A Make-up Artist’s Signature
ExceptioNailBeauty - Winter 2008

Fantasy make-up beckons many artists. It opens the way to boundless imagination; it offers everyone an opportunity to create a collection of models and a personnal visual language.

So, how is one artist style recognizable from another ? It is certainly not the color shading that everyone knows how to achieve ! Whether the art is acommplished with a sponge or an airbrush, the multi-toned background of all textures remains a technical asset.

It is the color palette layout and the originality of the model collection that will establish the artist’s style. Equally, their character will transpire through their interpretation of the subject : will they be energetic, lively, sensual or simply sumptuous ? And if we think about it a little longer, there is an element missing. On one hand, the style confirms the technical mastery of the individual and their insertion in the professional field. On the other hand, their character represents the individual’s instinctive aspect. With these two required elements, how does the artist retain their creative freedom ? Through their signature.

How do we recognize the artist’s signature ?

Through the stokes of their brush. When on the verge of completing the make-up, the artist signs its artwork. Ephemeral you may say, but with the last contour touches: the make up becomes a masterpiece that is absolutely exquisite to watch.
It is therefore in the brush manipulation that the artist’s dexterity will best be revealed. Should the artist forget their brushes and have to get a last minute kit together, that will be a discomfort which will be difficult to surmount.
Why ? It’s the array of brushes chosen by an artist to achieve their meticulous work that represent their personnal precision instruments. They allow the artist to express its vision and its interpretation.

The four essential brush types

To my knowledge, there are four essential brush types for any beginner which all professionals carry with them at all times. The tappered brush is used to cover the design surfaces and achieving curves of any width that remains the most versatile and most popular brush of all. The flat square brush will produce very straight lines, sharp geometrical angles and shapes as well as tiny shadings. The filbert is appreciated for its flexibility of movement and instant ovalness at the brush’s tip. And the last is the fine point brush that will produce minute details.

Technically more demanding are the angled brushes and long Crescendo that are added to the tools of some artists which produce remarkable finishing lines. The angled brush will provide dynamic action to shapes and movement to detail. However, it is unpredictible. Practise is necessary before knowing what can be accomplished with this instrument. As for the Crescendo, its lenght poses a slight adaptation problem at first, but once familiar with it, it creates amazing effects like incredibly fine lines that no other brush, no matter how fine, can produce.

Of course there is more to explore on the subject of brushes than stated above, each artist searches for the expressive value of their strokes via the flexibility and precision ot their brushes. Moreover, the range of brushes on the market opens the door to limitless exploration.

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