Make-up HELP??????????????

[Chance Marmalade]

I thought I'd try a clown face for a change and went out and bought a couple items. I decided to stay away from the clown white because of the style I've grown accustomed to which is really hardly any make up at all. But I did want to try a more classic clown face. I bought some Ben Nye Super White face powder (TP-7) but it makes me look a bit more undead than clown. What is this Super White stuff used for?

[Sir Toony Van Dukes]

Chance,

Are you saying that you just used the Super White face powder without makeup? Unless they have a new product, the powder helps to set the makeup. I believe the super white means that it won't turn the white grey or yellow.

[Fitzwilly]

The Super White Powder is a very, very finely ground talcum powder with white pigment added to the powder. With normal talcum they are allowed a percentage of "other mineral materials" to be powdered with the talc rocks, that is why sometimes your face is more greyish and other times more yellow with baby powder. Normally you would use Neutral Set for setting your colors and Super White to set you white makeup.

Chance, by only using the powder you either look like a lost vampire or a "woman of the night" from the turn of the last century or the one before that.

[Fitzwilly]

P.S. Didn't the sales clerks have the foggiest idea what you were doing, or what they were doing for that matter? If they were selling Ben Nye then somebody in that store whould know what is going on, Ben Nye doesn't let just anybody become distributors. Talk to us Chance and we will give you a couple of basic pointers for a light face. I would start with just getting a shade of blush and maybe a light eye-shadow if you want a real light look.

[tim]

Originally Posted by Fitzwilly

Chance, by only using the powder you either look like a lost vampire or a "woman of the night" from the turn of the last century or the one before that.

But that sort of look might fit his character PERFECTLY! :P

[Scruffy]

Just my two cents.
Look for the palest flesh tone makeup that you can find. Say....Porecelian. I pulled up the newest catalog and looked for a light skin tone. Fitz is night. You want neutra set powder (I use the same stuff.) The super white is for Ronald McDonald to set his makeup with. Go back tp the shop, and start testing stuff on the back of your hand.
I suspect that in the silent era, they still used makeup, It is a hunch that the power gag (MAKEUP!! pow!) came from touching up the stuff to stop sweating. As far as shades, no idea. I recently learned that in the Hitchcock classic, Psycho They used Bosco chocolate syrup as a substitute for blood in the shower scene. In the days of black and white no one would now that it wasn't fake blood.
There are other Ben Nye shades available. you can go to their web site: Ben Nye Makeup and request a catalog.

[Chance Marmalade]

Thanks for all the advice! I actually didn't ask anyone at the store and just decided to try some things out! I was actually going for a more silent movie era of pale to simulate the flour or other products at the time. It was an experiment gone awry! I would definitely like to hear more tips on a really lightly made up face. I would like it to be creative and eye catching but not a straight forward Auguste or White Face. Something more natural, but still unique and good for a stage show!

[tim]

Take a look at some of the European clowns of a previous era. Many of them had looks which were little more than what you are already doing, yet communicated "clown" more directly.

In today's world, most of the Ringling clowns have liter looks. And much in the way of contemporary clowning offers a liter look.

Check out David Larible, Charlie Carioli, Bello Nock, Tom Dougherty as a few examples.

[tim]

Also, check out the pictures on the NY Goofs site. Many of them have more of a lite look.

[Fitzwilly]

Chance, when you go back to the store ask them about the pancake makeup. You take a sponge moisten it and rub it around the makeup and put it on your face. It dries and you are good to go. That is more along the lines of what they used back in the vaudville days. It is similar to the face paints that we use today only flesh tones.