THE MAKEUP ARTIST HANDBOOK:
Techniques for Film, Television,
Photography, and Theatre
Dedications/Acknowledgments
Chapter 1 Shapes
Chapter 2 The Body
Chapter 3 Color
Chapter 4 Lighting
Chapter 5 Tech Stuff
Chapter 6 Foundations
Chapter 7 Beauty and Basics
Chapter 8 Design
Chapter 9 Hair
Chapter 10 Airbrush
Chapter 11 Effects
Chapter 12 How to Be a Pro
Cosmetics, Tools, Labs, and Effects
The Crew
Glossary
Professional Library
The Pros
Unions
Index
CONTENTS
"Most civilians-people who don't make movies for a living-think makeup men are little
more than hovering sprites who powder noses. But they are true artists, often unsung, who
imprint film with the soft touch of their brushes and the hard work of their craft.
"The Man Who Aged Me" by Tom Hanks
Article Published in the New York Times, April 27, 2006
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INTRODUCTION
This journey started for us when the folks at Focal Press noticed that there was a need for
an updated makeup book. Writing about what we do, why we do it, and how we do it,
seemed necessary, challenging, and a great way to pass on the artistry and craft of being a
freelance Makeup Artist. We were in! Ultimately, the decision was easy. Thinking back,
there were too many times when we hired or worked with newcomers who were
unprepared for the experience. And in our teaching and lecturing to students we would
hear the same misconceptions and questions. We have repeated the same lessons to each
newcomer over the years, and were recognizing an emerging pattern in the lack of
knowledge and understanding from the students. There was a pattern to earlier books on
the subject of makeup, and although they were beautifully photographed and illustrated
they did not address all the skills, knowledge, and protocol that is needed for your fi rst day
on the job. These books were providing the very basic steps (sometimes outdated) to do
makeup, but they were not preparing the student for being on set or working in a makeup
trailer. Some of the best lessons come from practical experience working for and with
