Camouflage, Film & TV, My Work Assignments |

April 16, 2016

‘Naked and Invisible’ On Channel 4’s All4 Facebook Page goes viral!!

Carolyn Roper body painting Ashley Lewis

Personal Trainer Ashley Lewis camouflage body painted against shelves of vegetables

The ‘Naked and Invisible’ series of short films for Channel 4 featuring my camouflage body painting has gone viral over the last week. Since its release 10 days ago the brilliant video has received more than 5.7 million views and has been shared an unbelievable 66,000 times all around the world. It’s been seen everywhere from Hong Kong to Buenos Aires and Venezuela to Nepal.

You can watch the trailer clip at the All4 Facebook Page here or if you would like to watch all 4 short films in their entirety, go to the Channel 4 website here

I’ve worked on a lot of camouflage assignments during my career but this has to be up there as one of the most enjoyable jobs that I’ve ever done. So naturally I’m thrilled for everyone who was involved in the making of the series.

Matthew ‘Morgan Fabulous’ camouflage body painted against a clothes stall in a busy market

The background to the series.

As I said in a previous blog, I was approached by Showem Entertainment Ltd several months ago regarding an idea that they were working on for a series of short films for Channel 4. This would involve volunteer models being camouflaged, using body paint, into various backgrounds around London so that they were invisible to the public for a short while.

All the models had a particular reason for wanting to be invisible for a day. I really liked the concept and was very happy work on this project with the team. We started the series back in August last year with the lovely Leyah Shanks who is a body confidence blogger from Edinburgh. It was my job to blend her in to the back of a telephone kiosk in a London street. We then moved on to various locations around London and I painted Body Builder Kate Austin, Personal Trainer Ashley Lewis, Amputee Taylor Crisp, Alternative Model Alison Ward and Librarian and Drag Queen Matthew ‘Morgan Fabulous’ over the course of a week.

You can read the full story with all the images from the series on one of my earlier blogs here

Welsh Body Builder Kate Austin camouflage body painted against supermarket shelving

Definitely one of my favourite assignments to date

Working on the production of the series was a great experience and the whole crew from Showem Entertainment Ltd were just brilliant. The very brave volunteer models who were completely new to the sometimes surreal world of body painting were absolutely marvellous to work with, and we had so much fun with the various scenarios. The reaction of the members of the public when they were ‘surprised’ by the models wearing their camouflage body paint and not a lot else was at times hilarious and so much fun to watch.

And finally I had some lovely testimonials from Simon Goodman the producer of ‘Naked and Invisible’ and also Laura Scimone who is a member of my make-up and body painting team, and who worked incredibly hard alongside me for a week whilst we were filming the series. A big thanks also to Emily Dowdeswell from my team who also assisted on the pilot for the series.

“Carolyn is a true artist and a brilliant collaborator. Her technical ability in bringing her camouflage body art illusions to life so realistically is almost superhuman. It was a real pleasure to work with her on Naked and Invisible.”
Simon Goodman, Producer/Director.

“Working with Carolyn Roper is one of the most inspiring experiences I’ve ever had. She is professional, precise and with the most amazing calm funny personality. She is the most “Speedy Gonzales Body painter” that I’ve ever seen – incredibly fast. I’ve learned a lot from her and I always do, working next to her. Thank you Carolyn for sharing your amazing talent with me.”
Laura Sicmone, Make-up Artist/Body Artist.

Body Painting as a Career |

April 10, 2016

| Carolyn Roper

Body Painting – Information and Advice for Models

Am I short or are my two models just very tall?!! Diet Coke/Jean Paul Gaultier campaign

Body painting is used for various advertising campaigns, music videos, television adverts, PR stunts etc. As a professional body painter out in industry you can expect to get jobs working on PR and promotional events by clients wishing to get press coverage for a new product or event, or for television advertising.

During my career I’ve painted literally hundreds of models in various locations around the world. So here’s a few of my hints and tips that should lead to a successful and pleasant body painting experience for the model, the artist and the client.

Absolutely make sure that you are using skin safe products! I cannot stress this enough! Everything in my kit was designed specifically to go on the skin. Just because a product is non toxic doesn’t mean that you can use it on the body; your insurance won’t cover you if your model has a reaction.

Care for your model

It is VERY important as a body artist to know how to look after your model and make sure that they’re as comfortable as possible. When you’re on a job with your model try to ensure that he/she will be warm enough. If you’re in a room or location that doesn’t have heating ask if it’s possible to provide portable heaters. I usually have foil blankets in my kit for outside shoots.

If it’s a very warm day ask that fans can be provided, so they don’t get too hot. If you’re body painting for several hours then there is a good chance that your model will need to sit down. See if it’s possible to have chairs provided for your model to sit on.

Do they have another job to go to afterwards? If so, they will need to leave with absolutely no paint residue on them. If there are no showers on-set, pack plenty of baby wipes in your kit to help with the paint removal from the skin. If there are showers available, remind your model to take along a wash kit containing shower gel, flannel, towel etc.

A silk/satin dressing gown can also be useful for the model if she needs to cover-up for toilet trips etc. and not smudge the paint. Flip flops are also handy for a model to take along.

Another very tall model Amy Woodman painted for a Kryolan event at The Royal Opera House

Preparation for painting

There are things that your model needs to do to prepare themselves for being painted. Make sure they remove all their body hair. Women are usually fairly smooth, but men will need to at the least run beard trimmers over themselves as any body hair will catch on your brushes and it will be impossible to get clean lines.

Never ask your models to wax, more often than not they will come up in a rash or have broken skin on the area, making it impossible to paint on.

Make sure your models know not to put any products on their skin before getting painted. Unlike when you apply make-up, some products like moisturiser or fake tan make it extremely hard to get an even base coat as the paint does not stick evenly.

Also be aware of any contraindications that might prevent you from painting. Areas of broken skin, such as cuts or grazes. Any kind of infection or cold sores.

Sensitivity to the needs of your model

Some models can be a bit nervous before a body painting job, particularly if it’s their first experience of a body art shoot. I’m very sensitive to their concerns and I often find that a female model will feel much more comfortable once her breasts and nipples are painted, so this is always where I’ll apply the paint first.

