Santtu mäkinen

Portfolio

Showcase of best of various practises and projects I've done with make-up and special visual practical effects. For more detailed, step-by-step and descriptions of the process see Learning Diary.Pictures are from newest to oldest.

• Make-up
• Masking & body painting
• Special effects

Make-up

Masking and body painting

Special effects

Learning diary

Showcase of works and projects I've done, describing the work in the process and gives more detailed description of step-by-step of the work and learning experience. This section is made for school progress and works as a self-learning map.Pieces are placed from the oldest to newest.

Make-up / Masking

• Basic make-up
• Theater makeup
• Time period make-up
• Miscellaneous

Body painting

• Mouse-elf
• Space
• Skull
• Flesh
• Lost astronaut

Special effects

• Latex practises
• Wounds
• I have no mouth and I must scream
• Eye cover-up
• Fungus fae
• Great maw
• Miscellaneous

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Basic make-up practising

Various make-up applying and working practises and experimenting. These work as own separate invidiual pieces for learning technique and using different products, and don't include wip-description in them.The images are placed and dated from newest to oldest.

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Theater masking

Practises for stage make-up. These have been part of theater projects performed in Etelä-Pohjanmaan Opisto (South Ostrobothnia Folk High School). Includes both test masks and final products created for the plays.The images are placed and dated from newest to oldest.

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Time-period inspired make-up

Part of the assignment "time-period make-up." Studying and experimenting the mainstream make-up styles and techniques from the given time-periods.Dates and chosen time-periods of each piece are stated in the captions.

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Miscellaneous

12th April 2024Fake beard stubble, own assignment and practising.
I wanted to create a fake beard for myself, originally using tutorial from online. This tutorial used brown mascara and hairspray as effect for creating the beard hair. However, I failed to create convincing and clean look by using this technique, as mascara would be too strong and hard to use for creating hairs. No pictures of this work was taken.Next, I would try using grease paint and beard sponge instead. As the base, I added foundation on my chin, jaw and lower cheeks, blending evenly. Bronzer was used to create more masculine features on cheek bones and jawline, as well as to add shade of the stubble, lighter on top and darker at bottom of the jaw. After finding the suitable color (dark brown, in pictures seems closer to dark gray), I used chosen grease paint and uneven beard sponge to create small spots until it'd look enough for a full, short and scruffy stubble. I would tap the sponge for more dotty hairs, with occasional vertical strokes for longer "hairs." On "moustache", more vertical strokes were used to create full hair-like effect.
Set with heavy amount of rice powder. I left the mask on for several hours and it would stay on relatively well until washed off.

Ageing make-up, various piecesPieces part of the assignment for creating an ageing look on the model and to study the effects of how facial structure changed as person ages.
Main products for creating these were various shades of skin colored grease paints and powders. Using the references and model's own natural wrinkles and creases, these areas were made darker and stronger to mimic the loss of elasticness of the skin as it ages. Also the effect of increased body fat on facial areas, such as cheeks and outer brow was created by adding shading and highlights in rightful areas. The tanning and over-exposure to the sun was created by adding more freckles on the cheeks and nose bridge. Some redness of undereyes was added as the detail. The mask was set with heavy amount of setting powder and spray.For 21st February 2024 piece, I was given an assignment to mask a client with a witch-like look for the stage, given freedom to design and create it myself. The client was in her early 20s. I decided to use the "aged old woman" look I had practised and learned in previous day as part of it, in addition of creating purposefully paler base skin color. The mask was created in about an hour, using same products and techniques as previously stated. For some reason, as seen in photos, the blending of shadows and creases was left unfinished and too sharp, possibly due to quick finishing. The brows are purposefully made bushy and messy by using powder color.

