AHS Freak Show

What is AHS Freak Show ?

"Freak Show begins its tale in the quiet, sleepy hamlet of Jupiter, Florida. The year is 1952. A troupe of human curiosities has just arrived in town, coinciding with the strange emergence of a dark entity that savagely threatens the lives of townsfolk and freaks alike. This is the story of the performers and their desperate journey of survival amidst the dying world of the American carny experience." -

The above quote is referenced from the site; http://americanhorrorstory.wikia.com/wiki/Category:Freak_Show_(story)

Behind the scenes of AHS Freak Show.

Meet the Characters 

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt3781962/fullcredits

Meet the Make-up artists 

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt3781962/fullcredits

More about AHS Freak Show

http://americanhorrorstory.wikia.com/wiki/Category:Freak_Show_(story)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Horror_Story:_Freak_Show

Why AHS Freak Show ?

I chose the TV series AHS Freak show as I have always been a fan of American Horror Story and its different seasons. The background story and setting of AHS Freak Show in particular is what also inspired me to choose the series more than others, the show features numerous characters based/inspired by, real life people in history who became famous from being part of a 'Freak Show',or known for their unique deformities. I felt that AHS Freak Show, would let me be quite creative and limitless when designing face charts and finding inspiration to push my ideas. I have decided to choose Quentin and Claudia as my main characters and place them in my chosen TV Series as a psychotic and deranged couple. As Quentin is a fragment of Claudia's imagination, she only sees Quentin when she wants to and when they do catch up with each other its usually when they embark on a spontaneous killing spree together. In terms of make-up and characteristics of the cast in the show, AHS Freak Show has a diverse cast of characters in the series who hold hidden and visible deformities, etc. Elsa Mars (Jessica Lange), the owner of the Freak Show wears prosthetic legs/limbs as she has no limbs, but this 'deformity' is usually hidden underneath her trousers/dress so people are normally unaware. 

http://pixel.nymag.com/imgs/thecut/slideshows/2014/10/ahs-stills/ahs-stills-7.nocrop.w840.h1330.2x.jpg

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/tvandradio/11115772/American-Horror-Story-Freak-Show-meet-the-characters.html
http://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2014/dec/02/american-horror-story-season-four-freak-show-review
http://americanhorrorstory.wikia.com/wiki/Category:Freak_Show_(story)

AHS Freak Show - The Story of Claudia and Quentin

My chosen characters.

Claudia - 
Agoraphobic, psychotic and an evil fortune teller, has constant nose bleeds.

Quentin -
Part of Claudia's imagination, joins and manipulates Claudia on killing sprees together, has indestructible Leather skin.

My chosen TV series.  

AHS Freak Show 

Claudia and Quentin are in a unconventional relationship, where their insane craving for blood and death over powers their life leading them to journey on killing sprees after midnight without even realising. Both Claudia and Quentin are obsessed with each other and constantly battle over control of one an other, Quentin's possessiveness and love for Claudia pushes him to manipulate and control her as he pleases, emotionally and mentally making her his partner in crime and puppet as she is terrified of the world he 'protects' her from. Due to Claudia's agoraphobia she constantly has extreme nose bleeds in response to her intense anxiety and psychotic entrapment, the constant nose bleed that is part of Claudia's character will remind the audience that Claudia isn't quite sure where, who or what she is earning her the audiences sympathy but also giving them another reason to stay wary of her as she is deadly and beautiful. 

AHS Freak Show Face Chart Practice

I recently re created the face chart below, I did this so that I could practice and improve my current ideas for my character Claudia. I was very happy with the outcome of this look and can see it being in worn in AHS Freak show easily. Although the make-up look is easy to create and is quite a 'pretty' look, I feel my next steps are now to make the nose bleed in this make up look more horrific and dramatic. This face chart is inspired by blood, jewels, fortune telling.