I very rarely paint naked models, although I have had to paint detailed anatomical designs for Channel 4’s “Embarrassing Bodies” on sensitive areas. But, sometimes it is necessary to paint completely naked models. It’s then VERY important to decant your paint from its usual container into a disposable one so that you can throw away any left-over paint. I also prefer to use cheaper brushes that can be disposed of afterwards.

An even taller model painted at IMATS New York for AOFM

The Perfect Model

A good model is one that understands the process and can keep very still for long periods of time. It’s also good if they have a friendly personality and are easy to talk to. Body painting can last for several hours so some general banter and fun conversation can make the time pass much more quickly and pleasantly.

I can provide models for various shoots, but I would say that 90% of the models that I paint are usually provided by the client. Some of these models are incredibly tall and anyone’s who’s met me will know that I’m incredibly short! I can usually get them to bend down so that I can reach the tops of their shoulders and their faces. But if I’m doing camouflage work and they have to stand in one position, we have get really technical and I have to stand on a box so that I can reach them!!!

The Fainters

Body paint shoots often start very early and not all models will turn up having eaten properly or have had anything to drink. Some models deliberately avoid eating before a job as they think they might not look their best on camera. This can be a recipe for disaster.

I’ve been in situations where some girls have spent longer with their head down the toilet feeling faint and nauseous, than being painted. There have been times when I’ve actually had to dash off to buy breakfast for them. Once they’ve had something to eat and a mug of hot sweet tea, or an orange juice, they’re good to go and we can get on with the painting. But this seriously eats into the time and can affect the finished result, and is so easily avoidable. So I would highly recommend that all models eat a proper breakfast/lunch before a body paint shoot.

I like to take some snacks with me on jobs, things like bananas. I also have a supply of glucose sweets which I pop into their mouths frequently and can help stop models from feeling faint whilst I work.

My tallest model ever! Ryan Mackins painted at Olympia Beauty Trade Show for Mistair

Some models don’t want to drink a lot of water because they are worried about going to the loo and smudging the paint with their underwear. But it’s really important to stay hydrated. It is a lot easier to clean up some smudged paint around the groin than have to clean off an entire section because your model has fainted and ruined half your painting. I always tell my models to pull their underwear to the sides if possible when using the toilet and it very rarely results in any smudged work.

It’s also important to get your model to move around lots whilst you are mixing the paint or cleaning your brushes, quite often it will be not moving their feet that will cause your model to feel unwell, particularly if it’s a very warm location.

I ask my models to tell me as soon as possible if they start to feel unwell. If there’s a chair available sit them down. I’ve had situations where a very tall model has suddenly slithered off down the wall with me desperately trying to hold her up. And with a 6 foot plus model and a 4 foot 11 artist you just know it’s never going to end well.

Body painting artist becomes body painting model

I always wanted to have my own body painted and was very pleased and surprised to receive an invitation from the American artist Craig Tracy who I first met at the World Body Painting Festival in Austria on my second visit in 2004. So in March 2005 I travelled to New Orleans and spent a week with Craig sightseeing, eating and of course painting each other with the designs that Craig had worked out in advance.

The end result of the body painting collaboration between myself and Craig Tracy

The body painting collaboration was a unique experience for me and I think I definitely have more sympathy for my models now.

After this experience I can confirm that it’s quite difficult to stay absolutely still for long periods of time, particularly if you have to stand up. But no doubt like many of my own models, I found it absorbing to be able to watch and actually see the design taking shape.

Body Painting can transform people, they become part of the art work. You can see the shiest model come alive once they have been painted. It’s a really liberating experience and I would recommend it to anyone.

Body Painting as a Career |

April 1, 2016

| Carolyn Roper

A career in body painting or make-up : What you need to consider

My graduation from West Thames College in 2004

After graduating from West Thames College in 2004 with a HND in Specialist Hair and Make-up I had to make an important decision about my future career. Did I want to join a make-up company like MAC or try my hand at freelance work? I had to weigh up the options.

If I joined a make-up company I would have regular hours, regular pay, work colleagues, sick pay, holiday pay and no tax returns to deal with at the end of the year. Plus the opportunity to progress within the company over the years ahead.

Working as a freelance make-up and body artist means no regular hours, no regular pay, no sick or holiday pay, and the dreaded tax return and National Insurance to sort out. It can be lonely. You have no colleagues. No surprise birthday cakes, no office Christmas party. Secret Santa doesn’t really work if you have to buy the present for yourself. But the advantages are that you’re your own boss, and don’t have to do regular hours every week with a limited annual holiday allowance. But more importantly the work can be really varied and interesting, and you’re very much be in control of your own career. After giving it a lot of thought I decided to go down the freelance route.

Portfolio piece from my time at West Thames College

No Regular Income

Starting out in the industry as a freelance body painting or make-up artist isn’t easy. Unfortunately you won’t leave college one month and be doing make-up in the world of rock and pop the next. The reality is that you’re more likely to be sitting in your flat eating beans on toast and wondering if you have enough train fare to get to your next job. But don’t get dis-heartened as it’s the same for most freelancers at the beginning of their career.

Your kit is expensive and there’s a lot of competition for the work that’s out there. Plus with no regular income and no idea when, or where, your next job will come from, it can be very tough. Everyone’s circumstances are different. If you’re lucky enough to live at home with family support and few overheads, or have the security of a partner or husband’s salary, it’s very different to leaving home and renting often very expensive accommodation and completely supporting yourself. Then all the money that you earn has to be saved for living costs, as you could have a quiet month with absolutely no work and you still have to pay your rent etc.

Financially try not to go down the credit card route. I had a simple rule…in fact I still have. If you can’t afford it, don’t buy it, book it or cook it! I’ve eaten my fair share of beans on toast and it was several years before I felt secure enough to book a holiday.

My mother used to send me vegetables through the post so that she knew I was eating properly. It wasn’t unusual for me to come home and find an envelope on the doormat containing green beans and baby sweetcorn!!!

In action at the World Bodypainting Festival in Seeboden, Austria, in 2005

Portfolio Building

I did a lot of low pay and no pay assisting jobs to build up my portfolio and gain experience in the industry. Plus my birthday present from my parents every July was a trip to The World Bodypainting Festival in Austria. As well as a great experience it was a good way of building up my portfolio and also hopefully winning some accolades that might enhance my career. In those early days I never imagined I would win once, let alone twice. But it’s definitely been invaluable in terms of taking my career to the next level. I’ll be covering The World Bodypainting Festival in more detail in another blog.

