Hello,
I am seeking input on clowns having a top lip. I am a member of two alleys. One approves and one does not. I say anything goes today as long as it is not obscene or offensive.Seeking advice!!
Big Smile:lol:

I believe it's more what suits your characture, some have red while others have black lips, And at conference I've seen some with top lip, I may be mistaken but I believe Pinky has a top lip.

Two of the most famous clowns in the world both have a top lip--Bozo and Ronald McDonald!! 8-)

I've been told that having no top lip makes you look like you are smiling all the time, even if you're not smiling.
I like not having a top lip mainly because less make around my lips is helpful as I perspire a lot. :-P
Sharone - Jubilee the Clown

I was taught that your clown makeup should accentuate your natural features. One of the things that is common to darn near everyone is that when you smile, your upper lip does not move. Try it in a mirror! the bottom lip and the corners move, but the top lip doesn't move much (it often actually gets smaller when smiling).

My teachers refered to the big red upper & lower lips as "scary halloween clown" or "watermelon smile." Ronald McD may have it - but he's really kinda scary looking.

Jubilee - try "NoSweat" by ProKnows. It's AMAZING. I've gotten it at Clown Antics (http://www.clownantics.com) and at ProKnows (http://www.proknows.com).

:-D

I think that it really does depend on the character, though I don't like the top lip as is done by most clowns. I kind of agree that it makes them look scary. Maybe Ronald and Bozo pulled it off but any other clown I've seen that way has been a bit intimidating to me and I like clowns. :-)

With that said, I do paint my top lip with my character but it is different from the cheap "halloween clown" look as mentioned in other replies. <http://www.funcalgary.com/patches/index.html>

Point being, it's not really what you do but how it's done. As long as we're honest with ourselves we'll end up with a good result. :-D

The whole idea of keeping the top lip white is to make your face more expressive. It simply conveys your facial expression better. I've tried it both ways and top lip white wins for sure. Remember that a clown's face is in motion. Top lip red may look pretty for a pose or a snapshot, but you want to concern yourself with what it does when you change from happy to sad to angry to surprised to etc etc. Remember that makeup is a tool, not a decoration.

Yes, Ronald McD has a top lip of red, but Ronald is on TV, not in the child's living room. (He doesn't have too many expressions anyway. Ever seen Ronald actually make anyone laugh?)

A closing thought: You said that one club approves and one does not. It is my contention that any club or group that would deign to TELL someone what makeup style is acceptable is NOT promoting clowning as an art. Art is and individual thing that is different for everyone. Listen politely, then do what your gut tells you.

Hey everyone!
I don't have any top lip when in make-up. It took several
tries but my character's face finally is "finished. The Auguste fleshtone make-up covers my top lip and my bottom lip is red. Mercy Me also has a few freckles. ;-) Always wished I had them in real life now my "other side"
can have them.

I am not partial to black lips all the way around. Red either for that matter. I was taught no top lip, except white or flesh-tone. As long as you don't end up looking like one of those cheap, scary clown dolls, your character make-up is your own. :-D