Lenore

Photographer and documentarian Kory Easterman asked me a while ago if I would be a part of his body paint documentary. He is making the documentary to showcase talent in our region (Kentucky/Indiana/Ohio). Most of the body painting I have done outside of competition has been more of the abstract avant-garde type. Being part of a body paint documentary I knew that style wouldn't fly.  While I like how beautiful it can be in it's simplicity, more is usually expected of body painters.

I never declined but only having done more traditional body paints in competition with guidelines I had no idea what to do given free reign. I was scrolling through Instagram and came across a body paint of a skeleton in a tuxedo dancing with a beautiful woman by an artist named Georgina Ryland (@gearginaryland). It was so dark, beautiful and haunting. The way it was painted made me think of Edgar Allan Poe and my love of Ravens.

With that my mind was racing. I started sketching a few ideas. The first of which had the arms covered in pages from a book and the whole abdomen was a gradient graveyard. I sat on that for a while and began chatting with my friend Amanda Danielson with Velvet Rose Vintage who was going to make the head piece. She smartly suggested feathers on the abdomen. To me that was perfect. It was like the wings of the raven which represents death, embracing the grave of Lenore. The weakest point to me though was the arms. 

With the wings of the Raven/Death engulfing Lenore I found it fitting that the Model's arms represent a graveyard. After I got it all sketched out I was becoming more and more excited. I had found the perfect model to be my Lenore. Only problem was where to do it. I knew my studio at the Devil's Attic (www.thedevilsattic.com) would be a nice setup and fitting for the macabre. Plus, it just feels like home for me but it has no heater. In early march the weather was a nice and crisp but the basement of a haunted house retained the cold. 

I placed space heaters everywhere around my model (one can be seen in the above photo). Our haunt owner Jason, bundled up in his winter coat and knit cap who was there working on a new room even brought us down a propane heater. It looked like a jet engine blowing a blue flame. I had a little glass container of water placed of top of a space heater to use in activating my water activated cake makeups. It was so cold that steam would come off of my brush after dipping it in the hot water. I gotta say, our model was quite the trooper all through out.

I knew if I was going to put this much time, effort and love into something as well as our model's time an Amanda's amazing head piece I wanted and equally awesome picture. Kory would be getting some great footage for his documentary but I wanted a photo. I asked my good friend and amazing photographer Danny Alexander to come photographer it for me. 

Lucky for me he said yes and we have this amazing image above to show for it. My girlfriend Tia came along to hang out and watch. As it turned out she was needed. Tia stood in for lighting while I was painting and did a ton of other stuff to help out. I can look at this piece and see areas for improvement on my part. With that said I am very happy with what we were able to pull off. After doing this I actually want to do more body paints and not just for competition sake.

Photographer: Danny Alexander http://www.dannypa.com/

Model: RB

Head Piece: Amanda Danielson https://www.facebook.com/Velvet-Rose-Vintage-281424868648765/

Assistant and BTS: Shatia Rogers

I would also like to thank my sponsors at Crown Brush www.crownbrush.com and Wonderband Systems www.wonderbandsystems.com

Marionette

Sometimes the masks we wear aren't to hide who we are but to express our true nature.

When Hunter came to me with this marionette concept I instantly thought of David Bowie. The makeup was inspired heavily by his "Pinups" album cover featuring Twiggy and his "Pierrot" clown makeup look. I love how this all came together.

I think we can all agree that 2016 was a rough one but let's not dwell on it. Going into 2017 let's focus on making the world a more beautiful place. Focus on what you have passion for and help and support others to do the same. We are all on this spaceship we call Earth.

I am going to do my best to inspire other artists and in doing so get inspired by them. That's what this is all about. Inspiration upon inspiration will only foster growth for us all.

Photo: Hunter Zieske
Model: Jacey Calloway
Makeup: Matt Goodlett, Matt Goodlett, MUA
Hair: Rian Miller
Photo Assistant: Louis Tinsley 

Awakening

This is by far the most important project I have ever worked on. Our model not only represents our native people that we have taken advantage of. She also represents us as a whole, not to mention our planet. We have an extreme addiction to fossil fuels that has to stop and we have the power to start changing that.

The black latex represents oil and how it is a pollutant. It clings to her body and is uncomfortable to pull from her skin. With that said it had to go. it took some work but we got it all off and got her clean. The metaphor isn't only in the photo but in the actuality of the clean up. Freeing ourselves of fossil fuel dependency will be hard but the sooner we start the better.

We are building long lasting infrastructure for a fuel source we need to start phasing out. We should be focused on improving other sources. The technology to be less oil dependent is there and it will get better. Our Native American's joining together at Standing Rock to stop the Dakota Access Pipeline I hope was a wake up call for all of is. The fire has been set, It's up to us here and now.