Unsocial Working Hours

If a model, or models, need to be ready for an early morning press call the painting has to be done before sunrise. I’ve had numerous jobs where I’ve found myself in a cab with the driver navigating a very empty city at 3 am. This is never ideal but it has to be done. You know the feeling when you’re off on holiday and set your alarm for an early flight?? Then you hardly sleep because you’re worried about missing your flight. Well it’s that same feeling only 10 times worse. You toss and turn and then end up getting up before you really have to, simply because you’re awake anyway! You then have to go and paint to a really high standard against the clock to get the models finished, usually after around 3 hours sleep. But I find that once I’m at the location the adrenalin kicks in and I’m off…… painting like a mini ninja!

A getmadeup team job for the NHS. Photo: Adrian Brooks/Imagewise

Building up your Business

There are no short cuts. You have to build up your experience, and your client list, and that only comes with time. If you do a good job the client will be more likely to remember you and use you again, or even recommend you to other clients. But when you’re starting out know your limitations. It’s better to not do the job at all than do it badly. You not only let the client down, but you risk your reputation as well. If you’re good at what you do, you’ll find that it’s almost self- perpetuating. The more work you do the more work comes in.

I’m pleased that I decided on the freelance route, it was the right decision for me. No two days are the same and I love being my own boss. I’ve worked hard to build up my business and now have many repeat clients. I have my Getmadeup team who work with me on larger assignments so my little business also supports several other artists and I actually now have some colleagues. But none of this has happened overnight. I started at the bottom of the ladder and it’s taken me 12 years to get to the point that I’m at today.

My ‘Alice in Wonderland’ themed body painting for Mistair

Career Advice

So my advice to anyone who has a passion for make-up/body painting and is seriously thinking of a career in the industry would be to get some training. Either a full time college course or one of the shorter courses from the various make-up academies out there. There are some excellent self- taught make-up artists, but just about everyone that I know in the industry has started their career with some professional training.

You must have Public Liability Insurance before starting work in the industry. If you poke your brush in someone’s eye you’ll be in big trouble with no insurance cover. I get mine through Professional Beauty. It’s automatically renewed every 12 months and is around £50 for the year. Anyone who works with me must have their own PLI as mine won’t cover them.

If you’re freelance don’t expect to run before you can walk. Gain as much work experience as you can. Do the low pay jobs to practice your skills and build up contacts.

Don’t get disheartened at the beginning of your career. Realistically it will probably take you a few years to get established.

Finally, I hope that anyone who’s interested in becoming a professional make-up or body painting artist will find this information interesting and useful. I’ve tried to be honest and give you the benefit of my experience. It’s not easy starting out, it’s hard work. Early starts, late finishes, not a lot of spare cash! But if you’re willing to persevere it can be a great career, incredibly good fun at times and very interesting. Good luck!!!!

Camouflage, Film & TV, My Work Assignments |

February 7, 2016

| Carolyn Roper

Body painting ‘Naked and Invisible’ people in London for Channel 4

Around 6 months ago I was approached by Showem Entertainment Ltd regarding an idea that they were working on for a series of short films for Channel 4. In the shorts, models would be body painted into various backgrounds around London so that they were camouflaged and invisible to the public.

I really enjoy camouflage body art so was definitely up for the challenge. The people that I painted had volunteered because they all had a particular reason for wanting to find out what it would be like to be invisible and it was fascinating to meet them and hear their stories. They were all marvellous to work with and very patient during the whole body painting process which can take several hours. I’ve painted literally hundreds of models during my career in numerous locations around the world, but it’s always very important that I put first-time models at ease and find a comfortable pose that they’re happy with.

The series has just been released and can be seen on 4OD

http://www.channel4.com/programmes/naked-invisible

Leyah Shanks

Leyah Shanks

We started the series back in August last year with the lovely Leyah Shanks who is a body confidence blogger from Edinburgh. It was my job to blend her in to the back of a telephone kiosk in a London street. Leyah disappeared into the phone box and undressed. She emerged in her pants and I arranged her in a pose that she would be able to hold for the duration of the painting. I was working with the talented Emily Dowdeswell and once the camouflage effect was finished we cleared away the painting equipment and left Leyah to surprise the public.

Leyah was a brilliant model and absolutely loved the whole process and said ‘it was incredibly freeing to rid myself of all my clothes and underwear in a public place’.

You can watch Leyah’s unique and unusual experience here

http://www.channel4.com/programmes/naked-invisible/on-demand/62181-003

You can also read her account of the day on her interesting blog here.

http://iamleyahshanks.com/2016/02/06/naked-invisible-channel-4-short/

Ashley Lewis

Ashley Lewis

I also painted personal trainer Ashley Lewis from London. Ashley has an amazing physique so can stand out from the crowd and sometimes his physique attracts negative comments. He wanted to know what it would feel like to be invisible and NOT have people staring at him. I had to camouflage him into a fruit and veg market stall and had the lovely Laura Scimone helping me with the painting. Unfortunately, as we were working outside, we were beaten by the weather on our first attempt, so we had to relocate to an indoor shop with hilarious results once the painting was finished.

Ashely’s experience can be seen here.

http://www.channel4.com/programmes/naked-invisible/on-demand

Carolyn Roper camouflage bodypainting Matthew Morgan

Matthew ‘Morgan Fabulous’

Matthew… ‘Morgan Fabulous’

Another fantastic model was drag queen and librarian Matthew whose alter ego is ‘Morgan Fabulous’ and he was definitely fabulous to work with. He gets mixed reactions from his clothes and make-up and would love to give other people the confidence to wear what they want to. Laura and I had to camouflage him into a coat stall in busy Spitalfields market.

Listen to his story and watch is transformation here.

http://www.channel4.com/programmes/naked-invisible/on-demand/62181-006

Alison Ward

Alison Ward

Alison is a fully tattooed model from Bath. She was tired of being treated differently because of her tattoos and wondered what it would be like to be invisible for a day. So Laura and I camouflaged her into a stack of suitcases in a market. The main challenge was covering all of Alison’s beautiful tattoos and completing the body painting in such a busy market place.

