As a member for the Irish Film and Television Academy I was invited to Dublin’s Gibson hotel on Thursday the 29th September 2011 for ‘The Craft of Make-Up’, the Academy’s annual event hosted in association with MAC Cosmetics, featured the work of two IFTA winning Make-Up artists Jennifer Hegarty and Linda Mooney.

The event was hosted by Tv3′s Xposé presenter and Karen Koster. Jennifer and Linda share behind the scenes secrets from their award winning careers in film and television. It was a really informative event with a great insight  into the industry.

One of the things that I noted was that as make-up arists they never stop learning. Jennifer said that she started her career by going to London to do a few courses, but that she still learns all the time. She said that the industry changes so fast that you have to keep up with the times. Also it was great to note that there was no overnight success for Jennifer, it was a very slow process. It was through hard work and dedication that she has become the success that she is today. The first time that she actually felt that she had made it was when she did Peter O’Toole’s make-up. She said on meeting him that she found it quite comforting, because he was very nervous that day and it made her realise that everyone is nervous about what they are doing, so you have to keep going and keep doing it. She still enjoys the job and sometimes has to pinch herself when she is on a set in an exotic location. She has worked on films from Lassie, to Captain Corelli’s Mandolin, to Harry Potters, so I am sure she has seen a few! On creating a character, she says that it is usually a collaboration between the Make-up Artist, the Director and the Actor, although it is really about trying to convince them to do what you want . The products that she can’t live without are her grease palette and her skin illustrator and her brushes in particular the MAC foundation brush. For people starting out Jennifer would recommend taking up painting. If choosing a school, find out what the background is of the people you would be learning with.

Linda came to her career in a little bit of a different way. She was from a family that did hair and would have seen her mom make wigs for the Abbey. She is a fully trained hair dresser as well as a professional make-up artist. She found herself having to go abroad alot because the union in Ireland is quite restrictive and you can’t really do both. She is fluent in German and spent some time over there. Linda felt that she had really made it when she got to do a Deaf Leppard album cover, she had to turn the clean looking young men into 80s rock stars so lots of backcombing was required! Linda also mentioned is very aware that the women in the industry have missed out on family, that you have to try and strike the balance. She feels that she is a better mother when she is working. She was working with 21 women at the time of the talk and only 3 women out of that had a family.When asked what tools she couldn’t live with out, her immediate response was: Good brushes! When you are starting out Linda thinks you can’t beat being on set, try and get some work experienc. You will realise what it is really like and see what end you would like to go to.

They are both very warm people and it is easy to see that as well as their skill and talent that their personalities have brought them a long way too. They both touched on having the right personality for the job and being easy to work with and letting things go over your head. Also it is about knowing what battles to fight, when to take a bit more time doing a make-up and when to just let a bit of shine go…. Someone asked a question in the audience about whether they ever looked at another make-up artist’s work and said “what were they thinking” and they both agreed and said that they wouldn’t judge someone else’s work as you never know what kind of stress or what the circumstances were surrounding the job. Never a truer word was spoken! As a makeup artist if the day has run behind, you could sometimes be asked to do a make-up on set with the whole crew looking at you, when usually the make-up could take an hour to do normally!

It was a great talk and I hope that the Academy run more events like this in the future. It was great to meet fellow make-up artists and we got a free lippy to boot!

I was asked to do the make-up for the Shopping from Home Informercial the other day, working with the fabulous Kathy Hoffman. It is a television programme on RTE which sells products that you can buy from the comfort of your own home.

I got to work with Cheryl from the band Bucks Fizz, a band that won the Eurovision in 1981 with the catchy song “Making Your Mind Up”. You can see the song below:

I just had to share this video with you! It combines two of my favourite things, stop motion animation and MAKE-UP!

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MAC Blot Powder Medium/Dark x 2
Make-Up Forever Mist and Fix Non Alcohol
Stop Sweat

Loreal Studio Secrets Primer
Benefit Dr. Feel Good Primer
Make-Up Forever Micro Perfecting HD Primer
Make-Up Forever Micro Perfecting HD Primer – Green
Make-Up Forever Micro Perfecting HD Primer – Pink
Make-Up Forever Micro Perfecting HD Primer – Yellow

Revlon Highlighter Pink
MAC Strobe Cream
MAC Shimmer Highlighter Chez Lame
MAC Shimmer Highlighter Rose Ole

Make-Up Forever Professional Lift Concealer No.1
Make-Up Forever Professional Lift Concealer No.3
MAC Moisture Select Concealer NW20
MAC Moisture Select Concealer NW30

Blush Palette with 10 Colours from Jordane Cosmetics
Coastal Scents Blush & Contour Palette x10
MAC Blush & Contour Pallette x5 Emphasise, Taupe, Pink Swoon, Fleur Power, Salsa Rose

Jordan Concealer Pallette x6
Dermacover Camouflage Mini Palette – Fair
Rimmel Clear Complexion Concealer Ivory 001
Rimmel Concealer Ivory 001
Rimmel Concealer Natural Beige 004
Laura Mercier Undercover Pot 3
Bobby Brown Cream Concealer Ivory
Georgio Armani Skin Retouch No.3
Jordane Correcter Stick – Peach
Jordane Correcter Stick – Mint
Jordane Correcter Stick – Contour
Jordane Correcter Stick – Lilac
Jordane Correcter Stick – Melon

Model: Gracie Lacey @ Freelance Model
Photographer: Darren Purcell @ Visionary Photography
Make-Up: Emma Farrell @ Dublin Fashion Make-Up Artist

Sometimes keeping it simple can be so beautiful don’t you think? I really want to do more shots like this where the make-up is subtle and pretty. What do you prefer?

