Monday, 10 November 2014

Contemporary interpretations of Elizabethan Makeup

In today's lesson, we were given two images of modern Elizabethan makeup and we have to choose one of them and create a modern Elizabethan makeup look on our assessment partner inspired by the image I have chosen. On below was the image that I’ve chosen in lesson. The reason I pick this photo is because I like how the orange eye shadow, the blush and also the brownish colour lips stand out from the white complexion on the model's face and also how it gives a very soft texture to the look. 
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtF_2wkA5ZKyT050FYDcbRLD6OrSe7-yoOB_d2UG1FRy1b50E5Iz8kp98aX8cfSG6OcR-d06SaE0BCjWFQAcgU85B3MH3Q1eVZe_giyTgILtNwLpY1XH9GsSvftLFh476GQekmKV2HxXg/s1600/Vogue-Italia-September-2005-1.jpg

Equipments:
ü  Cleanser, toner and moisturizer
ü  Cotton pads
ü  Cotton buds
ü  Clips
ü  An apron
ü  A steel palette
ü  A metal spatula
ü  A sponge
ü  A puff
ü  A pritt stick
ü  Loose Powder
ü  Rich liquid foundation (White base)
ü  A foundation brush
ü  An angle brush
ü  A blush brush
ü  A powder brush
ü  An eye shadow brush
ü  Blush palette
ü  Lip palette
ü  Eye shadow palette
Step 1: Set up the area and get all the products ready. Ask model if she has any allergies and was she wearing contact lenses. Told your model that you are going to wash your hands before getting started. Put the apron on the model. Clip the model’s hair away from the face as not to make her hair greasy and then cleanse tone and moisturize the model’s face before applying makeup. Make sure the eyebrows are clean and dry. You can apply the toner before getting started to make sure the eyebrows are clean.

2: Use the metal spatula to scrape out some glue and put it on the back of your hand. Remember to apply quickly on the brows as the glue will dry quickly. Apply the glue using the metal spatula so the glue will not stick on your fingers.
3: Apply the glue on the eyebrows in opposite directions to the hair growth first and then directions to the hair growth. This will make sure all the areas on the brows are cover with glue and smooth the hairs down (making the brows go flat and smooth). Press hardly on the eyebrows with your finger following the directions of the hair growth, to make the hairs are as flat as possible. Use the cotton bud and wet it with water to remove excess glue around the eyebrows.
4: Repeat applying the glue and press the eyebrows hardly until the hairs are as flat and as smooth as you want it to be. After complete one side of the eyebrow, do the other side as well.
5: Because the pritt stick is smooth, it gives a shiny effect under the makeup so in order to avoid this happen, when the glue is a little bit tacky, apply powder and press on top of it with a puff.
6: Apply the rich liquid foundation (white base) to cover the colours on the eyebrows, face, neck and ears. Because I think after I’ve applied the white foundation on the face, it looks a bit dry, so I have wet the sponge and dip it on top of the base.
7: After that, use the red colour blush on the blush palette and apply it to the apples of the cheeks using a blush brush.
8: I have mixed the pink and yellow colour on the eye shadow palette to create an orange colour eye shadow and I have applied it to the eye lids with an eye shadow brush.
9: Finally, I have applied a brownish red lip colour from the lip palette with an angle brush.
Thoughts about the lesson:
I’m impressed about the modern Elizabethan makeup look I’ve done in this lesson and I really like the colours on the lips and also the eye shadow that I’ve done on my partner. I found the eyebrows that I’ve done this time is better than last lesson. In order to improve next time, I should put a few more layers of glue to smoothen the brows even more as after I’ve applied the white base over the brows, it does not look as smooth and as flat as I want it to be. Also, I can put more white base on the face.
Model: Mihaela Solomei
 


John Galliano Fall/ Winter 2009 Fashion Show

 
John Galliano is a famous British fashion designer and in his Fall/ Winter 2009 Fashion Show, I found the makeup look links to the Elizabethans as it features white complexion, thin eyebrows, red lips and rosey cheeks. Pat McGrath is the makeup artist of this show and I like how she includes the gold eyeshadow on the makeup look which also links to the upper class Elizabethan as gold is one of the important colour to show nobility and high status in society. By using the gold, grey and silver eyeshadow on the looks, it makes the styles more elegant. Pat McGrath uses the glue to make the eyebrows flat and smooth which is the techniques we have learnt in lesson. I also like how she uses white eyelashes on the makeup and it stands out from the grey eyeshadow on the crease. As it is a Fall/ Winter Catwalk show, the white eyelashes also gives a snowy and icy effects. Some of the lips makeup just focusing on the middle part which I think is very unique and beautifully done and it creates a red heart shape on the lips as you can see the second photos on below.
 