Watch the story unfold here.

http://www.channel4.com/programmes/naked-invisible/on-demand/62181-002

Taylor Crisp

Taylor Crisp

Taylor was born with a shortened femur and had her leg amputated as a child. She wanted to overcome her fear of having her scars on show in a public place. She was camouflaged into a busy café and once she removed her prosthetic leg she couldn’t stand for too long, so Laura and I had to make sure she was comfortable with her pose on a stool before we began the painting. Taylor was very apprehensive about the process before we began, but ended up enjoying the day and hoped that her experience might help others in a similar situation.

See her story here.

http://www.channel4.com/programmes/naked-invisible/on-demand/62181-005

Kate Austin

Kate Austin

I also had the pleasure of working with Welsh body builder Kate Austin. She has an amazing physique but it can leave her feeling self-conscious.

Kate wanted to see what it was like to be ignored so she was painted to blend in with some shelves in a supermarket.

Kate was a pleasure to paint and I think she enjoyed the experience. The reaction from the shoppers was very funny!

Watch Kate surprise the shoppers here.

http://www.channel4.com/programmes/naked-invisible/on-demand/62181-004

I’ve worked on a lot of camouflage assignments during my career but this has to be up there as one of the most enjoyable jobs that I’ve ever done. It was a great experience. Everyone from Showem Entertainment Ltd and all the brave volunteer models were absolutely marvellous to work with. We had a lot of fun with the various scenarios and the reaction of the members of the public when they were ‘surprised’ by the models wearing their camouflage body paint and not a lot else. It was all very funny!

Body Painting as a Career |

January 4, 2016

| Carolyn Roper

Body painting – Which paints will work for you?

The 2007 World Festival winning design using Mehron body paints. Photo: Reinhard Bichler

I thought I would start the New Year by covering one of the questions that I get asked on a very regular basis. What body paints do I use? This has the potential to be a long blog so you might want to make yourself a cup of tea and find a comfortable chair!

When I first started out in the industry in 2003 there weren’t very many brands available. But the popularity of body painting has grown massively over the years and there are now numerous very good brands out there including Mehron, MistFX , Kryolan, Cameleon, Diamond FX, Global, Graftobian and TAG. This can make for a bewildering choice when someone is starting out in the industry.

I should say that I can’t recommend one brand over another. I’ve found that by chatting to other body artists during my career, what one person really likes, another artist will dismiss completely. I can tell you what I use, and why. But would advise anyone wanting to get started with face and body painting to do a bit of research. Buy a few different brands, play around with them, and see what’s going to work best for you. These will be the tools of your trade, so you want to make the right choice for you. Budget might also be an important consideration and the prices vary between £4 – £5 for Cameleon or Diamond FX. Up to £8 – £10 for Paradise and £12 for MistFX.

Basic bodypainting colours for your kit.

There are two main techniques with body painting. ‘Brush & Sponge’ and ‘Airbrushing’. When starting out it’s much cheaper/easier to put together a kit with a few basic brushes and sponges and a selection of primary and basic colours. I would include black, white, red, yellow, and blue. I would also recommend green, purple, pink, orange, grey, and brown as you don’t want to spend all your time mixing colours.

The 2009 World Festival winning design using Mehron body paints. Photo: Reinhard Bichler

Paradise Make-up AQ by Mehron

I’ve been using Paradise paints by Mehron since 2005 so most of the work in my portfolio has been done using Paradise. The paints have a glycerine base with avocado oil and cocoa butter so they smell as good as they look. They come in a really wide range of colours in a solid cake form. There is also a metallic range too. The Silver Argente is the best that I’ve used. The paints have a very creamy consistency when mixed with water and blend beautifully. I find them perfect whether I’m painting a smooth base coat or layering the colours. They’re also great for fine line work too. As well as using Paradise for numerous assignments with high profile clients, including the Hollywood movie ‘Dumb and Dumber To’, I’ve also won two World Championships with these paints. The first occasion was in 2007 with my painting partner Carly Utting and then again in 2009 with my assistant Paula Southern.

World Super Bike rider Leon Haslam, painted using MistFX body paints. Photo: Gary Prior

MistFX by Mistair

Most face and body paints on the market come in a solid cake form. MistFX is a very different product as it’s a liquid and comes in a bottle. Some people can be confused by this and think that it’s only suitable for airbrush work. But the paints can be decanted into a small dish or artist’s pallet and work perfectly when used with brushes or sponges too. They come in a range of 24 intermixable colours with a matt or lovely pearlescent finish and have a very high pigment concentration so the colours are very vivid and give a beautiful professional finish. They’re extremely durable and don’t smudge easily. I’ve painted for some high profile campaigns including The NHS and Coca Cola using Mistair. I’ve also had the pleasure of painting Super Bike racer Leon Haslam at Silverstone. The resultant body painting looked so realistic that people thought he was actually in his leathers!

The Face Paints Direct logo was designed and painted by myself using MistFX. Photo: Joseph Sinclair

Suppliers of face and body paint.

For Paradise paints, brushes and also the full Mehron range visit www.mehron.com or Mehron UK at Treasure House www.treasurehouseofmakeup.co.uk

For MistFX paints by Mistair and a wide range of other products including make-up, hair art and nail art go to www.skinbysterex.com

Also for Mehron and MistFX and just about every other brand of face and body paint as well as numerous other products and accessories for the professional face and body painter a visit to www.facepaintsdirect.co.uk is a must. Jane offers a speedy and very efficient service. A lot of my work comes in at very short notice and Jane has gone the extra mile on several occasions to make sure that I get the products that I need in time for my assignments.

My skull design for a Kryolan Masterclass at The Royal Opera House was painted using Kryolan

Another marvellous supplier for artists is Kryolan UK in Tavistock St., Covent Garden. I still remember my first visit when I was a student back in 2002. It was then known as Charles H Fox and was established in 1876. I was like a child in a sweet shop and blown away by the extensive choice of anything body art related, plus the make-up, the books and the videos. And also the range of quite often gory prosthetics and the beautiful wigs that were displayed in the shop.

