out this makeup. The fantasy look is still my favourite piece of work to date.
To anyone considering doing this course or something similar, I couldn't recommend the experience enough. Youtube videos and Instagram posts will never compare to what you get out of hands on training. I walked into the college with no artistic background but it wont take you long to realise that you don't need to be artistic to be successful in the makeup world. You just have to be determined and push yourself to find that creative edge. I never thought I would be able to achieve half of the things that I did and there is no prouder feeling then watching your basic animal face paint transform into a full body paint design. At points the course will be hard work but the tears, sleepless nights and early mornings will be worth it when you get sent the certificates to confirm that you are a qualified Makeup Artist. I have now moved on to the Level 3 course where we focus more on the Film and TV side of makeup.
