Issue date: 10/18/07 Section: A&E

Media Credit: Steve Berry Theater student Jenny Cartmill begins removing Halloween makeup from her face. The Department of Theatre & Dance hosted a Halloween makeup workshop on Saturday morning in Dunham Hall.

Saturday, attendees of the first ever Theater & Dance Department's Makeup Workshop learned dozens of creative ways to mask their faces this Halloween with paints, spirit gum and even tea leaves.

Theater and dance professor and makeup artists and Kristi Hansen-McManus, theater costume shop manager, said they offered the workshop to the public this year because they wanted to reach out to the community and help individuals get creative for Halloween.

"We just really wanted to get people excited for makeup and for Halloween," Hansen-McManus said.

Attendees learned multiple ways of adding texture to their faces, such as creating a wart. Hanson and Hansen-McManus showed how cornmeal and cotton balls, latex with Kleenex, and tea leaves can all be used in making a scary, rough and bumpy face. Hanson strongly suggested individuals conduct an allergy test 48 hours before using the latex to confirm they will not have a reaction.

Hanson recommends rubbing the spirit gum on the skin, but also rubbing it in with the product being applied to help the two stick together longer.

"The spirit gum will stay on all day if you really apply it," Jenny Cartmill, a junior and technical design theater major who attended the workshop, said.

While only quick and easy Halloween makeovers were applied Saturday, Hanson said for a show, or more serious occasion, applying makeup could take up to an hour or two. While the Theater Department has an array of different makeup products to be worn by actors and actresses, individuals who want to look scary for Halloween can do so without spending a lot of money.

"Your basic tools are brushes." Hanson said. "For people at home, all you really need to use is inexpensive brushes. Go the mile and try something new, try something unusual."



Makeup tips:

- There are a number of Halloween shops in the area that carry specialized makeup primarily used for the stage. These products can be very helpful in creating a unique makeup design.

- Research. Once you have decided on your character and his or her look, find visual examples of makeup ideas you can look at while doing your makeup.

- Don't just use makeup. Visit your local craft or fabric store for ideas to make your design three-dimensional (i.e. feathers for an owl or bird, faux fur to add to an animal design, etc.)

- Don't rely on Halloween makeup. Visit your local drug store or makeup counter and look for exciting colors in powders, creams and pencils.

- Practice your makeup design a couple of times before the big night. This will allow you to make changes and not be rushed Halloween night.

Page 1 of 1

Article Tools