The original Charles H Fox has since been refurbished and rebranded as Kryolan UK and it remains a wonderful shopping experience for any make-up or body painting artist. But enter at your peril. There are so many tempting products and friendly helpful staff…….you could end up with a serious dent in your bank balance!! www.uk.kryolan.com

Film & TV, My Work Assignments |

December 19, 2015

| Carolyn Roper

Festive make-up, twinkling body painting and the X Factor finale.

Kylie’s dancers made up for her Royal Albert Hall Christmas Concert

A Kylie Christmas at The Royal Albert Hall

On Friday the 11^th of December I was delighted to be working with my colleague and Getmadeup team member Emily Dowdeswell at The Royal Albert Hall for ‘A Kylie Christmas’. This was Kylie’s first ever headline appearance at the venue to celebrate the release of her new album. Emily and I were responsible for the red sparkling hair and make up for Kylie’s dancers, and also her backing singers. It was great fun with wonderful backstage catering and a real party atmosphere to the whole evening. Every seat had a Santa hat on it, so the whole audience could join in with the festive fun. It was very hectic, but very enjoyable. Everyone was a delight to work with. On Saturday morning, whilst I set off for Wembley for the X Factor final weekend, Emily dashed over to ‘The Strictly Come Dancing’ studios to repeat the hair and make-up on Kylie’s dancers for that show.

Shona McGarty made up for EastEnders Christmas photo-shoot in Inside Soap Magazine. Photo: Dan Goldsmith

Inside Soap Magazine

I had the pleasure of working on the Eastenders Christmas shoot for ‘Inside Soap’. I was responsible for the hair and make-up for the lovely Shona McGarty, whose character is Whitney Dean in the soap. There’s a very colourful and festive 4 page article in the magazine. I used Mehron Pro Celebre HD foundation to give Shona’s complexion a lovely radiant finish.

Gold body painted models for ZEEN oil promotion at Fortnum and Masons, London.

Glittering Gold Body Painting for ZEEN Oil

We recently had a booking for a team job for ZEEN Oil which is a Moroccan oil handmade by local Berber women in rural villages. The event was very early on a Monday morning where 5 models would be painted gold to promote the product at Fortnum and Mason’s. The taxis for models and artists were booked for 3 am. I wouldn’t get home from Sunday night’s X Factor until around 1 am, so there was no way I would be awake enough for the painting. Our very talented Getmadeup girls from my team, Emily and Alison, did an amazing job on our gorgeous models with some stunning make up and sparkling gold body painting using Mehron Gold Metallic powder. If this reminds anyone of the James Bond film Goldfinger and the urban myth surrounding gold paint….specialist metallic body paint that is cosmetic grade and FDA approved is actually completely safe to use on the whole body.

Backstage at the X Factor with Chief Make-up Designer Julia Carta and Paul Merchant, Head of Make-up at Charles Fox – Kryolan UK.

X Factor Final weekend

The 12^th and 13^th of December saw the final shows of this year’s X Factor. I’ve been a part of the make-up team for the contestants for the last 4 years, working under the X Factor Chief Make-up Designer, the celebrity make-up artist Julia Carta. It’s always exciting being involved in such a huge live show, there’s a lot of running around backstage with last minute touch up’s etc. We get to know the contestants really well in the make-up room and we’re sorry when they leave the show. This season was more condensed than previous years because of the Rugby World Cup and just flew by. It’s quite sad when it’s over and it’s time for our little team to disband once again. But it’s also a sign that Christmas and 2016 are just around the corner.

The Christmas Market at Colmar, Alsace.

Seasons Greetings from everyone at Getmadeup

It’s been a great year here at Getmadeup. I’ve worked on so many diverse projects with rugby players, actors, celebrities, live body art installations and also TV shows. And my marvellous team of make-up and body artists who support me on larger assignments have been brilliant as always and great fun to work with. There’s lots more in the pipeline for 2016 and I’ll be sharing plenty of interesting, and hopefully useful information, about the sometimes surreal world of freelance make-up and body painting.

Merry Christmas from Lois, my furry companion, pictured here in the Black Forest, Germany.

I’m spending the holidays in Europe and looking forward to visiting some of the beautiful Christmas markets in the Black Forest and The Alsace. So I would just like to wish all my Getmadeup girls and boys, clients, colleagues, family and friends a wonderful Christmas and a happy, healthy and peaceful New Year.

Body Painting as a Career |

December 6, 2015

| Carolyn Roper

Body Painting, Make-Up and assorted mayhem with the late great Storm Thorgerson.

Gaining Work Experience with Storm

As I mentioned in an earlier post, I first started working with Storm Thorgerson and StormStudios back in 2004 when I was still a student. He was the artistic genius behind so many iconic album covers including Pink Floyd, Led Zeppelin, Genesis, 10cc and later Muse and Biffy Clyro and is considered by some as ‘the best album designer in the world’. My father was a huge Pink Floyd and Led Zeppelin fan so I had seen the album covers in his collection, but I never imagined I would get to work with the person who actually designed them.

With Storm and my body painted model at an exhibition of his work

A friend had passed on my details as Storm was looking for a model for a photographic shoot for an upcoming CD cover. However the model would be posing in a telephone kiosk and it soon became clear that although my face might fit the brief, my body certainly didn’t. Being quite short, the kiosk would really accentuate my height, or lack of it! So I asked if I could do some work experience and that was the beginning of an artistic relationship and friendship that lasted until Storm sadly passed away in April 2013.

Body painting with Storm was never boring!

Working with Storm was anything but boring. On an early shoot I ended up standing in for the model and posing on an old plane in a hangar in my underwear, which as you can imagine came as a bit of a surprise, particularly as I was only there to do the make-up.

Over the years, as well as the ‘normal’ studio shoots, I body painted in vans, in fields and on beaches. I painted for fine art prints, book covers, CD covers, posters and exhibitions including a really interesting live event with Storm on stage at BAFTA. I was painting eyes on a model’s back whilst Storm talked about his career. It was so fascinating that I actually forgot where I was and stopped painting, until Storm prodded me back into action. Then everyone in the audience was given a cabbage. Just like on a shoot, Storm directed the audience while Rupert Truman from StormStudios took a photo of everyone holding the cabbage in front of their face. So just a regular night out for the audience really!!!