Products Used 

Kryolan foundation palette

Camouflage palette 

Kryolan Supra colour palette 

Illamasqua Translucent Powder

Illamasqua Contour Kit 

Urban Decay NKD 2 palette 

Ben Nye Red Aqua Glitter 

No7 Mascara 

Sealer 

Plastic diamond Jewels 

Illamasqua Satin Primer 

Moisturiser 

Maybelline Better skin concealer

Illamasqua skin base 

Kryolan Essence Palette

Kryolan V Brights Palette 

Step By Step 

I first primed the skin with moisturiser and primer and began to colour correct some of the redness on my models skin, using the mint green shade from the supra colour palette, mixed with some Illamasqua skin base, this created a really nice corrective shade and the consistency was very light and easy to bend. I covered the read areas with the mint shade and very lightly buffed it into the skin, this counteracted the redness in my models skin perfectly. I then began to create the base, using the Kryolan Foundation palette and then buffing it into the skin, my models skin ended up appearing very radiant and clear the day I practiced this look so I very happy with the outcome of the base. 

After buffing in my base, I applied a small amount of concealer underneath the eyes, so that they were brighter. I contoured and highlighted with my Illamasqua powdered contour kit, lightly over her forehead and also her cheekbones, I found the grey tone coloured contour powder in this duo perfect for my models skin tone. Ton enhance the contoured areas and also finish/enhance the base I used a light bronze shade from the Kryolan Essence palette, this added a beautiful glow to her skin and also a subtle bronze tint making her skin look healthy and radiant. 

I used red, purple and black shades from my Kryolan V brights palette, I applied the colours gradually so that each colour was defined and subtly smoked into each other so that the eyes appeared more dramatic and intense. Once I was happy with the finish of the shadows, I applied some red Ben Nye glitter using my finger tips and a light patting motion, I loved using this product and feel it made the eye look very dramatic and glamorous and looked beautiful in pictures and in person. 

I defined the eyebrows by using a dark blonde brow pencil and lightly filled in her brows, I didn't want it to look to heavy or perfect. To finish the eyes I applied a little more black shadow on the top of her lash line and smoked it out, and then applied 2-3 coats of mascara, I did bring some lashes to try and apply on my model but It wasn't successful as the band was too thick, I am going to re purchase another pair of voluminous lashes so that I can practice again and make sure they sit perfectly on the eyes. 

I left the lips bare as I wanted to create a faux red glitter nose bleed, the nose bleed is an important part of my character Claudia and I wanted her to have this as part of her makeup look in the series as It symbolises her phobia to the audience, constantly reminding the audience that she isn't stable and should still be wary of her. To create the nose bleed I used some black supra colour and applied/blended it in my models nostrils, after blending out the black I applied some red too and then finished the look by applying some red aqua glitter making sure it dripped/rolled down my models face over her lips. I applied some red supra colour to the lips also to make them look smeared in blood and patchy. I was happy with the outcome of the nose bleed, but in order to improve/retry this in the future I think I would use some scab blood and colodian and tissue also so that there is more texture and gore to the nose bleed as although I want it to look pretty and messed up (glitter) I want it to be gross and creepy too. I am also going to try and purchase a pure red eyeshadow as although the colours went well together on the lid I feel the finish of the shadows appear more pink then red. 

After creating the look, I experimented with the brows blocking them out slightly by brushing white supra colour and translucent powder through her brow hairs so that they looked bleached, I then applied 2 red diamonds to the front of her brows with sealer.

Practicing AHS Freak show Face Charts

Today I decided to practice one of my face designs for AHS Freak Show (Claudia). The face chart below is the look I created, I was happy with the outcome and could imagine my character Claudia, wearing this in my chosen tv series and seducing the audience with her demure beauty and fragile mentality. The focus in this makeup look is defiantly the use of the colour red and the feature of stars also. This makeup design was inspired by fortune telling, screen sirens and constellations combined.

Products Used 

Kryolan Foundation Palette 

Kimmel Foundation 

Kryolan Supra colour palette 

Illamasqua liquid metals palette 

Illamasqua Contour kit duo 

No7 Mascara

MAC 3D Reflective Glitter 

Illamasqua Powdered pigment 

Kryolan Nose and Scar wax 

Illamasqua Translucent setting powder 

Satin Finish Primer 

Rimmel Concealer 

MAC Strobe Cream

Urban Decay NKD 2 Palette 

Step By Step 

I first prepped and primed my skin with moisturiser and primer, after my skin was ready I applied my base/foundation. After buffing in my base I began to highlight and conceal my skin, applying concealer under my eyes, nose, chin area, forehead and centre of my nose, using my beauty blender I blended it in with my base. After concealing I quickly and subtly contoured my skin with a darker foundation colour and also my Illamasqua contour duo kit, I think I would have used the contour kit alone If my model had a lighter skin tone then mine as the contour product did not show up very well on mine as it was too fair. To enhance my contoured cheekbones I used the 'baking' method applying translucent setting powder underneath my cheekbones and then leaving it to absorb into my skin, then brushing it away afterwards, this is a nice technique to use if you want extra definition on your contoured areas.

