Animal Makeup: Raccoon (or Rocket)

When trying to adjust the features of an animal's face to your own, you have to be willing to work a little unconventionally. Your face may be more elongated than that of your animal, or not quite the same width, but that's ok! It'll still look cool when you're finished! Here's my rendition of Rocket Raccoon from class today:

-ACertainGemini

Bringing A Look To Life: Tips

For my first ever collaboration, our theme is HellBoy: The Golden Army, which features a superb amount of creatures and special effects to bring them to life. When trying to mimic one of these creatures, a particular character, or maybe even something of your own design, it helps to use a process. I'm not trying to knock on people who just wing it, I did that with makeup for years, but conceptualizing and planning definitely does help. I was tasked with bringing HellBoy (which I gender swapped to HellGirl) to life, and this is what I used:

Reference Photos:
Trying to get several angles and views of your character is really important in terms of being consistent and (if authenticity is your aim) getting all the little details. My reference photos were of several different interpretations of the character so I could pick elements that I liked from each one.

 

Face Chart:

I would recommend filling out a face chart if the look is really complex. Those are always great to make side notes on as well, since they're a physical representation of what you want. For this look, I thought out the face chart in my mind, and if you can do that, that's great! But sometimes a physical thing you can hold in your hands and look at definitely helps with the overall direction of the look.  

Execution:
In this stage, if you're a perfectionist like me, just remember that if you mess up, you can start over and try again. This stage is always a learning process anyway.

Final Look:
Honestly, I love how this one came out the first time. However, sometimes it isn't always that simple, and that's to be expected. Remember, practice actually does make perfect.

-ACertainGemini

Tattoo Concepts

When checking out potential tattoo concepts, I love to do 2-D paper layouts of course, but what I also love to do is take a sharpie to whatever portion of the body said-tattoo would go, just to see how it interacts with its environment. Some things look great on paper, but don't look so hot on a person's back or arm. Trying to highlight particular body aspects is also a fun challenge. Here are some tattoo doodles I enjoyed creating very much.

-ACertainGemini

Under the Sea

Throwback to an old look from high school!

-ACertainGemini

Pokemon Cosplay? Yes.

So the first time I went to Naka Kon, I dressed up as Entei, one of the legendary dog pokemon from Pokemon Silver/Gold. As a child, I definitely admired him, especially in the Pokemon movie he was in. His characteristics are strength, ferocity, and loyalty, which as a child (and still) I appreciate. Here are some pictures!

-ACertainGemini

INSPIRATION FOR ALL

Star Wars and Disney Princesses?! Could it get any better? I mean, yeah, it probably could but.. back to the awesomeness! I feel a cosplay coming on! Or perhaps several :) What do you think? Inspiring? If nothing else, these are very well drawn. Give that Deviant Art girl a look. 

-ACertainGemini

Throwback!

Here's a throwback to when I did a bunch of beautiful Halloween faces and had terrible, awful light for virtually. every. picture... I know, I'm sorry. Nonetheless, here they are.

-ACertainGemini

Side Projects = More Creativity

Sometimes, my life consists of things other than makeup. Makeup is actually a side project to change my frame of mind about my industrial design projects, but sometime (and it's about to get confusing) you need side projects for your side projects.

Welcome, you have now entered the Twilight Zone.

So here is a  side project I have been meaning to do that I think everyone can appreciate. I call it "Kawaii Octopus", and like all great things, it came from Pinterest. You're welcome.

-ACertainGemini

Girl on Fire

Kabuki Makeup!

For our period makeup in class, I chose to do a Kabuki mask, which is worn in traditional Japanese theatre. Take a look!

-ACertainGemini

 

Jafar's Final Phase

Here is the final Jafar look, plus some extra tidbits and a shot of me post-goatee. I don't know how men can handle facial hair, I sure can't. Bearded boys, I applaud you!

-ACertainGemini