 
http://www3.pictures.stylebistro.com/it/John+Galliano+Fall+2009+Details+kP5k9jLCniQl.jpg
http://www1.pictures.stylebistro.com/it/John+Galliano+Fall+2009+Details+rntXmuG8WODl.jpg
http://www4.pictures.stylebistro.com/it/John+Galliano+Fall+2009+Details+JEziGBgVvV0l.jpg

Sunday, 9 November 2014

Ellis Faas

http://www.elle.com/cm/elle/images/G5/Beauty-News-Ellis-Faas-Makeup-Line-Lands-Stateside-mdn.jpg
Ellis Faas
http://vimeo.com/109956784
On above is a link of Ellis Faas's short film 'Identity Revealed' and she is the makeup artist, film maker and also the photographer for the film. She was asked to create this film for the new exhibition,' Magical Africa- Masks and Sculptures from Ivory Coast. The Artist Revealed' at De Nieuwe Kerk in Amsterdam and inspired by the traditional masks from Ivory Coast. After I watched the film, I really like how Ellis uses different styles and makeup looks to transform different characters and identities for the models. I also like the way she asked the models to do different movements to show and express the feelings of each characters. The background music adds a mystery mood to the film and the dark background stands out the models' makeup looks and styles which make the film more effective. Also, I think it is very clever that there are three models show at each scene and they appear slowly so people will see the looks clearly and will not miss out any part of the film. The most unforgettable scene for me in the film is one of the girl appeared with a face covered with different colours of wire and then she started to wrap around her head and covering her face with black wire. I really like the ideas Ellis Faas shows different people's identities through the use of various materials and how she wants to present the ideas that humans use mask ( such as ornamental elements ) to hide their true identity.
 
Ellis explains her approach of the film:
"Since ancient times, humans have been using masks - in order to express power and authority; to feel self-confident; to stand out or to hide behind; to not be recognised and disappear into the masses. Not only by traditional masks, but also by disguising and ornamental elements such as clothing, jewellery, hair and makeup. But can one truly change one's identity, or is it merely a temporary transformation? And who or what defines someone's true identity? Is it the mask, is it the human being behind the mask, or maybe even the creator of the mask?"

http://www.ellisfaas.com/uploads/Portfolio/015.jpg
I have found this makeup style on Ellis Faas's website and I like the way Ellis Faas just did half of the model's face covered with powdery texture while leaving the half of the face smooth and clean. It also creates a gradient effects on the face while black to grey and then white. The other side of the face goes from lights to shadows and the two textures create contrasts within the face. I also like the lighting on the photo which specifically focuses on the middle of the face and it enhances even more the gradient effects on the model's face.

Sources:
http://vimeo.com/109956784
http://vimeo.com/109812422
http://www.ellisfaas.com/

For me, who is the New Elizabethan?

Elizabeth David
http://www.standard.co.uk/incoming/article8776143.ece/alternates/w620/elizabeth-david.jpg
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/8/8b/Elizabeth-David.jpg/220px-Elizabeth-David.jpg
c. 1960
Elizabeth David was a British cookery writer who was born in 1913 and died in1992. Her articles and books were strongly influenced on British cooking and the art of home cookery has become popular. Her books and articles are about traditional British dishes and European cuisines. The reason I choose Elizabeth David as the New Elizabethan is because of what she did during her lifetime.

Elizabeth David was born to an upper class family which is the same as Queen Elizabeth I. When Elizabeth David was a teenager, she enjoyed painting and her parents sent her to Paris and studied a course which related to literature, architecture and history. She was able to speak French and German as well which links to Elizabeth I as she liked literature and can speak other different languages. When she went back to England, she socialised with upper class young women and the young English men she met did not appeal to her, so she decided to get better and rather being an artist, she became an actress. After she become an actress, she falls in love and ran off with a married man, but the marriage didn't last long. It is similar to Elizabeth I because it related to the love story of Elizabeth I and Robert Dudley. But the only difference is that Elizabeth I didn't know that Robert Dudley was married already.