Taking black and red from my supra colour palette I lightly blended the colours together on my lips to create a dark red/ombre effect although you can't see it as clearly in the pictures, I still liked the shade of red I created.

After concealing and contouring I lightly highlighted my nose and the tops of my cheekbones. Moving on to the eyes I kept them simple as on my face design I only wanted there to be definition on the lashes/eyes and minimal colour on the lid, because of this I used the shade tease from my urban decay palette on the lids and then applied a few coats of mascara to my lashes, If I was to recreate this on a chosen model I would of applied lashes also. 

To create the black and red ombre brows, I used the back and red shades from the supra colour palette, and traced the shape of my brows and then gradually merged and blended the two contrasting shades together so that it had an ombre finish, I highlighted my brows with the shade verve from my Urban Decay Palette.  

To create the stars on the side of my face, I used the Illamasqua liquid metals palette and used all four shades; enrapture, surge, phenomena and electrum. Using a small slanted brush I gradually created stars on my face using different shades from the palette, making the stars small,large and medium sizes. I did like the outcome of the stars I created but I think I may do some research on some particular stars connected to fortune tellers and magic and see if I can recreate the same style stars so that the look is much neater and perfected. 

To finish the makeup look, I took some MAC 3D reflective glitter and also the white pigment from Illamasqua and generously and gradually chucked the products onto the side of my face over the stars I created to add more sparkle and glam to the make-up look, as if Caludia had applied it herself, 

Finished base, lips, brows

Ombre Brows 

Baking my cheekbones 

The images above are of a small experiment I did once I had created the whole make-up from my face design, I wanted to experiment with wound coloration and also create some texture and sfx to the make-up design. I am slightly happy with the outcome, I feel the colours look a little flat and the wound doesn't have the effect I was going for yet that is due to the products I used, as I was substituting products I had for the ones I had used in Sues sessions etc tuplast and colodian. 

Simons hair catastrophe and adapting my ideas

Since recently practicing on Simon, my model for the continuity assessment I discovered that his hair was not what I was expecting. Applying and practicing my makeup design on Simon went very well, but after analysing Simon's hair I realised his hair was very short and thick all over his head and slightly longer at the front, because of this I had to change and adapt my original hair charts. 

https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/236x/69/b8/73/69b87383348841bbf09fd713f1e106bd.jpg

The above image is an example of the similar hair style I hope to recreate In the continuity assessment. 

Above is my original hair design for Dorian Gray which I wanted to recreate on Simon, because of the hair length issue, I have decided to still recreate the same similar hair style but just adapting it to Simons hair type, keeping some more volume at the front of his hair were it is longer and then keeping the sides and back of his hair quite plain,sleek,straight. 

I think the new hair changes will be easy to create and also won't change too much of my original ideas for the whole character of Dorian Gray, hopefully the hair will still go well with the make-up and outfit tying the look together and holding an Victorian theme. 

5 minute presentation

Today I had my 5 minute presentation in Kats seminar with my group. I think my presentation went fairly well and I managed to confidently tell my group and Kat my ideas and show them what I had already planned for my two characters Claudia and Quentin. 
Kat gave me some really helpful feedback, advising me to develop my character Quentin more as I hadn't been able to think of any makeup charts which were special effects themed, as It is important for Quentin to have an abnormality as well as he is part of the Freak Show too. 