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Mouse elf

20th September 2023The prompt based on theme of "Elves and magical creatures".Seen in InstagramTaking inspiration from the Finnish folklore, my "menninkäinen" was considered as a miniature human that lives in the woods among the flora, small enough to hide under a mushroom. I decided to base my design on a small mouse, creating a humanoid figure with mouse-like features but still remaining relatively recognizably human.For the base, the skin was covered with primer to smooth out the skin and to create a layer between the skin and the grease paint to prevent paint sticking to skin too much. I used grey (in the pictures appearing more blue-hued) cream paint as the base color, painting the upper half of the face, from the hairline to the upper cheeks. To create more depth I mixed a bit black grease paint with the gray and added it under the hairline and under the eyebrows into eyesockets.
The nose would be painted with a darker shade of gray to create more fur-like look, but no techniques was used to bring out this effect further.
During the process I decided to try to make the lower half of the face whiter shade of skin, as I was not pleased with the color palette grey fur and nude skin would create.For the details I used various colors of grease paints and lipstick paint. Brown color was used for the eyebrows, trying to paint them short and thick compared to usual human look. For the nose I mixed white grease paint and pink lipstick paint to mimic more natural shade of pink mouse noses have. By making the pink color darker I created more shape and depth to the nose to prevent it looking too flat, and have a middle split down the underside.
Freckles were created with more liquid-like brown grease paint used in brows. To prevent eyes looking too flat I added mascara and very light dark eyeliner to line the lids, so they wouldn't be too lost under the gray base color. I was also not happy with the color palette with the lips, so I added very thin layer of light redder shade to match the contrast.---------------------------------------With the eyebrows, no eyebrow gel or glue was used. During the painting process I realized I should've used that, but I left it out anyways. The result didn't end up unwanted, anyways. Not using the gel just made it more difficult to paint the brows smoothly.

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Guide of Cosmos

4th October 2023
The assignment based on the theme of "pink" and "happiness and dreams." This was part of the practise for theater project with such themes.Seen in InstagramOriginal plan was to practise doing this project onto only one side of the face for simplicity. In original consept art the plan was also to apply small props on the side of the face, such as plastic gems or feathers as part of the theme. In the end I decided to leave them out and focus on the space-theme and details instead.I used different shades of pink, red, purple and dark blue to create a color palette with variety of shades and colors. Originally I intended to use more powder colors to help with the hues, but ended up using mainly just grease and waterpaint instead.
As tools for applying the paint I used different kinds and sizes of brushes, starting from the lightest pink on the cheekbone, moving up towards the forehead and hairline with darker shades. At the hairline and near the upperside of the eyebrow I used more purple-hued pink colors and as the darkest color more blue-shaded purple. To make the eye stand out more, I made the eyelids have darker and redder color. To make the color fade out better on the skin, I used pink blush powder on the cheek and forehead.For the details I applied white grease paint with a small, thin paint brush to create the starry dots. Mimicing the space constructing, I would add larger group of start on the areas with lighter base color and less on the darker areas. This would mimic the likeness of that area being more lighted up by more stars. [eyebrows, eyeliner, lipstick]---------------------------------------I found having difficulties adding the eyeliner, as it was one of my first time. I tried using several different types of the eyeliner before managing to find black watercolor sticking onto grease paint the best. I had to ask for a classmate to help cleaning up the lines I had managed to already do, but weren't happy with.
I found the grease paint also building up in the crease of the upper eyelid as the time passed, creating a darker shade of seam in that part. In the future I'd like to prevent that happening.

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Skull

24th October 2023Part of the client's assignment request for painting a skull face painting for Halloween. This is the practise piece.Originally planned to be a full face covering painting, but due to shortness of time reduced to only half of a face. References of real skull and art references made for drawing artists were used.After applying primer onto skin, black, white and grey grease paints were mixed together to create various desired shades and color combos. I started by adding a full white base, then sketching out the darkest areas such as nose and eye socket first. After that, with the help of reference pictures and own bone structure, I sketched out other bone areas where there would be shadows or deeper layers, such as under the cheek bone and teeth.The finished work was not set, taking about 2,5 hours including the painting and supply gathering and color mixing. A lot of time was spent on teeth to get the details right by personal choice. Washed off with oil, cleansing milk and tonic.

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Flesh

23rd January 2024Based on a given prompt to paint the facial muscles.Facial muscles in anatomy illustrations and graphs were used as a reference. Due to time limit, I did only half of the face from the very start. By using the refences, I roughly sketched out the main muscle groups, tendons and bones and their directions with a red lip liner. From there, by using different shades of red lipstick pure paints, I painted the darkest spots where there would not be muscles at this layer of muscles, such as nose. I also painted the defining lines of the shadows to show where each muscle group overlaps with others.
By altering shades, I colored each muscle group and bones. With tendons I tried to create the line and direction effect by using rougher paint brushes to make the lines uneven and thicker.The finished work was not set. The painting took about 2 hours including the painting and supply gathering and color mixing. Washed off with oil, cleansing milk and tonic.