Wave body painting for the cover of Biffy Clyro CD Folding Stars. Photo: Rupert Truman / StormStudios.

Storm really enjoyed using body painting for some of his work, including the CD cover for Biffy Clyro’s ‘Puzzle’. I love that design, it’s one of my particular favourites. Myself and Carly, a friend and fellow artist, painted a guy from head to toe with jigsaw puzzle pieces. The CD was a huge hit once it was released and was featured in numerous magazines. It was amazing to see the image on billboards around London. I was teaching body art out in Florida and went into a music store and there it was. It was great to see my work across the pond. We also painted a guy with a wave design for the single Folding Stars from the Puzzle album.

Painted suits on the cover of Mind Over Matter 4: The Images of Pink Floyd. Photo: Rupert Truman / StormStudios.

Flexibility and enthusiasm were key (and a sense of humour helped!)

My work with Storm wasn’t limited to body painting. I did hair and make-up if required, including the cover for American rock band ‘Umphrey’s Mcgee’ CD ‘The Bottom Half’. I also painted some coloured suits with designs from various Pink Floyd album covers. These were flown to the US and used in a shoot for the book cover of ‘Mind over Matter 4: The Images of Pink Floyd’.

We were out in the countryside on a shoot and I ended up strapped to the front of Dan, Storm’s designer and artist, who was wearing a harness. We were dangled out over a stream at an angle of around 45 degrees for a poster design! I seem to remember there were a few cow pats around too. Definitely not my normal day at the office. It was very funny!!

Carolyn Roper Beach Catalogue body painting

My body painting on Storm’s ‘Beach Catalogue’ fine art print. Photo: Rupert Truman / StormStudios.

When I won the World Bodypainting Championship in Austria for the first time in 2007 we were driving home through Germany when my phone rang. It was Storm. He didn’t realise where I was, but I said I was on my way home from the competition in Austria. He asked how I had done and when I said I had won he said he felt like a proud father and that he liked to think he had a little bit to do with my success. And there’s no doubt in my mind that he did.

In 2009 we had a memorable trip to South Africa. On the flight over Storm’s TV screen wasn’t working. I offered to swap seats but he just shared my screen instead. It was just as well that we had the same taste in films! During the 2 weeks in SA we worked on the ‘Outback’ and ‘Beach Catalogue’ fine art prints, with plenty of time for sightseeing and bobbing around in the pool in between the painting. It was a great experience.

‘Face the Facts’ CD cover for Octane OK. Me and Storm captured in the background! Photo: Rupert Truman / StormStudios.

Sadly the end of an era

The final shoot that I did with Storm was for the CD cover ‘Face the Facts’ for the Birmingham rock band ‘Octane Ok’. Once I had finished the painting Storm and I sat and chatted for ages. We got caught on camera and appear together in the background on the album cover. This is quite poignant as I knew Storm was very ill, but didn’t realise that this would be the last time that I would see him. He was hoping to make it to my wedding in March 2013 but sadly it was not to be.

I feel very privileged to have known Storm. As well as our working relationship he was also my friend and mentor and responsible for a really interesting and often very amusing chapter in my life. I knew that a shoot with Storm and the team would always be a memorable event. No one pushed me harder than he did, and he could be the most challenging of clients at times. But I don’t think I would be half the artist that I am today without having known him and worked for him. I still miss his dry wit and his wisdom, his crazy phone calls and even his shouting!

Storm’s lovely Testimonial

“We like creating custom images and are particularly fond of the illusory quality of body painting, not so much the decorative side as the odd or surreal side. The skills needed to execute these different qualities include dexterity, patience, speed and a particular visualising capacity – Carolyn has these skills in spades plus a sense of humour and a good nature, so vital in withstanding the pressures of the business and working with demanding clients….not me I hasten to add”.
Storm Thorgerson. Graphic Designer & Film Maker.

‘Taken by Storm’ DVD

Additional information about StormStudios.

StormStudios is a design company formed in the early 1990’s by Storm Thorgerson (ex Hipgnosis and Greenback Films) and Peter Curzon (designer), joined soon after by Rupert Truman (photographer) and later by Dan Abbott (designer and illustrator).

Together with a changing team of freelancers, we have created designs for many diverse projects including exhibitions, company logos, websites, typefaces, books and airships, but most notably we have designed album covers for bands such as Pink Floyd, Muse, Biffy Clyro, The Steve Miller Band, Ian Dury And The Blockheads, Pendulum, The Cranberries, The Mars Volta, Alan Parsons and many others. Storm sadly passed away in 2013 but the Studio remains busy creating ‘normal but not’ designs.

Visit their website at stormstudiosdesign.com and also the stormsight.co.uk website for beautiful fine art prints and also the recently released DVD ‘Taken by Storm’, a film by director Roddy Bogawa which is described as “an intimate portrait of Storm that reveals his character and gives a deep insight into how he worked”. This fascinating documentary is a must for all fans out there.

Body Painting as a Career |

November 29, 2015

| Carolyn Roper

My 1st ever Body Painting. And it’s at the World Body Painting Festival!

Seeboden. The beautiful location for the World Body Painting Festival in 2003.

In 2003 when I was still in college I saw an advertisement in a make-up magazine for what was then ‘The European Bodypainting Festival’ in Austria, which is now of course the very famous ‘World Bodypainting Festival’. It looked amazing so I made a few enquiries to see if I was eligible to enter, as I was a student and had never actually painted a body before. Alex Barendregt the organiser said I was very welcome, so I persuaded my sister Katie to be my guinea pig and model for me and we set off by train and plane for the lovely little town of Seeboden in Austria.

There were numerous large tents set up in a field and I was stunned by the size and professionalism of the festival, even all those years ago. Body painting on the continent was obviously a thriving industry and there were several independent body painting companies competing amongst the 84 other artists in my category. I must admit I was slightly worried that I might have bitten off more than I could chew. I had never painted a body before, I had no actual design planned, just a few ideas in my head, and just a small selection of paints and brushes.

My 1st ever body painting with futuristic hair and head-piece.

Was I a tiny bit mad?

