Hey all, I've been busy with work and trying to finish three Halloween costumes, so I don't really have the time for a full blog. So have another video!
This came out back when The Dark Knight first opened, and being the Bat-fan that I am, I ate it up. XD
Hope you enjoy!
(PS, pictures of witch/smoker/hunter may be up tomorrow. :0 )
Friday, October 29, 2010
Wednesday, October 27, 2010
Baman Piderman
I'm pretty sure the entire internet has seen these videos by now, but damn are they some of my favorite things to watch. It also helps that I'm a Bat-fan. If you have time, watch the whole series. :]
Greasepaint and giggles
I used to get makeup ALL over my cowl before I learned how to do my makeup properly. You have to set it with powder, but I don't mean just lightly dusting with a bit, you need to pack it in. It always best to run your finger over your face to check. Even when you think it may be too much, its not. At least for me, heh. I tend to use Bloody Mary White Heat.
First, I pull my hair up into pigtails where the liliripes would be and put them into half-buns. I've got long, thick hair, so the wig cap looks a bit odd, but if you want to use it go ahead! Then I put in my blue contacts. If I try that after my makeup it makes me tear up and it messes everything up!
Next I put the cowl on and tuck tissues/toilet paper into the edges and fold the paper back so I don't smudge the greasepaint onto the cowl when I put it on.
I then outline my mask with white eyeliner on my face and start applying the greasepaint. After one thin layer, I powder extensively. I then apply another layer simply because it gives a nice opaque white and I've got darker skin. And then powder again, of course.
Next I put on two coats of black mascara, and apply black eyeliner. Nothing extravagant, just a little hint to bring out my eyes. Now here's a really cheap but effective way of doing the lips. I put a base of black Ben Nye lipstick, then I take Cheap-o black tube Halloween makeup and a lipstick brush and shape my lips and add a light coat. I find it gives a more solid black than the lipstick itself.
After that I spirit gum the mask to my face, and do minor touch ups if any need to be done.
Finally, I put on the bodysuit, shoes, gloves and wrist ruffles, in that order.
Pop in some bubblegum and grab your giant hammer or pop gun and you're ready to go!
Tuesday, October 26, 2010
Articles of days long past
Back in high school, I was on the newspaper staff. I hated it and I hated interviewing people. So I only wrote columns and reviews, and put together the entertainment pages and compiled "fun" lists and facts.
Anyway, here's a column I wrote for the Senior newspaper, reading it again made me miss a lot of things about high school.
"Armed with my heavily-chained Tripp pants, a multitude of spiked bracelets covering my wrists and one heck of a "get away from me" aura, I started my first day of high school absolutely terrified. Various rumors about high school swam around my head and had been doing so since the end of 8th grade. Would I lose my best friends forever? Would some senior shove me into a locker? Would I really have to write in cursive for every single class?
Of course, those horrible rumors proved to be nothing but freshman fears. I'm still close with the people I entered high school with (even after graduation) and I gained some very close friends in the process. Cursive remained a myth throughout each and every one of my English classes, and I've never to this day been in a locker against my will.
I had some relatively rough times in my life at home and school in the time it took me to go from frightened freshman to sagacious senior, but I came away from that prison-like high school building with quite a few enjoyable memories. My senior year alone was too incredible to forget.
I had some of the best classes and teachers of my life that year. They got me interested in subjects I would have never dreamed of looking into, and helped me further my learning in areas I was already curious about. I made friends with people I never envisioned myself conversing with, and I reconnected with old friends from years ago. My senior year was truly an amazing year.
When faced with the thought of finally leaving the place that had "tormented" and "plagued" me for so much of my life, I was surprised to find that I was afraid instead of excited like many of my friends. I wasn't sure what I would do with myself, with my life. Attend a university that I wanted or a community college that was closer? Leave behind a home, great memories, a boyfriend, or get an education from a community college? More money saved, or more money spent? My indecision left me with no choice. All I knew for sure, was that I would dearly miss the time I had spent in that building, and all of the things, both good and bad I went through in those four years.