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Lost Astronaut

24th April 2024
Practise piece for body painting. After going through some inspiration art, I decided in the end to do something relatively simple and not detailed to fit within the given time frame. The character represents a playable character from video game Among Us, a very simplistic cartoony astronaut. The piece presents the character floating in space, which is the possible outcome to happen in the game.The artwork was made onto model's upper back on right shoulder blade, while they were laying on their stomach in bed. The model had a lot of body mass, but their skin was in relatively good condition. The shifting soft tissue changed the form of the finished work, due to gravity when they sat up. This was considered before the painting began, but was not seen as an issue due to design's simplicity and flexibility. When the model was in vertical position after the piece was finished, it created more oval shape and making character appear longer, though still looking like the referenced character, so it was not a problem.To paint the piece, I used exclusively grease paint. As the foundation I used skin colored paint, no primer. I started from painting the background base colors at first, using mix of four colors: purple, blue, red and white. By mixing colors in various ratios I created suitable shades. The character was created in the similiar way ny using mainly purple and blue shades.The entire painting work and collecting the supplies took about less than 1,5 hours to make. The piece was not set, as the model chose to not keep it due to risk of it messing their clothes. The artwork was washed off after the photoshooting with oil, clensing milk and tonic.

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Liquid latex forming and shaping

Various latex forming and working practises and experimenting. These are invidual, non-project pieces.
The images are placed and dated from newest to oldest.

23rd October 2023Part of the project made for Halloween 2023 play performed by theater class. The actor wanted to play as "a freak" in a creepy circus and requested skin deformations for the character. Experimented by mixing liquid latex with cotton and cotton pads by creating random, uneven shapes. The pieces were glued onto skin with liquid latex. If wished to be properly finished - though for the test masking this was not planned - the liquid latex drying would've been sped up by using hair dryer.

23rd - 30th October 2023Personal project for Halloween 2023 party, though this was not finished due to main school projects taking more time.I designed a character mask where the character would have multiple eyes on their face, 10 eyes altogether (own eyes included). Following the created consept art, I began creating the molds for the latex pieces. I used foam clay to create the eye models, the foam clay being very flexible and somewhat easy to work with. It took a day to harden.
After this, I began creating the latex layers by applying a thin layer of liquid latex with a sponge and drying between the applying with a hair dryer. Once the latex was thick enough with 4-5 layers, I heavily dusted them with rice powder before and after taking them out of the molds. The excess latex from the eyes was cut off.
For the eyeballs, I created oval eyes with foam clay. They were painted red with acryllic paints and a transparent nail polish to create a shining effect on them.The plan for attaching the eyes on the face was to use face glue, eyeballs glued first and "skin" pieces on top of them. More latex would've been added on the edges to make them fade better into skin. However due to time limit this was not finished.

Liquid latex experimenting, various pieces. Made as the first touch with latex to feel how the material works and could be worked with. Consistency of latex varies in each piece, some being thicker due to material being older or uneven. In some pieces cotton was used as filling.

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Bruises and wounds

4th April 2024Photos taken and directed by @kaikuvatkuvatPersonal project for class assigned photoshooting. Self-made design of a large gush throat wound, mixed with a bite mark on arm.The first version included attempt to use scar wax for creating the edges and inside of the wound, although this was found to be very inefficient, as the wax was too hard to attach onto skin of the neck. Using a lot of force to smooth it out was also too uncomfortable in extended period of time, and would not be a good way to use on a larger wound on other person. Wax would deattach too easily as the skin of the neck was too loose and moving a lot when the head was rotated.For the second version, liquid latex mixed with cotton was used. After figuring out how to make the pieces more fitting and right shape, they became much better solution. The pieces were glued onto skin mainly with latex as well as to fade out the edges of the wound with the skin. The pieces were relatively easy moving with the neck muscles and stayed put for several hours during the process and after photoshooting.The "skin" was first painted with a skin colored grease paint. The paint would stick onto skin and latex differently, creating a noticeable color difference. After some more testing and applying, the colors were relatively matched. Due to rough and constant applying and blending, the edges of the latex came loose and could be noticeable in texture and by creating the shadows. The flesh part was colored with two difference shades of red grease paint. Inner parts were colored with darker shade and parts coming more out with lighter. To finish the look and to create shining, more realistic effect, I applied fake blood.
During the photoshooting more fake blood was applied by the photographer. I would lay on my back to make the blood pour steadily and evenly into the wound, when when standing up it'd dripple down like a bleeding wound.The prothesis would stay on for several hours and was taken off by hand. The skin was cleaned with cleansing emulsion and tonic, the remaining latex pieces scrubbed off with soap and water.

