FMS408GothicHorrorSalmonM: Cuts, Bruises Wounds and Scars

In my most recent studio session with Sue, I got the chance to experiment with special effects products and re-create some gruesome fake injuries. I really enjoyed the session and the new techniques I have learnt. After the session I felt really inspired to create some face charts with a special effects theme, that I could then experiment with for my Gothic Horror character,Dorian Gray. This style of make-up artistry is something I felt very comfortable with in regards to creating the injuries, I feel that you can be much for messy and creative as you want to make it look as realistic as possible. Something I plan to do in response to todays session also is to practice the two other looks I was unable to create today as we had run out of time.

We set up our areas and equipment as usual and Sue began to explain todays session aims and also what products we were expected to use and how. Something important about the products we were using in this session was, that the products all contained particular chemicals which meant you had to be careful when applying and removing the products.

The products and tools used;

- Supra colour; this can be used to skin match and colour the skin and wounds

- Stiple sponge; this sponge can be used to break up the colour and apply liquid and scab blood

-Non Flexible Colodian; this creates burns and scarring

-Moulding wax; this can be used to create scarring and using sealer or latex on top of moulding wax will help prolongs the amount of time wax can be worn undisturbed

-Liquid latex; this can create wrinkling, peeling, holes in skin and also used as a protectant for moulding wax

-Metal rounded spatula; used to dispatch products

-Tuplax; this product can be used to create scratches

-Wound filler; wound filler can be used to fill cuts and intensify blood

-Fixer spray; this can be sprayed over bruises to protect and prolong them

-Acetone; acetone can be used to blend away the edges of moulding wax etc scars, slits

-Colodian; colodian can be used to create scratches, this can be loosened up with alcohol and supra colour

-Protective seal foam; you can apply this to the skin before using colodian as colodian can cause a itchy burning sensation on the skin

Products Used

Colodian
Protective Seal Foam
Wound Filler
Liquid Latex
Tuplax
Fixer Spray
Moulding Wax
Non flexible colodian
Acetone
Supra colour palette
Moisturiser
Witch Hazel

Health and Safety

Wear old clothing when working with liquid latex and protect your models clothes with an apron
Make sure the room is well ventilated as the Liquid Latex is potent, can effect you and your model
When applying Liquid latex around the eye area make sure to get model to keep their eyes closed until dry
Make sure all make-up brushes/tools are clean
Make sure your hands are sanitised properly and products are clean (cross contamination)
Assess models skin if necessary considering any irritation or issues with their skin
If models reacts in response to products badly (Allergies) remove immediately
Remove all products correctly
Take care around the eye area, mouth and any open wounds when applying products
Make sure to remove collodian with spirit gum remover and cotton bud
Make sure not to inhale the collodian and take care when applying it to your model, applying barrier cream first

Sues Demo -

Sue began by taking a small amount of moulding wax, warm up the wax in your hands and then apply it onto the skin with a spatula. I found wax fine to work with as I had used some on the products before in a pervious course. You can clean up the edges with moisturiser and a cotton bud or with acetone. This moisturiser tip that can clean up the edges is a tip from Sue that I found really helpful and created a smooth seamless finish to the wax making it appear more skin like. After the wax is smooth and finished you can then begin to create your slit or scar by taking a spatula and creating a small opening (line) through your wax. After this you can dip a brush or baby bud into some liquid latex, apply one layer over your wax, doing this will protect and prevent your wax from moving.

Colodian can be used to create old type burns; you first apply to protective foam and then stretch the skin of your chosen area. Whilst still stretching the skin apply the colodian, you can either air dry or dry to product with a dryer and then begin to squeeze and manipulate the product making the skin appear scarred and glossy. You can create deep cut effects by moving the product with a pin and you can also paint over and layer colodian with tissue also as it begins to pucker and stick together creating a 'keloid' texture to the skin.

By using Tuplax you can create instant scarring by applying to product to the skin, powder over the product and then once dry creates a scarring effect.

Stiple with brushes over the wounds can also break up colours etc blood.

Mixing alcohol and supra colour and then flicking the product of a foundation brush onto skin/wounds breaks up the would, this technique can also be used to create and enhance freckles. You can also decorate wounds with wound filler and liquid blood, shine from the blood gives depth to the wound, words can also be decorated with fullers earth and dirt.

This is the scar I created in the session, I used moulding wax, latex, liquid and wound filler.
I found the scar really fun and easy to make and I felt very confident blending out the edges of my wax scar and was really happy with the outcome. I feel that when I practice creating scars from wax in the future I will experiment by creating the desired skin colour of wax by mixing supra colours and foundation whilst warming up the wax.

The next time I experiment with these techniques again I aim to create bruising on the face and also a more severe scar where I can decorate the wound of dirt and wax also.

Experimenting with Collodian was a lot of fun too, I made a red, sore looking burn from tissue and collodian. I first prepped the skin by applying barrier cream, after the skin was ready I began applying tissue and collodian to the skin so that texture began to appear as lifting/extra skin on my models skin. Once the collodian had dried properly (clear) I then began to colour my burn using a supra colour palette and bruise wheel, I broke up the colors with moisturiser so that it appeared more realistic and shiny and then also added on Vaseline afterwards so that the scar looked more sore and realistic. I was very happy with the outcome of my burn and feel fairly confident at creating them. When removing Collodian you must use spirit gum remover.