This is the make-up for the music video set in Dublin that I did with Carl Barat last year. We filmed it in one of the oldest pubs in Dublin, The Brazen Head. It was a pretty extreme day as they got all the people to talk about their lost loves. It meant that we filmed a whole load of people talking about their experiences and some really sad, harrowing tales of losing loved ones. The people divulged some pretty personal stories, everything from death, hurt, cheating on a partner to miscarriages.

Carl seemed to be really sympathetic and genuinely moved by everybody’s story. It made me think that these kind of tales were exactly what he was trying to channel in this song. He was very appreciative of every person telling their individual tale.

The day itself flew by and it was great getting to work with a professional team from London. I hope to work with the gang in Agile Films again in the future as they seem to be doing loads of interesting projects.

I was delighted a few days ago to be informed that I was awarded 6th place in the 40 Best Make-Up Blogs. This was extraordinarily surprising as there are some beauty blog heavyweights in the mix, including top celebrity make-up artists Lisa Eldridge and Victoria Stiles. These are make-up artists that  aspire to be like, so it is absolutely amazing that I have ended up on the same list.

Here is the article below as seen on http://www.webdesignschoolsguide.com/library/40-best-makeup-artist-blogs.html:

40 Best Makeup Artist Blogs

A talented makeup artist can transform a person into someone or something completely different, whether it’s for beauty, costume or just for the sake of art. Their hard work doesn’t go unnoticed, particularly in the movie industry, where the best are honored with awards such as the Academy Award for Makeup. Like with any form of art, it takes quite a bit of studying and practice to master the craft. The 40 makeup artist blogs listed below provide an abundance of information for those looking to enter the profession or just cultivate a challenging hobby.

Celebrity Makeup Artists

These makeup artists have achieved rewarding careers in the movie and fashion industries because of their unique talents.

1. Kandee Johnson: Kandee is a celebrity makeup artist who has worked for CBS, ABC, CNN, MTV and VH1. She spends her spare time sharing makeup tricks on her blog — her YouTube videos have garnered almost 60 million views.
2. Elke Von Freudenberg: With 20 years of experience as a top celeb and editorial makeup artist, Elke has plenty of wisdom to dispense.
3. makeup by Mario Dedivanovic: Mario’s impressive list of celeb clients includes Kim Kardashian, Eliza Dushku and Amanda Bynes, and his work has appeared in magazines such as Glamour, Teen Vogue and People.
4. The Makeup Blogger: Christina discusses new looks and shares her on-set experiences.
5. MiMi J.: Mimi J. looks at life as a makeup artist, providing behind-the-scenes footage of photoshoots and step-by-step tutorials.
6. Emma Farrell Dublin Make-up Artist: Dublin-based Emma shares her experiences, providing an abundance of pretty pictures along the way.
7. Lisa Eldridge Makeup: Lisa, a fashion makeup artist, has been “plying her trade” for two decades, and has worked with many notable photographers and celebs — such as Cameron Diaz, Demi Moore and Heidi Klum.
8. Inside the Life of a Glam Makeup Artist: Brandy blogs about her glam life as a celeb makeup artist in New York. She provides tips, including “How to Create a Classic Smokey Eye.”
9. The Amy Face: Amy offers “random musings and beauty tips.”
10. Audrey Mansfield: Audrey is the makeup artist for NBC’s Sunday Night Football — if she can make ex-pro football players look good, you know she’s a master of her craft.
11. A More Beautiful Makeup:Rosalina is a film makeup artist who covers cosmetic trends and all-things beautiful.
12. makeup + me: KJ is an Emmy Award winning celebrity makeup artist with lots of knowledge to share. Included on his blog is the helpful post “Saving Face ? Turning Beauty Boo-Boos into Makeup Must-Haves.”
13. Terri Apanasewicz: Celebrity Makeup Artist: Terri’s work has been featured in magazines such as Allure, Vogue and Elle, and it has been lauded by her celeb clients.
14. Makeup Artist Victoria Stiles: The career of veteran freelance makeup artist Victoria is followed. Her lengthy resume is something to envy.

Other Gifted Makeup Artists

These makeup artists may have worked with celebrities, but aren’t completely immersed in the Hollywood scene.