Various wound practising pieces. Majority was made with scar wax, grease paint and fake blood. Oil was used to smoothen out the edges. Different sculpting tools were used to help form the wounds.

Various bruise practises. Mainly made with various colors of grease paint and by using photos as reference.

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I have no mouth and I must scream - mask

13th September - ???
Full on masking and prothesis applying work. Made in several different processes and attempt times.Inspired and based on a comic illustration "I Have No Mouth And I Must Scream" (1994) by John Byrne. The make-up is taking inspiration from the design of narrator's formless blob form seen in the final panel of the comic. The character lacks the distinct humanoid facial traits, skin color or texture, and is known best for the lack of eyes or mouth.The first painting practise, 13th Sept. (Pictures 1-2): My first attempt with this project was experimenting with the body paints for the first time. I applied primer onto face and throat to smooth out the skin surface and prevent body paint sticking to skin too much after it'd be cleaned up.
The character's color palette consist of three main colors, black as base color, purple as midtone and yellow as highlights and as glow of the "eyes". Due to shading possibilities, I started with a yellow and purple at first. Yellow was used as first to create the sketch for the highest points of the throat and to create the illusion of wrinkles and uneveness of the body surface. Yellow mixed with white paint and pure white paint was used to emphazise the highest spots even further. After this I started applying purple to continue adding shade and depth to the "wrinkles" and as the base color. Yellow and purple were both grease colors.
Mistaking black watercolor for grease paint, I began applying it first to create the deepest parts of the wrinkles and as the main color. Because I was using watercolor, the paint didn't stick and work as I was hoping for, creating a messy and cracked result that refused to blend with the other used colors.In the end I had time for painting just the throat and neck for the day.

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Eye covering latex prothesis

27th September 2023
Latex applying and prothesis making practise.Seen in InstagramSelf-designed project, a plan for wanting to make a mask that covers the entire eye.---------------------------------------
Liquid latex was poured onto a flat surface and evened out with a finger until desired shape and size was formed. The used latex was thick and thus created very thick prothesis piece with noticeable edges that would fade out with the skin very poorly. The eye was covered with a cotton pad to protect with from the face glue, although more should've been added, as the fumes of the glue irritated the eye a bit. The position of the face muscles (in this case, brow) should've also been taken into account as that was how the muscles would stay until prothesis was removed.The prothesis was applied onto clean, paintless and primerless skin with a face glue. Since the prothesis was thick and the shape was not considered all the way through, it glued onto skin unevenly and would have noticeable edges and wrinkles.
The prothesis and skin around it was painted with a matching skin colored grease paint, shades to match the skin and its uneven coloring properly.

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Fungue fae - character creation

12th Dec - 18th January 2024

School assigned project for Opinlakeus education fair 2024. The project was created to represent the make-up and masking class of (South Ostrobothnia Folk High School) and show off the skills and best work of the class students as an advertisement.The character design was created and planned by me. The original design was planned to split two students' designs, halfing the face of the model. Due to unexpected obstacles, the other student couldn't take part of the fair and perform their half of the masking. Thus I expanded my half onto the other side of the face as well. The costume and prop designing was done in collaboration.My half of the project was chosen to revolve around the theme of fungus growing out of the face, taking inspiration from The Last of Us horror game. Originally I wanted to follow the horror theme and athmosphere, but with the split project design I would lean it more towards "fae" entity to match the other side of the project. My main goal was to create a prothesis that would be applied to the face as matchingly and blending way as possible.---------------------------------------I began designing and sketching out the kind of character I wanted to created and then plan out the prothesis around it, with planning how to build it up. Following the consept art, I needed to create the base for the prothesis it would be built onto and that would be attached onto face. The need for quick application was the given limited time in the event, so all pieces would need to be ready and applied all at once.
The base was created by forming a the desired shape that would match model's face and hairline with foam clay, then filled with liquid latex as thinly as possible.The invidiual shroom pieces were created by mixing liquid latex with cotton pads. Separate, flat pieces were made with liquid latex alone.
The pure latex pieces were painted with grease paint and glued together in desired shape and form with strong face glue. Pieces with multiple layes were attached into fresh layer of latex that would form an attachment base for them.
Pieces that were created with the cotton pads were painted with acrylic paint as the thick and hard latex+cotton was very rough and hard to paint with grease paint. Acrylic paint would harden the pieces though, making them much less flexible.All pieces were glued onto base with face glue and latex. The base was colored with grease paint, using same colors as on the shroom parts.