In 1942, David has got an infection that affected her feet, so she spent weeks in the hospital and decided to give up her job in the cypher office. Then she moved to Cairo and set up the Ministry of Information's reference library. At that period of time, she met many famous people such as Lawrence, Alan Moorehead, Bernard Spencer, etc. During her time in Cario, she had a number of affairs and several of young men fell in love with her. But David enjoyed to be with them but she did not fall in love. This is similar to Queen Elizabeth I as after the affair with Robert Dudley, Elizabeth I was known as the Virgin Queen and said she won't married anyone. But the difference between David and Elizabeth I is that when David was in her thirties, she worried about being a spinster, so she accepted one of the man call Tony David who proposed to her.

During her lifetime, she has won many awards such as the Glenfiddich Writer of the Year award for her 'English Bread and Yeast Cookery' book, a fellow of the Royal Society of Literature in 1982, a CBE award in 1986, etc. Elizabeth David is revered by many people from nowadays still, just like Queen Elizabeth I as in 2013, her portrait was one of the series of first class stamps issued to celebrate the centenary of ten Great Britains.

Sources from:  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elizabeth_David

Saturday, 8 November 2014

The Taming of the Shrew

http://www.shakespearefilms.com/images/taming-of-the-shrew.jpg
'The Taming of the Shrew' (Shakespeare Retold) is a BBC comedy and romance TV drama broadcasted in 2005. David Richards is the director of the drama, the play is written by William Shakespeare and the screenplay is written by Sally Wainwright. The drama is about Katherine Minola, who is a successful politician but her overdramatic character and bad temper are the main reason which has left her being single even when she is thirty- eight years old. Kate has got a beautiful, popular model sister, Bianca, who is completely different compare to Kate. Bianca's manager, Harry, wants to marry her, but Bianca don't want to, so she makes an excuse that she won't get married until her sister get married. In order to get Kate married as soon as possible, Harry finds his friend, Petruchio and bribes him with her money to meet and marry Kate. The later of the film is about the relationship between Kate and Petruchio and how they finally fall in love with each other.

The characters in this drama reminds me a lot of Elizabethans features and I have chosen two characters and explain why I think they link to the Elizabethans for me.

Shirley Henderson as Katherine Minola

http://mmimageslarge.moviemail-online.co.uk/SHREW-08.jpg
http://www.bbc.co.uk/drama/shakespeare/tamingoftheshrew/images/photogallery/340x255/04.jpg 
  • Kate always dresses all black outfit in the drama which symbolise professionals and authority. In the Elizabethan era, black is a important colour to symbolise people's nobility and only upper class people would wore black.
  • One of the scene at the beginning of the drama when Kate was walking across the corridor of where she is working, the music is the same as the music I've heard when I was watching the film 'Elizabeth' in 1998.
  • The way Kate's walking confidently reminds me of the film 'Elizabeth' in 1998 where Queen Elizabeth I walk confidently as well to show powerful and majesty.
  • Although the drama isn't the same as the Elizabethans rules, but Kate always tied her hair up with a middle parting and it links to the Eliazbethans as they have middle parting which will make their forehead look bigger to represent intelligence. When women in Elizabethan era tied their hair up, it means they were married. While with long flowing hair, it symbolise virginity and youth.
  • The way Kate tied her hair in a bun which is one of the main hairstyle in the Elizabethan era.
  • The black outfit and the wedding dress that Kate wears has also got an open collar and slender waist which are popular among upper class women in the Elizabethan era. ( I found it very interesting as even Kate's wedding dress has got buttons on it as well.)
  • All the buttons on Kate's outfit were buttoned, maybe to show authority and majesty.
  • Kate's makeup is very natural and she has got a pale complexion which relates to the Elizabethans as pale complexion is a sign of wealth and beauty.
  • Kate's white wedding dress was made by silk and it links to upper class people in the Elizabethan era as white symbolised wealth and nobility and silk were very expensive at that time.
  • Kate says that she doesn't want to get married at the beginning and it links to Queen Elizabeth I as she married no one.
I found one of the scene at the beginning very interesting is even when Kate is eating her lunch, she still carries her piles of work with her which shows her character that she is a person who focuses on her works and work very hard.