Sure people can tell you about their experience in high school, they can use every word in their vocabulary to try and explain it to you, try and make you see through their eyes; they can even show you colorful little rectangles with images of teenagers permanently frozen in an eternal smile or whatever exciting pose they struck when the shutter went off.
However, in the words of the late Hunter S. Thompson, "no explanation, no mix of words or music or memories can touch that sense of knowing that you were there and alive in that corner of time and the world." I can't tell you what my experience in high school was like, and you can't understand what those four years were like for me, what emotions and adventures I went through. I won't try to explain it.
Adorned in a black flowing gown, a black square cap and a diploma in one hand and a jarful of memories in the other, I left my final day of high school absolutely terrified"
Anyway, here's a column I wrote for the Senior newspaper, reading it again made me miss a lot of things about high school.
"Armed with my heavily-chained Tripp pants, a multitude of spiked bracelets covering my wrists and one heck of a "get away from me" aura, I started my first day of high school absolutely terrified. Various rumors about high school swam around my head and had been doing so since the end of 8th grade. Would I lose my best friends forever? Would some senior shove me into a locker? Would I really have to write in cursive for every single class?
Of course, those horrible rumors proved to be nothing but freshman fears. I'm still close with the people I entered high school with (even after graduation) and I gained some very close friends in the process. Cursive remained a myth throughout each and every one of my English classes, and I've never to this day been in a locker against my will.
I had some relatively rough times in my life at home and school in the time it took me to go from frightened freshman to sagacious senior, but I came away from that prison-like high school building with quite a few enjoyable memories. My senior year alone was too incredible to forget.
I had some of the best classes and teachers of my life that year. They got me interested in subjects I would have never dreamed of looking into, and helped me further my learning in areas I was already curious about. I made friends with people I never envisioned myself conversing with, and I reconnected with old friends from years ago. My senior year was truly an amazing year.
When faced with the thought of finally leaving the place that had "tormented" and "plagued" me for so much of my life, I was surprised to find that I was afraid instead of excited like many of my friends. I wasn't sure what I would do with myself, with my life. Attend a university that I wanted or a community college that was closer? Leave behind a home, great memories, a boyfriend, or get an education from a community college? More money saved, or more money spent? My indecision left me with no choice. All I knew for sure, was that I would dearly miss the time I had spent in that building, and all of the things, both good and bad I went through in those four years.
Sure people can tell you about their experience in high school, they can use every word in their vocabulary to try and explain it to you, try and make you see through their eyes; they can even show you colorful little rectangles with images of teenagers permanently frozen in an eternal smile or whatever exciting pose they struck when the shutter went off.
However, in the words of the late Hunter S. Thompson, "no explanation, no mix of words or music or memories can touch that sense of knowing that you were there and alive in that corner of time and the world." I can't tell you what my experience in high school was like, and you can't understand what those four years were like for me, what emotions and adventures I went through. I won't try to explain it.
Adorned in a black flowing gown, a black square cap and a diploma in one hand and a jarful of memories in the other, I left my final day of high school absolutely terrified"
Pre-work entertainment
I want to blog today, but I'm about to leave for work. Bah.
So, for now, have a video. If you haven't watched the Princess Peach Diaries, you need to, this guy cracks me up to no end. He does curse, but come on, what 20-something guy on youtube doesn't?
So, for now, have a video. If you haven't watched the Princess Peach Diaries, you need to, this guy cracks me up to no end. He does curse, but come on, what 20-something guy on youtube doesn't?
Monday, October 25, 2010
Break and tips
Taking a quick break from working on costumes to bring you all some tips for grunging up your zombie costumes!
- It may sound gross, but take your shirt/pants/whatever to the rims and hubcaps on your tires. Its got a lot of black/brown gunk accumulated provided you haven't washed your car recently. It doesn't smell, so don't worry about that.
