Brave New World: Final Designs

 

In the end, I decided to stick with the original design as I am very happy with it as is, though I did do a quick sketch to illustrate how the design would continue down the neck for the keloid scarring, I kept it simple but what I though looked pretty as I didn't want to over do it and make it look too busy. I am using a model with short hair so will require no hair styling, though if I find it distracts from the look I'll gel it all back to keep the look very simple but elegant and the focus on the keloid patterns.

I feel confident in my abilities to do this look well and create a beautiful piece of work I can be proud of while still demonstrating my skills as a makeup artist.

 

For my second look I have sketched out roughly the patterns the rest of the scars and red marking will follow as a reference when applying the make up to my model. I'm excited to do this look as I know seeing it finished will look very different to my rough sketches and is more of a full piece of work than my other design as it continue down much more of the body. As my model has long hair, I have considered a few ideas and settled on the idea of keeping it down and curling it, though people may think this will obscure the makeup, I will be using products they won't smudge or be disturbed if hair cover across or rests upon it, so while taking photos I can place the models hair over her shoulders as required to show the makeup as I take the photos.

Once again, I confident in my abilities to do this look, I have practiced a lot with methods of scarification so believe I can create a beautiful look as well as a beautiful set of images involving more than just the face of my model.

Brave New World: 'Scarification' Improvement

Technique:
1) Create gelatin moulds onto acetate
2) Apply moulds to skin using spirit gum
3) Powder area to make sure nothing is sticky
4) Colour match to skin - Apply foundation to moulds and over skin (Discolour scars if desired)
5) Powder to set

I think using this technique has vastly improved my ability to mimic scarification onto the skin and is a method I find far easier and more effective. As this technique doesn't involve latex, there is no pealing during application of the foundation which makes the applying more makeup over the top much easier too. This is definitely the technique I will be using to create my final looks, though may spend more time adding discolouration to the scars as I struggled applying the makeup to myself to practice and was unable to view it as another person.

Brave New World: Idea Development

When designing this look, I created the marking for keloid scarring before adding any colour for the makeup, in the end i decided on a very natural brown look, though it seems very simply, it looks very effective and will most likely use this as one of my final looks or elabourate upon it to create something I find to be more effective. I am very happy with the design of the scarring and think this is also an element I'd definitely like to keep for the final look.

Unlike the last design, this design is using black against a very pale face, though once I drew it out, I find it looks too plain and simple, because of this I'm not as happy with this idea and won't use it in my final look, though my try to combine some part with the first design to create a final look I'll be happy with.

This is the third look I drew up, I tried using the structure of the face as a guide for the scarification to try highlight the face better, adding in some red markings with lip colour to match, though feel the look seems too arranged and not as beautiful as it could be so set out draw another design after it keeping some of the elements I liked but focusing on trying to create a more natural yet beautiful design.

Using some element of the third look I created this face chart keeping the red facial markings and matching it with the lip colour, I also liked the shape of the eye make up so did adjust it somewhat and add brown eye shadow instead to make the make up more natural looking and less harsh. I then added in the marking for scarification fitting around the markings and following around the opposite side of the eye to the other design. I am very happy with how this idea came out and will definitely be using it in my final look, developing it further to continue the marks and scars down the neck, shoulders and back.

Brave New World: Final Ideas Proposal

Throughout my research, I have constantly stuck with the idea of using scarification in at least one of my final pieces, and this is not changing other than the fact I would like the base both of my final looks on using scars to create beautiful and fashionable makeup looks.

One look will be using the art of scarification, applying small gelatin moulds to create patterns across the body with small lumps, not only over the face but continuing down the neck, chest and back. I have already secured my model who has agreed to let me apply makeup down her back to achieve the look I wish to create.

My second look will be creating long keloid scars across the face and down the neck in patterns though also trying to enhance their face shape, such as applying the main patterns down the cheek bone and jaw. I think this could make a very unique by pretty overall look and I'm excited to start planning the look out.

For both looks I am considering including other marking over the body corresponding with the scars but as tattoos or like paint used in tribal where I will texture it as required. I'm looking forwards to experimenting with final makeup ideas and creating the best looks I possibly can.

Brave New World: Making Moulds

There are a lot of different techniques for making moulds, but I would like to focus on ways in which gelatin can be used to create the mould as this will be my main material for all my prosthetic pieces such as scarification for imitating body implants.

Technique for Large Moulds:
1) Select mould
2) Grease with vaseline (so won't bind)
3) Melt gelatin in suitable container in microwave
4) Pour gelatin into mould
5) Leave to set
6) Remove from mould and powder
7) Ready to use

I experimented using a pill packet to create my moulds, but ice cube trays and a variety of other every day items can be used to create large moulds to attach to the body, this technique I find is best for imitating body implants rather than scarification. I have considered if I wanted a certain shape as an implant I would most likely need to press the item into clay to make a mould to use the gelatin in.

Technique for Small Moulds (Scarification):
1) Grease an acetate sheet with vaseline
2) Melt gelatin in bottle (Best to do by placing bottle in boiling water)
3) Squeeze small amounts of gelatin onto acetate sheet to create small drops/lumps
4) Allow to set
5) Remove from mould and powder
6) Ready to use

I really like this technique for creating the bumps for scarification and feel much more comfortable applying these to the body in order to create the look, looking better over all than using rice and latex so this will be the method I use when creating my final pieces. This technique for mould making can also be used to create long raised keloid scars over the skin for creating patterns.

