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How to Create a Makeup Morgue

If you are interested in pursuing theater makeup, whether on a professional level or in a community theater, creating a makeup morgue is a must. A makeup morgue is a collection of photographs of faces that help a makeup artist determine makeup for actors in plays.

Things You'll Need

  • 3 ring notebook
  • Notebook dividers
  • Document protectors
  • Labels
  • Permanent marker
  • Scissors
  • Camera
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Instructions

  1. How to Create a Makeup Morgue

    • 1

      Put the notebook dividers into the 3 ring notebook. The amount of dividers will depend upon the number of categories you want. and the size of the notebook. The morgue can always be added to later. Put document protectors in each of these sections.

    • 2

      Decide the different categories of pictures you want to collect; these can include youth, middle age, old age, illness, wounds and scars, animals, fantasy and historical periods. It can also include a category for different parts of the face as well as hair styles. Write the category name on the notebook divider.

    • 3

      Cut pictures from magazines, newspapers or prints from the Internet that represent any of the categories and put them in the appropriate section of the morgue. These pictures can just have one part that you want-such as someone with greatly defined wrinkles-or it can be an entire face.

    • 4

      Take pictures of people with interesting faces. If you know someone who has a bad bruise or wound, ask if you can take pictures of the bruise or wound for several days or weeks as it heals. Label the progression of the healing process.

    • 5

      Collect pictures of animals for fantasy makeup. These need to be close up pictures in order to get details of the animal’s face.

    • 6

      Order the historical pieces chronologically. If you know it, label the year or decade on the picture.

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