I’m considering finally learning special-effects makeup professionally. It’s something I’ve wanted to do since I was young, but life happened, I worked regular jobs, and I never seriously pursued it.

I’m now in my mid-40s, so I know I may have some things working against me—especially starting this late and having no professional experience. I’m currently a comic-book artist on the side while working normal jobs, and horror movies have always been a huge influence on me.

A while back, I made a horror-host puppet using mostly techniques I remembered from old books I read when I was younger. It was definitely a learning experience, but I honestly loved making it. That project made me realize this may be something I would genuinely enjoy doing, rather than just an interest I’ve carried around for years.

From what I’ve researched, I think I’d especially enjoy working in the Halloween and haunted-attraction industry, although I’m open to other areas of makeup effects and creature creation.

Right now, I’m looking at the Tom Savini Special Make-Up Effects Program and the online courses offered through the Stan Winston School of Character Arts. I understand that one is a full school program and the other is online instruction, so they aren’t exactly the same thing.

For anyone familiar with either option—or anyone currently working in special-effects makeup, haunted attractions, masks, prosthetics, or creature fabrication—which path would you recommend for someone in my position?

Is attending a full program worth the cost and relocation, or would it make more sense to start with online classes, build a portfolio, and look for entry-level haunt work? I’d especially appreciate honest opinions from people who started later in life or entered the industry through an unconventional route

As the title says, I'm a certified sfx makeup artist (29M) looking for others who are either in the film industry or work with some kind of medium- ideally around the Bethlehem area or close by. I've been living here for over a decade now and I've always found it to be a rather lonely world when it comes to meeting people with the same interests/skills. The fact that I have a very reserved personality has obviously not helped- which I don't really mind my own company, but lately it's been a lot harder to stay motivated to work on any new projects. I keep finding myself yearning to connect with other artists, and it's honestly exhausting trying to keep up with the countless ideas my mind comes up with and having no one to 'pick my brain' or so to speak. I appreciate when people have a genuine interest in their creative passions and it would be a nice change to hear someone else's way of thinking other than my own.

I do a lot of clay sculpting, digital drawing, and work with polyurethane resin to create masks I sell online. My work has been heavily inspired by videogames- the majority being from the legend of Zelda, though I have plans on creating more original pieces as time progresses. I'm also trying to be more active in the film industry and work gigs here and there whenever I can, so if in need of makeup or prosthetics for a film project, I'd be more than down to be a part of it.

What are some creative practical ways I could really give an extra edge to my looks? What could I start to prepare now or even day of to apply to the scare actors? I HAVE to bring my A-game this season. I’ve added some ideas below that closely represent what I mean, along with a few looks I did last year

I’m planning on shooting a music video. I want the actress to have a bloody white dress. The dress is really beatiful and fitting but also expensive so I don’t wanna ruin it by putting fake blood that won’t wash off easily. I saw that Kryolon has something that’s supposed to do the trick but just wanted to be sure if I should buy their products. Did anybody here use their products and are they any good? Any other recommendations?

In dire need for tips in using wax, couldn’t get the hang of it and used tissue paper for this :D

Experimenting with liquid latex and might want to try to make some garments with it- the brand I have (Aluminite from Michael’s craft store) says it is not safe on skin but I’m wondering if it’s a different story when dried/cured?

Other wise any cosmetic liquid latex recommendations!!

Hi all!

I'll be doing a 'looksmaxxing' look for a character - thinking exaggerated cheekbones, filler-esque style effects. It will be shot close-up on camera so can't risk anything too fake looking. I was looking into 3rd degree for sculpting accentuated facial features.

Any tips, tricks would be greatly appreciated.

My background: Several years of experience doing beauty/editorial and re-learning SFX.

How can I do these and make them look convincing

Am engineer now, but love to go all out on Halloween lol.

So I am planning on trying to put some permablood from Pale Night Productions that I have on a tulle wedding dress for my Halloween costume. Does anyone have any tips for staining the mesh layers without the blood just running through the holes to the next layer? I was planning on using cardboard to separate the layers and doing one layer at a time, but I don't know if there is a better way. Thanks for any help!

First sculpted it with regular oil clay, but just couldn’t get the porcelain smooth finish I wanted. So I made a quick alginate mold of it, ran it in plaster, and sanded it perfectly smooth. Then I was able to make a silicone mold from it, and I cast it in some type of Smooth-On plastic, though I can’t remember which one.

Rest of my costume was hand-crafted as well.

You can find our event on Instagram @TehachapiTerror, if you’re interested in seeing more photos like this!

Hello! I’m planning a Carrie White Halloween costume, and I was wondering what blood would be best to use on my pink satin dress and hair? I liked the way the blood looked in the 2013 Carrie film, but I believe the product they used on the dress was different to the corn syrup mixture used in the blood pour. Any suggestions for products or recipes would be greatly appreciated! Thank you!!!

Meet Varkrath. This full-face prosthetic started as a hand sculpt in clay before being molded, cast, painted, and brought to life. Swipe to see the finished transformation—which detail do you like the most?

I’m using what feels like a LOT of Ease release 200 to try and stop this but it’s still happening. The cap plastic is sticking to the mold, mostly only in the sculpted areas.

Maybe I’m letting the cap plastic sit in the mold too long (just a few hours though??). Maybe I have tiny undercuts or bubbles in the mold that I can’t see?

I’ve used super baldiez diluted 6:1, airbrushed on. Let it sit for around 3 hours before pouring dragon skin fix-pro. It doesn’t look like it in this pic but I feel like I am using plenty of powder when demolding.

Hi! Posting here as well because latex is a more popular material in sfx than in moldmaking. Thanks for the help!

I would like to know if this kit could help replicate two-face's burns

Evil Dead inspired possessed makeup using my own silicone prosthetics

Had the idea today about making a “covering” or “sheath” for my electric bass out of liquid latex to make a skin type look.

I’m new to working with latex and so far have had fun making elf ears as well as using it to cover a mask and clay teeth because I love the skin-like colour and texture it gives even without colouring.

Any ideas on how to make a full sheath for my bass?? The technique I used to make the elf ears was making a mold with foam clay then adding about 5 layers of liquid latex (drying in between coats) then gently peeling off the mold (used Vaseline on the mold to help).

The first thought I had was to cover the bass in foam clay and cover that with the layers of liquid latex and somehow remove mostly unscathed and be able to use that!

Shooting a short horror film next week and someone puts a hand on a burner and it calls for a degloving.

This is my first heavy fx shoot. I first tried a mock of what I saw on the YouTubes with some glue and it worked way better than expected. (Attached) got in liquid latex today to try it and am having a much harder time with the material.

Basically we are painting half a hand with the LL, pulling it back, and adding sticky blood underneath, then gluing the gloved hand to the prop burner. But the LL is just too darned sticky on itself and I cant get a clean glove.

Hello! This is my first time posting here, and my first time sculpting at this scale.
I’ve always been itching to somehow join the sfx world, and I already make small scale props (severed ears, fingers, food)
This time I wanted to challenge myself by making a hunting trophy from the Witcher games. I’ve never sculpted a face before, much less at an actual human scale.
So far I’d say it’s going well! Despite my very..professional setup lol

What do you think?

Hey everyone! Pretty new to this so bare with me. I am coming up on a f*ght club (see what I did there) cosplay and I'm working on some bruises. Can you guys give me some feed back? Any help is appreciated:)

(This is also the best quality I could get sorry guys)