Brave New World: Applying Bald Caps

Technique:
1) Wet the hair - completely
2) Gel hair and flatten onto head (long hair spilt in half and wrap around head - not onto face)
3) Use brush and comb to flatten hair as much as possible
4) Ask model to hold front of bald cap
5) Pull over head - use mirror to keep in center and even
6) Cut to shape of face etc (Do not stretch) - cut off in small sections
7) Spirit gum edges down
8) Colour with face or build upon

After applying the bald cap, I experimented with application of fullers earth on top and coloured spray, I enjoyed this a lot more than I expected I would and now am very willing to consider it as part of my final looks as I am confident I would be able to apply it well enough. The great thing about bald caps is you can build and stick stuff to it, creating a more abstract body modification inspired piece.

Brave New World: 3-D Printing

My previous posts were about Plastic Surgery and Body Implants, since then I have come across an article in the news about 3-D printing and I couldn't help but think about all the advances it could bring into these two body modifications.

(http://img.gawkerassets.com/img/18jal994ekemxjpg/k-bigpic.jpg)

The one thing I think 3-D printing can really help with is the making of prosthetic for people who have lost limbs, eyes, ears etc due to accidents or illness. This can really help those who have found themselves 'disfigured' and greatly build their confidence up again as they are able to look more like how they used to before. Commonly the prosthetic pieces were sculpted, painted and designed all by hand and judging from view, now there are new digital advanced, it's more likely the designs created by the software available will be able to accurately match the body and fit better.

Though 3-D printing will most likely be moved into other areas of plastic surgery as well, helping people redesign their facial or body structure using implants printed and designed with this new technology. As well as printing new shapes and designs for people to implant under their skin in further body modifications.

Though this isn't very relevant to my final looks, I found it very interesting to think upon and wanted to share my opinions towards 3-D printing.


References:
The Times (19th October 2013) How 3-D Printing will change our world. [Online] Available From: http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/technology/techreview/article3896244.ece [Accessed: 20th November 2013]

Brave New World: Body Implants

(http://news.bme.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/03/note-shaped-implant.jpg)

One of the newest forms of body modification is the implant. The implant is is a item, the shape is down to the person, embedded under the skin, pressing against the surface and creating the shape pushing out of the skin. A deep incision is made into the flesh and the item pushed inside under a thick layer of skin.

Creating what appears to be a body implant on someone could be really interesting, if done right could make it appear as though it is embedded in their skin and not applied on top. I will experiment and see if any ideas strike me for my final looks.

Reference:
Housk Randall and Ted Polhemus (2000) The Customized Body. Serpent's Tail. Italy.
Arnold Rubin (1995) Marks of Civilization: Artistic Transformations of the Human Body. Regents of the University of California. Singapore.

Brave New World: Plastic Surgery

One of the most extreme forms of body modification is plastic surgery, though many people look past the fact it is a modification and it is treated as a very normal thing in society due to the large amount of celebrities who have work done.

(http://medicalxtourism.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/Plastic-Surgery-in-Istanbul-Turkey.jpg)

A lot of people use plastic surgery as a way to 'fix' what they dislike about their bodies, unfortunately including a heavy amount of work done to people's faces. Though a lot of people dislike the idea of plastic surgery, it's not always about the vanity of people, it is very common for people who have horrific accidents to receive plastic surgery to help them recover and look they did before the incident. Plastic surgery has a very important role to play in the medical industry helping people cope and get back to normal after an accident, though it doesn't always fix the issue perfectly, it's a big step and helps more than not having the surgery at all.

Though Plastic Surgery is a very common form of body modification and I see how I'd use the idea of it in my final pieces, it doesn't interest me as much as some of the other areas of body modification so I probably won't involve it in my final ideas.

Brave New World: Western Tattoo and Piercing

Unlike Tribal culture, tattoos and piercings aren't a way of celebrating new achievements or life goals unless this is the persons personal reasoning. In the African tribes, it is forced upon them as a right of passage and they wouldn't agree to if there was the choice, so it's strange that Western culture has taken these methods from them and people willing inflict these methods upon themselves.

We are constantly pushing the boundaries and actually have more known piercings than that of the original origins. Stretching has also become very popular among the younger generations, some taking it to extremes and causing themselves many problems by doing so, including ripping their flesh and snapping earlobes. Mostly people use excessive piercings as a way to rebel against society or be more individual, spending into the hundreds to achieve it.

Perhaps more popular than excessive piercings is tattooing, some people spending a couple of hundred just to get one piece. We are in the generation which tattooing has become a normal accessory, a lot of people even just having one small one in a hidden away place. There are a lot of careless people who forget a tattoo is a permanent marking and have come to regret the work done; such as a name or something they had done on a whim, whereas others have tattoos which others find are too much but the owner loves and doesn't regret having done even in old age. Tattoos are very personal and even if the person says they have no meaning behind their tattoo, it reflects who they are and what they are interested in and find beautiful.

I think it could be very interesting to include tattooing in my project, creating a character behind the marking on the skin and creating a story through body art.


Reference:
Housk Randall and Ted Polhemus (2000) The Customized Body. Serpent's Tail. Italy.
Arnold Rubin (1995) Marks of Civilization: Artistic Transformations of the Human Body. Regents of the University of California. Singapore.
Karl Groning (2001) Decorated Skin: A World Survey of Body Art. Thames and Hudson. Germany.
Rufus C.Camphausen (1997) Return of the Tribal: A Celebration of Body Adornment. Park Street Press, Rochester, Vermont. India.