To look attractive
is a never ending desire from the ages for the human
beings. Make up provided the solutions to this problem.
It enhances the positive parts of your beauty and hides
the ugly part cleverly. As the desire to show the beauty
and attraction in different perspectives the demand
for good make up artists began to trickle in. There
are different demands for different occasions, like
daily make up, natural make up, party make up, bridal
make up, Stage make up, make for photography and modeling
and movie and television make up.
The word “Make
up Artist” gained its relevancy in the 1930s
when professional movie production houses felt the
need to give the artists a perfect look for the character
they were playing. Usually make-up artists apply make-up
and style hair for performers and presenters appearing
on film, stage and television (they also help you with
the day-to-day or special occasion or bridal make ups).
The style varies from straightforward, contemporary
make-up and hairdressing to more creative and specialist
techniques.
Make-up artists play a large role, with
important tasks which includes selecting and purchasing
supplies, doing 'corrective' make-up and hair tidying,
as well as applying full make-up, discussing with individuals/
directors / lighting departments the overall effect
that they wan. This also includes lots of research
for styles of hair and make-up, how to add prosthetics
such as false noses and scars, wigs and hair decorations
while doing the make up for movie, television and theatre
production houses. For the professional make up artists
working hours are long and irregular, and include evenings,
weekends and public holidays. The work area is mainly
restricted to indoors.
The job of a make up artist
is very challenging. To become a good make-up artist
he or she should be knowledgeable about a range of
make-up and hair products, most important of all is
that the make up artist should be innovative, artistic,
creative, imaginative and resourceful. The make up
artist should be diplomatic and tactful and should
be able to cope with nervous individuals and performers
and above all make up artist should enjoy working with
a variety of people.
Good make-up artists must be artistically
inclined and must possess a well-developed sense of
colour and form. Imagination, initiative and originality
are important qualities they should possess. Manual
agility is absolutely essential. Since make-up artists
work with many people, friendliness, patience and tact
are essential qualities they must possess. Make-up
artists must be dedicated to their job and be keen
to learn and experiment with original and creative
ideas. Make-up artists can specialize in more than
one field such as model make-up, old-age make-up, fantasy
make-up etc.
The make-up artist first analyzes the
faces of their clients, before they start applying
the makeup. They consider the shape, bone structure,
eye shape and complexion of the clients and the outcome
they have to produce out of it. Make-up sessions can
be very time-consuming, especially when special effects
have to be created, and make-up artists have to stand
on their feet for long periods. It could be expected
of them to work any time of the day or night.
Most
make-up artists are freelance so there is intense competition
for individual contracts. Artists skilled in both make-up
and hair styling have better prospects. Make-up artists
usually enter the profession through make-up/beauty
therapy courses and begin their career in beauty salons.
Many of them start their career in film, stage or television
as an assistant. Training for the make up artists is
mainly on the job. For freelance make-up artists, advancement
depends on establishing a reputation in the business
and progressing onto more high profile productions.
|