The original design included making fake smaller fungus spots on the face, as if fake freckles. This however, was dropped out of the design due to time limit. I made a test version though, by using brow wax and watercolor. The wax would attack onto skin both with face glue and on its own.Multiple test masks were performed during the project, including testing applying the prothesis base and WIP version of it onto face. This would indicate the size and how each piece would look on the face and if the base and glue was strong enough to stay attached under the weight of the prothesis. The hairline and the condition of model's skin was taken into account to reduce the irritation of the skin and hair loss and tugging. Facial skin treatments were performed onto model after most of the test masks that involved glueing and painting.
The prothesis was applied onto skin with face glue and edges smoothen out with liquid latex. Smaller pieces were attached with liquid latex as well. In the final version, a small cotton pad was left under the prothesis to protect the hair underneath to reduce the tugging during removal.Colors used were different shades of grease paint and powder on eyelids. The eyeliner was used on eyes and brows were colored and thickened with powder color. Different sorts of designs were made until final version was chosen. Note in the pictures you can see other student's half of their project, which was later dropped out completely. Once it became clear the other side of the face would be left without plan, the fungus design was extended onto that side with simple painting as well.With multiple test maskings and practises, the entire creationg process was managed to keep within 2 hour timeframe.

18th January 2024In the event day, the time schedule had been changes significantly from the original planning. However, more time was given so there was no as much rush as was originally feared.The character was built in front of passing audience in open space within public view. The model had put on her custome before the creation process had began, and done her hair a bit beforehand, and washed and moisturized her face before the event.
Following the test masks and pracises, I would perform the character creation on a spot. An assisant worked on finishing the hair with hair curler and hairspray and pre-made the eyeliner on the other side of the face.The entire process was done in about 1,5 hours without breaks. The model would walk around the event for a couple of hours, the prothesis staying on thorough the entire time until taken off. The prothesis was removed with a solvent and by peeling off the latex. The paint was washed off with oil, cleansing milk and tonic. Facial skin treatment was performed next day on model's face.

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Great Maw

3rd April - 28th May 2024Assignment project as the final work for school. The assignment was designed to show off student's skills in designing, planning and creating the said design. Theme was free to choose.
I wanted to continue making special effects and prostheses, creating more horror and monster themed designs and projects. Large prothesis pieces, horror and especially horrific mouths and teeth have been my interest point for the large part, so I wanted to go for that with my work.Starting to create the consept art, I needed to understand the creature I wanted to create for my project. I'd make separate, independent sketches of what the creature would be like if it was its own character. How the mouth would work and look like when open and used, from different angles and how it'd interact anatomically. From there, I sketched the model consept art for the prothesis and make-up itself.
While sketching I thought about what kind of materials I'd need for building the prothesis, and how it'd be the best to use and place them, what material would match closest the texture and look of what they'd be. For the skin and gums I decided to use liquid latex and flour, as they were something I was already familiar with and would blend with model's skin the best from given materials. For teeth, I began experimenting with polymorph formable plastic, as it was easy to work with, model and would be solid and shiny to mimic the teeth.

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Miscellaneous

7th Dec 2023Fake beard created for musical performing. [...] The client had the beard gueled onto his face with water-soluble face glue, and afterwards stated it had stayed on during the entire performance and event. Client removed the beard by himself afterwards with solvent and water.

19th April 2024Creating a bald look by using bald cap, face glue and grease paint. The model had relatively short hair at the time. The cap was painted with light base color evenly, and powdered with plently of white rice powder right before taking the pictures, thus unfinished look. The bald was made to be a canvas for students to paint freely onto, and thus was not finished as natural, matching skin color. This piece could be considered as a practise work for creating the bald and using a bald cap in it.

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Halloween masking 2023

11th-30th October 2023