Jaime Murray as Bianca Minola

http://mmimageslarge.moviemail-online.co.uk/TAMING-SHREW-UNIT-10.jpg
  • Bianca always wears her hair down in the drama which in the Elizabethan era, it symbolise youth and virginity.
  • Bianca's skin are very smooth and she always dress beautiful because she cares about her image as she is a popular model. It links to Queen Elizabeth I because Elizabeth is the beauty standards of the Elizabethans and she also cares about her image as well.
  • The paparazzi also symbolise that Bianca is popular person, like Queen Elizabeth I because many Elizabethans follow her image.
  • She often wears gold jewellery which symbolise wealth and gold was only worn by upper class people in the Elizabethan era.
  • In one of the scene where Bianca wears white fur with her boyfriend which represents wealth. Fur and the colour white were very expensive in the Elizabethan era and only upper class people can afford them.
  • Bianca's makeup are similar to Queen Elizabeth I's makeup as she uses rosy cheeks and lips.
  • In Bianca's apartment, there are many pictures of herself hung around showing other people which links to Elizabeth I because she had many portraits painted of her.
BBC official website : http://www.bbc.co.uk/drama/shakespeare/tamingoftheshrew/

MAC Heirloom Mix Collection

MAC released their new collection 'Heirloom Mix' on October this year and when the first time I saw this promo, it reminds me of the Elizabethans as the model on the photo below has got a pale complexion, dark red lips, red cheeks and frizzy hair. Also, the jewel on the models neck are made by pearls which shows the purity and wealth in the Elizabethan era. The model looks elegant and glamorous on the promo photo and the way the model poses in the photo also reminds me of Queen Elizabeth's portraits because in many of Elizabeth's portraits, she poses powerfully to show majesty and confidence. The high forehead that the model has on the photo below is one of the Elizabethans features to show intelligence as well.

http://www.allurabeauty.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/MAC-Heirloom-Mix-Collection-Promo-2.jpg

This Heirloom Mix Collection features royally rich colour which exudes an aristocratic allure and a Queen style.

Friday, 7 November 2014

Master of drawing - Leonardo Da Vinci


http://www.kingsgalleries.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/Leonardo-Da-Vinci.jpg
Leonardo Da Vinci
 
Leonardo di ser Piero da Vinci was a famous Italian painter who was born on the 15th April, 1452 and died on the 2nd May 1519. He also was a sculptor, polymath, mathematician, musician, architect, engineer, inventor, writer, geologist, anatomist, cartographer and botanist. He was considered one of the influential, talented and greatest painters in the world.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leonardo_da_Vinci#mediaviewer/File:Da_Vinci_Vitruve_Luc_Viatour.jpg
The Vitruvian Man
c.1485
This is one of the sketch from Da Vinci's theory and on this sketch, he came up the idea that the arm span of a human body is the same length of the height as you can see on the image, the arm span and the feet fit in the square and a circle perfectly. Although this is a sketch, but it was drawn in details and the lines are seen clearly. 
http://c300221.r21.cf1.rackcdn.com/leonardo-da-vinci-mona-lisa-la-gioconda-c-1503-5-oil-on-panel-77-x-53-cm-muse-du-louvre-paris-1353727572_b.jpg
Mona Lisa or La Gioconda
1503-1505/1507

The Mona Lisa is one of the well-known paintings that he has done and Da Vinci did the portrait perfectly as the fact that there is no sign of over painting on the portrait which is very uncommon to paint on a panel during that time. The portrait was praise by people as the most visited item in the museum.
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/11/Giampietrino-Last-Supper-ca-1520.jpg
The Last Supper
1498
Oil on canvas
Another famous painting is the 'The Last Supper' which is also an influential paintings of the Renaissance. The painting was a scene of the last meal shared by Jesus with his disciples before his death and Da Vinci specifically focus on the moment where Jesus has said ' one of you will betray me'.
 
http://www.ibiblio.org/wm/paint/auth/vinci/ermine.jpg
Lady with an ermine
1483-90
Oil on wood
The 'Lady with ermine' is one of the portrait that I like from Da Vinci's portraits and the sitter is Cecillia Gallerani. This painting is one of the four women portraits that Da Vinci painted and I like this portrait because of how the ermine symbolise purity and the way Gallerani looks very feminine and elegant while she is holding the ermine.