Make-up time

[Dylan]

I am wondering how long everyone spent developing their current makeup and how long it takes them to apply their make-up.


Development: Probably 3 years, plus constantly updating
Time to Apply: 20 to 30 minutes

Anyone else?

[Wowza]

I'm still developing my look, so I can't give a definitive. As for time to get it on, I average about an hour.

[ibimus]

My face took a day or two of planning, and about 45 minutes to apply, give or take.

[tim]

I've been through at least 3 looks (and will still use any of them, depending upon the circumstances). Everything is always a work in progress.

The first (not counting things which I did as a child in playing around with clown faces or whiteface experimentation pre-Moosecamp 2005 days when I still didn't really know where I wanted to go), was a character look. Mark Renfro put it on me after some discussion as to what I wanted to try out. I think that he also understood inherantly just how incompetant I was, and so wanted to make things as simple as possible. He called it a "5 minute look" and used me as a sort of demonstration to the group of what could be done with my sort of desires that seemed non-traditional from where a lot of others would naturally trend.

One of those desires was to retain my wirey moustache as part of the face. So we just incorporated it and intensified/"funnied up" what was already there. The next day at makeup class it was my turn to apply this same face alone. The five minute look took me about an hour fifteen. I didn't grasp what he was doing to blush up my cheeks, getting a certain shape and coloration. So it took me forever to figure out how to get there. Finally, on show day, I asked him for some help with this so it wouldn't take me so long. He said sure, but decided to make some changes. I resisted, but when Mark Renfro smiles at you and says, "Couldn't we try it just for today?" you hopefully aren't dumb enough to say, "No!" So I relented.

I realized afterword that, while the look still had growth needed, this was something even more simple which I could definitely handle. Recognizing what he had done for me, I thanked Mark that night. But then he took it one step further and noted that with a simple face like this, there were a lot of directions it could go with small changes. I took this as permission to experiment further rather than get stuck in a rut.

I kept playing with details, adjusting little things. I started to study clown faces as much as I could, observing details of what made them work. In the interim, I was exploring character. I came to find that it would be challenging to express some things which were inate in a manner consistent with what this look projected. I was starting to think about going full auguste. But that didn't come together for some time. I'd try this with the mouth, that with the eyes, nothing seemed complete or right.

During this period I took a makeup class with Tony Jones, early 2006. While we stuck with the "European/character" look, I learned a lot of details about technical stuff from his comments to myself and the others. My original look from under Mark was streamlined/improved and this set the course for me to try something entirely different as I understood much more about drawing on the face and following natural lines. He also introduced me to some other makeup products and possibilities. He offered ideas about my face and made suggestions which could bring out these features better. I challenged about things which I saw lacking and we played with possibilities. So my look continued to develop as I experimented more.

One day I put on my nose. And only my nose. I loved how this looked. With my black hair and wirey moustache, and facial structure, complete with a red baseball cap I thought I looked like a mouse. It was REALLY cute. I actually walked around on the streets a couple of times like this to play with character. Off this extremely simplified look, I began to notice my own facial features and their movement better. I saw where makeup would go for auguste. In time, things just fell into place. I had a full auguste look which worked by early Summer of 2006.

Some stuff I do includes work which perhaps would communicate better without a "full clown" appearance. More of a street type thing. Or new vaudevillian. It never quite came together, though. I couldn't figure out where it was. At the Circus Fans convention this past May, I tried out some simplificated costuming ideas one day as my regular attire. It seemed to fit. When I returned, I went back to just playing with simple makeup possibilities. I also decided that in order to accomplish this, I'd have to off the moustache. This was proving a hindrance to that sort of look, and couldn't just be accented without changing character or covered up with a full auguste. So off it came. Calling upon all of the stuff which I had learned and seen over the past couple of years, suddenly, there it was. Which is what you now see as my avatar.

I suppose and expect that there may well be growth, change, and new looks to come. But this is where I am at this point.

How long does each take to apply? This present one and the Euro/character look probably take about 7-12 minutes. They would take less if I did them more. The full auguste, at least a half hour, sometimes as much as 45 minutes. A lot of this is just working on detail, powdering, and such. Again, the more it is used the less time it takes. If I am away from it for awhile, then it will take longer to get things right. The shaping on certain things is always slightly challenging.

[Nettie Belle]

I've only been clowning for about 4-1/2 years but during that time, I've changed several things, but now, I've got the look I want, and it only takes me about 1/2 hour to get it on, providing I have no phone calls or other interruptions during that time. It takes me longer to get all my "stuff" on. When I look at my early clowning pictures, the changes I've made were very much needed!! I'm surprised I didn't send the kids off running frantically to Mom.

I think there is an unwritten rule somewhere, I'm sure that the minute a clown is all ready to go out the door, Mother Nature rings the bell and off to the bathroom I must go, to unDO everything I've just put together.

I allow 1-1/2 hours to get ready because I would rather be ready early than run late. I also allow extra driving time because I am "directionally challenged" and could easily get lost in my garage.

[saphireSue]

as far as directions go, I "randmcnally" everything. I personally think they're better than map quest.

As far as make up goes, I used to use Melron and it took over an hour to get Sue's face on, Switch after a make up class to Ben nye been with it every since and usually take about 30 to get into either my Auguste "Sally" or Whiteface "Sue". But if it's very humid I find it takes longer to get it the way I want it to look. My worst area is the crease inside the eyes. I pat set have it look good double check to see that it's set and usually a crease still shows up, but my eyes are open most to the time so ... Any suggestions on this area?

[tim]

I'd like to try a neat whiteface next. It could suit another side of my character.

[Nettie Belle]

Jim Howle makeup is like cold cream. It goes on so sweetly, it feels like your own skin. It feels like you're putting Cool Whip on because it is so nice. I've tried all the others and I wouldn't use anything else but Jim Howle.

[Fitzwilly]

The face I use now... Let me back up. 1988 until 1999 I was a whiteface. It was an instant face. The first time I put on the makeup things fell into place. It was far from perfect but my mentors were old school clowning and threatical based. In '99 I went to Moosecamp for the first time and switched to Auguste. I found my Auguste face fairly quickly after Tricia took one look at my whiteface and basicly "suggested" I start over, completely over. I wasn't content with this new face for two reasons: 1) I am a slow changer and I was used to being a white face. 2) something was wrong and I couldn't put my finger on it.

For 2000 I was again a whiteface, although a much better looking whiteface it still didn't fit my personality as well as I'd like. At the Midwest Round-Up (coming up again Oct 3-7 in Indianapolis, IN) I put on my auguste face and spent some time with Jim Howle. Aside from a slightly altered shape to the eyebrow the big, and I mean BIG difference came in the form of a question. I had a traditional red mouth with a black outline. Jim said "Are you attached to that red mouth? Have you tried a black mouth and then outlining with a little red?" That was it! That was all it took. Reversing the red and the black in the mouth area.

Now as far as time to apply? if I am in a hurry (and I usually am) between 10 and 15 minutes for the makeup and another 5 to 10 for the complete outfit. Twice this summer I worked late and did a 27 minute turn around including a shower. I prefer a slightly longer time frame to work with though, say 40 minutes total.

[ibimus]

I'm a Mehron girl myself. I am very seriously allergic to petroleum (even the tiniest bit causes a disaster) and Mehron is currently the only professional stage makeup that I trust to not destroy my skin.

Tim! Most definately try a whiteface!