Looking back I must have been a tiny bit mad!! But I could find very little information on the festival before we went and I literally had no idea what to expect. I didn’t know we would be in a tent in a field and even turned up on the first day ready to paint in my stilettos!!! Something that I’m still teased about to this day from some of the other artists.

I started painting, literally making my design up as I went along. I just hoped that I could finish in the 6 hours without shaming myself! We didn’t even know there was a catwalk for the models. When we saw the first model dance their way down the runway I think my sister wanted to stalk off into the hills and never come back. It was so funny! I got her finished in time and we wandered off to the dreaded judging tent!

But her humiliation wasn’t quite over. We then had the stage presentation. So there she was wearing just a thong, covered in silver paint, with her hair standing on end, a piece of plastic radio stuck to the side of her head and I forced her to walk like a robot on stage in front of hundreds of onlookers. I’m still not completely sure she’s forgiven me…. She’s moved to America!

We then had an anxious wait for the results. I was completely amazed to finish in 17^th place, not too many points behind many experienced artists and competitors.

Carolyn Roper's first ever body painting.

Katie braves the crowds and sets off down the catwalk.

I had made it through to Day Two!

As I had very unexpectedly qualified for the finals I had to paint on the second day! Again I had no planned design, in fact I hadn’t even thought about it, as I was sure I wouldn’t get high enough in the rankings to qualify. But we eventually came up with a design based on ‘The Wizard of Oz’ I put Katie’s hair in a messy bun on top of her head to represent the tornado complete with a little house that we cobbled together that morning out of a perfume box. Not my most sophisticated head-dress ever!

It was an incredibly hot day and Katie wasn’t feeling too great, and I think you could say that my painting had a strange naïve charm about it!! Apparently my tiny interpretation of Dorothy’s little dog Toto looked more like a caterpillar shuffling up the Yellow Brick Road. But in fairness it was only the second ever body painting that I had ever done, so I think it turned out as well as it could have. Finding myself in the judges tent again explaining the Flying Monkeys that I had painted on Katie’s back was just hilarious.

Carolyn Roper's Wizard of Oz body painting.

My Wizard of Oz body painting.

But there was far more laughter to come. We had no music with us for the stage presentation, so I asked the DJ if he had Elton John’s ‘Goodbye Yellow Brick Road’. Unfortunately something got lost in translation and Katie popped onto the stage to ‘Saturday Night’s Alright For Fighting’. We couldn’t believe it! We laughed so much afterwards until our ribs physically hurt!

What a fantastic experience.

But at this trip to my very first festival I met so many great people and was given such encouragement from other artists and photographers, many of whom are still friends today. I left Austria completely hooked on body painting having achieved 17th place on my first trip. In many ways I think it might have been my best experience at the body painting festival. I had no expectations, in fact all I wanted to do was get finished in the 6 hours. There wasn’t a lot of stress and there were so many times when we laughed until we cried.

Carolyn Roper at World Body Painting Festival

Flying the flag for the UK at my first Body Painting Festival.

Once you’ve poked your head above the parapet and you’re in the top 5 in the rankings the pressure is really on. You’re painting against the clock, against your peers and also quite often against the weather. Austria is a land-locked country and the summer temperatures can often reach 40 degrees. So all in all it’s an incredibly stressful experience.

But watching the stage presentations back in 2003 with the stunning body art, I never in my wildest dreams imagined that I would win once, let alone twice! Standing on the stage just 4 years later in 2007 and then again in 2009 as a World Champion Body Artist has got to be up there as two of the most incredibly proud moments in my career.

I’ll cover the 2007 and 2009 World Bodypainting Festival in more detail in future blogs.

Camouflage, Film & TV, My Work Assignments |

November 22, 2015

| Carolyn Roper

My body painting role in the Hollywood Movie ‘Dumb and Dumber To’

My invitation to attend the Hollywood Premiere of ‘Dumb & Dumber To’.

In 2013 I was the body painting artist for the camouflage scenes in the Hollywood movie ‘Dumb and Dumber To’ starring Jim Carrey and Jeff Daniels. So this time last year I had just got back from a truly memorable trip to Los Angeles for the World Premiere of the film.

The vending machine camouflage body painting scene featuring Rob Riggle.

The body painting challenge on set

I had to camouflage the American actor Rob Riggle into two different backgrounds for the film. One scene was set against a wall in a garden and the other one was the infamous ‘vending machine.’ The directors of the film Peter and Bobby Farrelly didn’t want to use any CGI, or any post production work. They wanted to film the scene exactly as had I painted it, so I knew the body painting had to be perfect. The vending machine design in particular was very intricate and Rob was incredibly patient whilst I took several hours to blend him into it seamlessly. When I had finished everyone was very pleased with the end results and when “wrap” was called at the end of the scene I was given a round of applause. It was a brilliant experience being on set for 3 weeks and meeting the cast and the crew and Rob was an absolute delight to work with. So I was thrilled when I was sent an invitation to the Premiere in November 2014.

The World Premiere Los Angeles November 2014

I flew to Los Angeles and stayed at the beautiful Beverly Hilton which is an iconic hotel where numerous major movie stars have stayed over the years. The walls were lined with black and white photos of famous past guests. The pool area was also reminiscent of a 1950’s film set. The weather was amazing with temperatures in the 80’s.

On the Red Carpet for the Hollywood Premiere of ‘Dumb & Dumber To’.

The Premiere was held at Westwood Village Theatre in Hollywood. It was very exciting arriving at the theatre with barriers on all the pavements and lots of security guys around. I definitely had to do the obligatory photos on the red carpet!! We made our way into the theatre and everyone was given tubs of popcorn and cola in the foyer before we sat down to wait for the film to begin.

It was quite a surreal experience watching the film and seeing my work on the big screen. Watching the scenes where Rob was camouflaged was amazing. Seeing him hidden before most of the audience had realised and then hearing their reaction when he moved out from the background was great. When the film finished and the credits rolled my name was on the screen as the Make-Up Consultant. It was certainly my most unique cinema experience ever!

Posing with Rob Riggle at the ‘After Party’.

Joining in the ‘After Party’

Once the film had finished we all set off for the ‘After Party’ with the cast and crew. It was great fun and there must have been hundreds of people there spilling out of the venue onto the lawn. There was a lot of delicious food and it was great to meet up with some of the people that I had worked with on the film, including the lovely Rob Riggle.

