Initial Ideas

Inspiration

This series of prosthetics makeups created by Bill Turpin are based on the graphic novel "Black Hole" by Charles Burns. It depicts teenagers with Sexually transmitted diseases that transpose into physical deformities.

Because it is based on a graphic novel there is something stylized about the sculpture of the prosthetics. It is not essentially realistic. These deformities would probably never look like this in real life. And I quite like that about them, because even though the topic is morbid, the final photographs are not gruesome, they are more comical and satirical. However what I really do like about the makeup is the paint and application. The fact that the prosthetics such as the antenna and the tumours match the skin tone of the model, and the subtle paint job of the soreness and the veins, which still make the makeup somewhat believable.

This makeup was also printed in an editorial spread for 125 Magazine. The context of the piece is really important to note. As if Turpin had recreated the makeups for film or TV, or if another special FX artist had recreated the portraits they may have designed it differently. with more realistic sculpt, or would he have had to make some of the diseases weep, or the antenna move. This would have affected the design and technical process of the makeup.

CLIENT 125 MAGAZINE | PHOTOGRAPHY MAX OPPENHEIM |
ART DIRECTION BILL TURPIN/MAX OPPENHEIM
HAIR AND BEAUTY MAKE-UP SAM NORMAN

First Tutorial With Carolyne

This sculpture by artist John Isaacs, is very inspiring to me. The piece is supposed to be a comment on how we live, and how it takes over our lives.

What interests me in this piece as well as the allegory and meaning within it, is the sculpt and paint job itself.

The Sculpt is clearly inspired by obesity and tumorous growths on the skin.

I love the way the artist has painted the piece to be realistic, with the sores and the veins on the feet. It really gives the impression that there is a human underneath the mountain.

The Wellcome Trust

London Trip

Idea 1 -

Proposal

Budget

fig. 2.1

fig. 2.2

fig. 2.3

fig. 2.4

What I want to achieve with this project-

fig. 2.5

At this initial stage I don't have a clear idea of what I want to create, but in terms of creative risk taking I want to push my application skills by incorporating the hair and applying a prosthetic into it. This idea is inspired by work from Odd Studio (pictured below).

Continuing on with my work from level 5, I am interested in creating work in the context of campaigns.

After talking with Carolyne, I may create two makeups, one that provokes the grotesque and one that provokes sympathy.

Below are some artworks by the artist Jessica Harrison, they are sculptures created with real skin.

I want to create something inspired by this, where the colouring is natural and could by human, but the actual sculpt would be something abnormal on the skin.

The little details on the sculptures below, such as the folds in the skin, and the tiny hairs on the pillow, all add realism. It is good to note the colours of the skin, especially in the bottom photo, with all the greens, reds and blues.

fig. 2.6

fig. 2.16

fig. 2.18

fig. 2.17

fig. 2.14

fig. 2.15

fig. 2.12

fig. 2.10

fig. 2.13

fig. 2.11

fig. 2.7

fig. 2.9

fig. 2.8

At the beginning of term we took a trip to London to visit some museums, Including The Wellcome Trust Museum and the Grant Museum of Zoo-ology. The latter was not so inspiring for my and this project but I did get a lot of inspiration from The Wellcome Trust Collection.

This Museum's collection focuses of Medicine, science, the body in sickness and health.

In the collection there were many medical and scientific books to browse through.

Below are some photocopies from a book I found about disease at the Museum.

The more research i do the more i am attracted to disease and tumours for this project. Although I haven't yet decided on what route to take. I believe that the photos below may be useful references and starting points. To look at diseases that form on the face and the arms.

Below I found another book that documents details in colour. I believe that the photos above are more realistic, however I do prefer the photos below, the bottom two, especially there is something comical/ satirical and quirky about the images. where they do not look as realistic but more of a parody.

These are also very helpful in terms of colouring and designing and applying the prosthetic.

A few days after the London Trip I got my idea and wrote the proposal (below). It took me about two weeks to get to know what I wanted to do. I feel as though this was time wasted, for my final major project I want to approach it with some ideas ready.

Gafquat 100ml (Screenface) - £10.00

MacWax- £8.00

Pro-gel 10 Silicone 2kg- £39.00

Thixo Additive- 100g- £7.00

RTV 3481 silicone- 1kg plus fast catalyst- £18.00

Cotton- £2

Miscellanious- £30

Products from kit- £50

Total- £164