In response to this feedback I began to think about ways that Quentin's appearance can be creepy or gore like with the use of his skin. As my character Quentin is a bad boy character in AHS Freak Show, I wanted him to have an abnormality which benefits him or makes me him more creepy/attractive. Because of this, I decided to use leather material which I could sew into nose and scar wax applied to his face mimicking leather being sewn,morphed and part of Quentin's skin on his face. This allows me to symbolise Quentin as indestructible as his skin is as strong as leather. 

http://www.foliosociety.com/joesblog/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/jwb_leather2.jpg

The above image is an example of the stitching and leather material I would like to create/experiment with.

https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/26/a5/25/26a52502483fe7b64532a03a6ae7ea43.jpg

The image above is an example of the stitching in the skin I wanted to recreate for Quentin 'The leather boy', the stitches will be around the leather material or stuck over leather material with spirit gum or sealer onto the skin with hints go blood (wound filler).

Burns - Coloration and Degrees

The Classifications of Burns 
Depending on the severity and size of a burn, burns are normally categorised as first, second and third degrees. 

First Degree Burns 
- First Degree burns is when the epidermis (outer layer of skin) of the skin is only affected
- The skin appears red, dry and sore they are painful and normally don't have blisters 

http://newcastleadvertiser.co.za/wp-content/uploads/sites/61/2015/07/first-degree-burn.jpg


The above image shows a first degree burn on the hand, the skin is peeling and red and looks very sore. This could be recreated by using colodian and tissue and then colouring over with the supra colour palette and adding some sheen to the burn with Vaseline.

Second Degree Burns 
- Second degree burns affect the epidermis and part of the dermis layer of the skin too 
- The skin normally appears bright red, blistered, swollen and can be quite painful 

http://api.ning.com/files/rSa8tlP8FRMC28bskojUc*ZghwiZ9Y2XeGCYfpjpljNQfX2m0A5LAmUETQaMn7srEcOzUYNR53NhQn8o06gjOQ__/Picture5.png

The above burn is a Second degree burn and appears more wet and sore, the skin looks very fragile and blistered and the flesh looks red, taught and painful. This burn can be recreated by using a silicone mould, gelatine or colodian and then colouring with fullers earth, vaseline, supra colour, bruise wheel, wound filler etc. 

Third Degree Burns 
- Third degree burns are more serious and can destroy both the dermis and epidermis and may even go into the subcutaneous tissue depending on the depth of the burn
-The skin of third degree burns usually appear white and charred 

http://img.wonderhowto.com/img/91/37/63437185796606/0/perform-first-aid-1st-2nd-and-3rd-degree-burns.w240.jpg

The image above is of a third degree burn on the arm and hand, you can see where the skin is taught red and a white colour. The skin looks tight, taught and shiny and the hand looks extremely swollen. This burn can be recreated by using nose and scar wax to thicken the skin (swollen) the burns can be created with gelatine and colodian and tissues and then coloured over with supra colour, bruise wheel, wound filler etc. 

Fourth Degree Burns 
- Fourth degree burns are the most serious and serve burns
-These burns affect the skin layers, tissue, bones, muscles and tendons 
-These burns destroy your nerve endings meaning your feeling is gone 

https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/57/0f/fe/570ffeaf7b3cbf98d98314446f2db8fa.jpg

Above is a fourth degree burn and it is obvious how severe and incredibly painful this burn appears. The skin coloured is black, white and red from burns, blood and bruising. The bones are showing, show how deep this particular burn is, the nerves in this patients arm are probably destroyed and the skin is burnt and thick looking. This makeup look can be recreated by using Nose and scar wax, gelatine, silicone moulds, dirt and then coloured over with supra colour, bruise wheels, wound filler etc.

Epidermis layers 

https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/11/39/97/113997dff3d569801aee79ab271bc06f.jpg

Bibliography 

http://healthtimes.com.au/hub/wound-care/59/practice/bf1/the-colour-of-wounds-and-its-implication-for-healing/45/
http://www.stanfordchildrens.org/en/topic/default?id=classification-of-burns-90-P09575&sid=

https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/57/0f/fe/570ffeaf7b3cbf98d98314446f2db8fa.jpg

http://img.wonderhowto.com/img/91/37/63437185796606/0/perform-first-aid-1st-2nd-and-3rd-degree-burns.w240.jpg

http://api.ning.com/files/rSa8tlP8FRMC28bskojUc*ZghwiZ9Y2XeGCYfpjpljNQfX2m0A5LAmUETQaMn7srEcOzUYNR53NhQn8o06gjOQ__/Picture5.png

https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/11/39/97/113997dff3d569801aee79ab271bc06f.jpg