I would have loved to stay for longer, but all too soon it was time to leave the sunshine and return to London as I was busy working as a make-up artist on the X FACTOR as one of ‘Head Make-up Artist’ Julia Carta’s team for the contestants. I’m sure I bored them all to tears with tales of my travels. But I have to say it was an amazing experience and definitely the highlight of my body painting career so far!

Westwood Village Theatre Hollywood blog WP

Westwood Village Theatre, Hollywood – the venue for the Premiere.

Body Painting as a Career |

November 14, 2015

| Carolyn Roper

How did I get into body painting?

I get numerous emails from students looking for advice and enquiring about my background in the make-up and body painting industry. It’s really flattering and I do try to reply to as many requests as I can, but there are times when I’m incredibly busy and some emails do slip through the net. I always feel guilty if I haven’t managed to reply to someone, so I’ve decided to publish my experiences in my blog so that in future anyone wondering about how to get into body art or make-up might find the answers to their questions and also find it helpful and informative.

So one of the questions that I’m asked on a regular basis has to be ‘How did you get into body painting?’

Early days in College

I started my make-up and body painting career back in 2002 at West Thames College in London. I had previously studied at Suffolk College and after a foundation course in Art & Design I moved on to Beauty Therapy before deciding on a career in the make-up industry.

Carolyn Roper winning Suffolk College Make-up Competition

Winning the Suffolk College 2002 Make-up Competition

There weren’t too many make-up courses available back then. I applied to The London College of Fashion, Manchester and West Thames. The next step was to put together a portfolio. I forced my very patient fellow Beauty Therapy friends to model for me in their lunch hour. I stripped them of their beautiful make up and then made them up with various ‘looks’ and took ‘before and after’ photos on my father’s old Olympus SLR camera and had the photos enlarged.

We also had an end of term show/competition with the theme ‘Showgirls’. I decided to enter and based my design on ‘The Moulin Rouge’ and in particular Christina Aguilera’s make-up. My friend modelled for me and we made a great outfit complete with sequinned basque and large feathered head dress. On the day of the competition we only had around 30 minutes to do the full make-up before the show. When the results were announced I was very pleased and incredibly surprised to have won first place! It was a real boost for my CV and my portfolio.

After my interviews I was offered a place at Manchester and also West Thames where it was a brand new course for the college. I was very impressed with the tutors and facilities, so I was delighted to be offered a place on the HND for ‘Specialist Hair & Make-up’ and in 2002 I left home in Suffolk and moved to London.

My interest in body painting began

I suppose it was my love of art in general that sparked an interest in body painting. I had seen the very popular photo of Demi Moore in the body painted suit and was keen to try my hand at some body art. I was pleased that there was a body painting module on the course and once I picked up a brush I loved it! Something clicked and I just knew that this was something that I wanted to pursue.

Carolyn Roper entry at 2003 World Body Painting Festival

My first ever body paint was at the 2003 World Body Painting Festival.

Taking part in body painting competitions

In 2003 and whilst still a student I went to what was then ‘The European Bodypainting Festival’ now the massive ‘World Bodypainting Festival’ in Austria. I finished in 17^th place out of 84 competitors with my first ever body paint. I’ll be covering this amazing experience in more detail in a later blog.

In 2004 I entered the student make-up and body painting competition at Olympia representing West Thames College. The theme for the body painting category was ‘The Wizard of Oz’ so I decided to base my design on ‘The Scarecrow’ and persuaded a fellow make-up student Philip to model for me. We were allowed props, so I made a short denim skirt/tunic with a rope belt, which protected his modesty wonderfully. Philip also had a very fetching scarecrow hat and some straw stuffed cuffs and boots.

We only had 3 hours to complete the painting and as Philip was over 6 feet tall it was quite literally a tall order to get him finished in time. I do remember we were also being judged on how tidily we worked and I was a bit worried that I would be marked down as I kept getting straw everywhere from Philip’s ‘stuffing’. Plus the painting area was quite small and every time I moved I got hit on the head by the wings of the ‘Flying Monkey’ who was being painted and constructed next to me! When the time was up I was reasonably happy with my efforts and sent a slightly reluctant Philip out to dance around in front of the judges waving a bunch of silk poppies!

Carolyn Roper's winning 'Scarecrow' entry at Olympia Beauty Show 2004

My winning ‘Scarecrow’ entry at Olympia Beauty Show 2004

When the results were announced I could hardly believe my ears. I won first prize in the body painting category. Then I won the prize for the most points awarded in any category in the whole competition, and finally I won the college trophy for West Thames. I was rewarded with a cheque for £250 and also a weekend in Paris for two.

Coupled with my experience in Austria in 2003 I think Olympia was a defining moment in my life. It was when I knew that body painting was going to feature heavily in my career.

Work Experience

I was also given some good advice from an industry expert to try and get as much work experience as I could whilst I was in college. As well as giving me an idea of what my future career would entail, it would also improve my CV, and show that I had used my time in college wisely.

So whilst still a student I searched sites like UK Screen and Talent Circle for experience in the make-up world. I chased anything that moved – short films, music videos etc. I did quite a few low pay and no pay jobs which helped to build up contacts and give me some experience in the different sections of the industry.

Carolyn Roper's first photo-shoot with Storm Thorgerson

My first photo-shoot with Storm Thorgerson. Photo: Rupert Truman.

One of the best opportunities I had during this time was having the chance to do some work experience with the late, great, Storm Thorgerson, who was responsible for so many iconic album covers, including Pink Floyd’s ‘Dark Side of the Moon’. I was the make-up artist on Storm’s photo-shoot for an album cover for band ‘Jane’s Addiction’. We kept in touch and as Storm enjoyed using body art in his work, I was lucky enough to paint for him on numerous occasions over the following years. I will be covering my experiences with Storm in a separate blog in the next few weeks.

So not quite in a nutshell, but that is how I got into body painting. A lot of hard work combined with a few strokes of luck has led to a really interesting career. If you want to be successful you have to put the effort in to succeed. You have to be pro-active. Search out the make-up and body painting competitions and enter. Look for work experience. It’s a very competitive industry, so don’t expect anything to drop into your lap!