1. ProMakeupBlog: Jessica studied makeup artistry in film and photography at the Make-up Designory in Los Angeles, and eventually earned her degree in communication from UC-Santa Barbara. Her blog is well-written with tons of insight.
2. amyopoly: Prior to starting amyopoly, Amy video-blogged makeup tutorials on YouTube, which earned her national recognition. She still does it, but now also focuses on regular blogging.
3. Andy Lee: Andy’s popular blog looks at beauty and makeup trends important to makeup artists.
4. Makeup by Ren Ren: Ren Ren’s blog is supplemented by her YouTube page, which features several online tutorials.
5. A Makeup Artist’s Blog: Gain insight into the work of a talented makeup artist in San Diego.
6. sian lidgate: Sian, winner of the Charles Fox Award for Makeup Artistry, specializes in fashion, beauty and editorial makeup.
7. Jessica Jean Myers: Jessica’s involvement with the Toronto fashion scene is a testament to her abilities.
8. Stephanie J Mazzeo: Stephanie’s blog is an excellent source of inspiration for her fellow makeup artists.
9. Spicie Style: Erin displays her work and highlights her inspirations.
10. FacesByFarah: Farah is a makeup artist and beauty editor who combines her talents by composing a fabulous makeup-centric blog.
11. FacesBySarah: Pro makeup artists Sarah mostly examines products on her eye-catching blog. Not to be confused with FacesByFarah.
12. mcmakeup’s blog: Mcmakeup examines everything from “The Ultimate Pro Makeup Kit Builder” to the “Best and Worst Fashion Hair and Makeup for the 2010 Emmy’s.”
13. Makeup Artistry by Christy: Christy specializes “in airbrush and traditional makeup applications for weddings, proms, special occasions and photoshoots.”
14. Makeup Junkie: Professional freelance makeup artist Joy has worked in television, runway, bridal and print, and blogs during her spare time in order to share “beauty reviews, celebrity style, and beauty tips.”
15. JennySue Makeup: JennySue fittingly works in Athens and Atlanta, Georgia. Makeup is her passion and it shows on her blog.
16. Dvoradivine: Deborah documents her experiences, writes reviews and delivers news important to makeup artists.
17. rhia amio, make-up artistrhi: Rhia provides updates on her work, which is prominently displayed throughout her blog.

Product Focus

A talented makeup artist is nothing without a trusty arsenal of makeup.

1. The Makeup Artist Blog: Iris tries and recommends new products and provides tips helpful to all makeup artists.
2. EyeCandy Blog: Lynne provides “product reviews, top makeup tips, celebrity style and all general beauty news and gossip.”
3. The Makeup Girl: In addition to product reviews, you’ll find how-tos and celebrity beauty reports.
4. Hooked On Beauty: Makeup Artist Carissa, also a self-described TV beauty expert, reviews a variety of beauty products. She’s 100 percent independent and believes her integrity is of the utmost importance.
5. Makeup and Beauty Blog: Karen’s growing blog is the place for “daily product reviews, makeup tips and beauty news.”
6. The Beauty Brains: A group of cosmetic scientists — fittingly — explain cosmetic science so that you’ll know the real story on beauty products.
7. krasey beauty: Adina, a 20-something New Yorker and competitive dancer, dabbles in makeup artistry. She enjoy experimenting with different looks and products.
8. Beauty Logic: Editor Milly tests hundreds of products per month in an effort to find the best ones out there.
9. Pink Sith: “Makeup and product musings from an occasionally verbose, and often slack, product junkie.”

I was asked to design a make-up that was Lady Gaga Style for  Brian. This is the original concept below:

The design included FOUR sets of false eyelashes! Three on top and one on the bottom about 3mm below his natural eyeline. I then used white eyeliner to white out his eyeline and natural lashes so that his eyes looked freakishly bigger.

If you would like a full breakdown of products used, leave a comment

I was asked to fill in for a couple of days work in the really popular UTV show Primeval. It was a great opportunity and I really enjoyed working with the team. It also meant that I got the chance to meet Alexander Siddig! I don’t often tell people this, but I was a HUGE fan of star trek growing up

It would be amazing to work on Star Trek…perhaps one day I can work on a film or something I love the fact that it covers every aspect of make-up artistry, from beauty make-up, special effects, character make-ups to prosthetics!

I have been a bit delayed in posting this, these are shots from a couple of weeks ago, but I guess better late than never. These are some behind the scenes images of the feature film that I am the Head Make-Up Artist on. It is directed by Phil Winston and is an independently funded film being shot in Coolock. The working title of the film is 166.87.66.6, but I am hoping that they go for something simpler like Uri-el. The story centres around a young boy called Daniel who discovers that human beings aren’t the only beings on this planet and is brought right into the middle of a fight between Angels and Demons.

I would just like to take this opportunity to say a BIG THANK YOU to my wonderful assistant Stefania, I couldn’t have done it without her

Film: http://www.uri-el.com/index.html
Director: Phil Winston
Make-Up: Emma Farrell Make-Up
Assistant Make-Up:  Stefania Maniscalco
Hair: Jane Akkerman