- Sandpaper, of varying grits. Work the cuffs and edges of your clothes, think of the pair of jeans you've had for years. Where would the natural wear and tear occur over time?
- Run over your clothes a few times
- Sandpaper!
- Thin out "dirt" colored acrylic paints with water and paint the cuffs/edges/random areas of your costume. Deep, dark browns, maybe a hint of dark green. Get creative! Mix colors and test them on spare fabric until you get something you like
- The same above goes for the blood. I personally just use Barn Red or Brick Red colors. Theatrical blood is typically too bright and pinkish to look convincing. Woochie Blood Gel smeared in places can look convincing if done right, too.
- A good way to get the "dripping" bood look is to saturate your paintbrush. Hold the shirt nearly vertical, and press the paintbrush into it until the paint/water mix comes dripping off and down the shirt. Behold! Gravity is useful for something!
- Don't be afraid to get messy with the blood and dirt, zombies aren't neat creatures.
- Did I mention the sandpaper? Steel wool will work, too! Try using both!
Thats all I have for now, if I can remember anything I've left off while I'm working, I'll post some more. :]
- It may sound gross, but take your shirt/pants/whatever to the rims and hubcaps on your tires. Its got a lot of black/brown gunk accumulated provided you haven't washed your car recently. It doesn't smell, so don't worry about that.
- Sandpaper, of varying grits. Work the cuffs and edges of your clothes, think of the pair of jeans you've had for years. Where would the natural wear and tear occur over time?
- Run over your clothes a few times
- Sandpaper!
- Thin out "dirt" colored acrylic paints with water and paint the cuffs/edges/random areas of your costume. Deep, dark browns, maybe a hint of dark green. Get creative! Mix colors and test them on spare fabric until you get something you like
- The same above goes for the blood. I personally just use Barn Red or Brick Red colors. Theatrical blood is typically too bright and pinkish to look convincing. Woochie Blood Gel smeared in places can look convincing if done right, too.
- A good way to get the "dripping" bood look is to saturate your paintbrush. Hold the shirt nearly vertical, and press the paintbrush into it until the paint/water mix comes dripping off and down the shirt. Behold! Gravity is useful for something!
- Don't be afraid to get messy with the blood and dirt, zombies aren't neat creatures.
- Did I mention the sandpaper? Steel wool will work, too! Try using both!
Thats all I have for now, if I can remember anything I've left off while I'm working, I'll post some more. :]
Blogging once more
Wow, I haven't blogged in YEARS!
Can't wait to start up again.
I've spent the past two days rushing to finish three Halloween costumes and it's been hectic. Luckily, things are mostly coming out the way I want them to. I just have a lot of tweaking to do, its just been a bit difficult with my thumb in a splint. MY costume is awful, but at least my friend's costumes will rock. :P
Witch: About 60% done, bodysuit needs to be... fixed.
Smoker: 90% done. Need to dirty up the clothes and attach the tongue to a mouthpiece
Hunter: 95% done. Work on claws, rough the pants up some more
HOPEFULLY these costumes will turn out alright. I fully plan on redoing them all if I ever want to take them to a con. They're just rushed halloween level right now, ew.
Well, back to work!
Can't wait to start up again.
I've spent the past two days rushing to finish three Halloween costumes and it's been hectic. Luckily, things are mostly coming out the way I want them to. I just have a lot of tweaking to do, its just been a bit difficult with my thumb in a splint. MY costume is awful, but at least my friend's costumes will rock. :P
Witch: About 60% done, bodysuit needs to be... fixed.
Smoker: 90% done. Need to dirty up the clothes and attach the tongue to a mouthpiece
Hunter: 95% done. Work on claws, rough the pants up some more
HOPEFULLY these costumes will turn out alright. I fully plan on redoing them all if I ever want to take them to a con. They're just rushed halloween level right now, ew.
Well, back to work!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)