For 500 years my people have been suffering. Everything was taken from us to build this country, our ancestors lives, our languages, our dignity and our traditions. Our tribes were torn apart and everything we loved was ripped from our arms. For the past 500 years we have been rebuilding, re learning our languages, bringing back our traditions, and ridding our lives of the european influence of drugs, alcohol and segregation constantly hindering our people. And finally, in 2016 we are together again, thousands of indiginious people from tribes all over the United States are coming to the Standing Rock Sioux Reservation, in North Dakota, to fight a pipeline that is threatening the lives of our grandchildren and destroying our mothers natural recourses. For the first time in 500 years we are back together again, we are building teepees together, singing traditional songs together, praying together and taking back the sacred that was stolen from us so long ago. After this war is over we will forever be changed, we will be stronger than we have ever been, we will be together forever. -Gabrielle Colton Photographer | Gabrielle Colton Makeup | Matt Goodlett Hair | Matthew Tyldesley Model | Stephanie Johnson Music: Forever You Said by Peter Gundry

"Hold on to what you must do, even if it is a long way from here.
Hold on to my land even if I've gone away from you.

Not only was this photo shoot long, exhausting and emotionally painful for me, it was also physically painful for Stephanie (our model).

I took this photo at the very end of the shoot as she was pulling the black latex, representing the oil that is killing us, from her body.

Going into this shoot, I did not know the latex would hurt her as we took it off, this pain brought the perfect photos to my lens. Stephanie's strength to continue modeling as she tore the latex from her skin led to us being able show the pain of Native people perfectly.

Thank you all for passing your strength to me, to the water protectors and to all people. May we rise in strength through this war, in our old ways, protecting our mother forever." -Gabrielle Colton

Prints available at: https://www.gabriellecolton.com/nodapl/

Proceeds will go to Red Road Awareness in support of the Dakota Access Pipeline Resistance

Photo: Gabrielle Colton
Model: Stephanie Lynn Johnson
Makeup: Matt Goodlett, Matt Goodlett, MUA
Hair: Matthew Tyldesley
BTS: Blake McGrew, Dark Heart Creative
Makeup Assistant: Portia Greene

Antonio Pantoja's Photography Worksop

Ever since I started doing makeup for photo shoots Antonio Pantoja was someone I strived to work with. He is seriously one of the nicest and hard working photographers in the industry. I have worked with him several times over the past year and am proud to have some of our works together as part of my portfolio. 

On November 21st 2016 being the giving person he is, Antonio decided to do a free photography workshop showing his entire process from makeup to editing and everything in between. I was honored when he asked me to be the makeup artist for the class. I will say, doing makeup in front of a class of over 150 people and having your working blown up on 4 screens around the Kentucky Derby Museum at about 30 feet by 15 feet a pop to be edited for the class was very intimidating.

Being a part of this amazing team was extremely humbling. I have a lot of respect for all of them and am thankful I could share this platform with them. It was very inspirational to be a part of a team that was coming together to teach others. Art shouldn't be about keeping your process secret. Share your knowledge and maybe the people you help can help you someday. We should all be here to grow.

I was lucky enough to have Dillard's at Green Tree Mall in Clarksville IN. sponsor me. They provided me with all Smashbox Cosmetics which performed amazingly. Huge thanks to the team and all of our sponsors listed below:

Photography and headpiece: Antonio Pantoja
Model: Katya Estes
Makeup: Matt Goodlett
Makeup products courtesy of Dillard's: Smashbox Cosmetics
Location: Kentucky Derby Museum 
Hosted by: Misha Squeweebop-Kidwell
Lighting and assistance: Joey Goldsmith
Wardrobe: Frances Lewis
Behind the scenes: Gary Barragan
Backdrop: Savage Universal
Lighting: Paul C. Buff, Inc.
Sponsored by 3 Legged Thing

Katya and I discussing her wig while Antonio is teaching behind me.

Antonio shooting Katya live for the class.

Talking to the workshop about my role with Antonio and other photographers on how sometimes you are given free reign to create. Other times you are given guidelines or even told exactly what to do. collaboration and listening is key.

It was a pleasure sharing the stage with such amazing and talented people.

This image was shot and edited live for the class by Antonio Pantoja

Edited by joey Goldsmith

Laura's Angels Disco Fever Fashion Show: Behind the Scenes

I was honored once again to be asked to do makeup  for Laura Kirkpatriclk's Laura's Angels fashion show. Laura is best known as the runner-up of cycle 13 of America's Next Top Model. She was voted fan favorite in a poll the show held after the conclusion of the series.  To see her come back and support the community here in Kentucky is amazing. Using all local talent and all the proceeds go to charity. Laura's Beautiful Minds Dyslexia charity, along with Fund for the Arts and the Family and Children's place were the chosen charities. With all artists donating their time and talent all proceeds went to the charities. The theme this go around was disco fever so there was glitter and metallics everywhere.

At the start of makeup I felt very calm working on model and good friend Katya Estes. Working on someone I am very familiar with made me feel very comfortable, maybe a little too comfortable though as I still had a lot of models ahead of me.. Our makeup sponsor was Dior and we were using their Airflash product. Having never used it before I was a bit worried. Once I started using the Airflash I really liked it. The product glided on smoothly and gave a nice sheer coverage which is what we were looking for. As with any type show the closer we got to show time the crazy things got. Having models I'm friends with like Karoline Hix keep me calm under pressure along with many others in my chair really put me at ease. We had an amazing makeup team and after 125 models I would says we did an amazing job. 

All behind the Scenes Photos by Joey Goldsmith

Me Getting started on the day. wE STARTED AT 11:30AM and went until 8pm. We were so busy I forgot to eat.

For designer Raina Trimble I got to apply gold flake to my good friend and model Katya Estes.

The only other time I have got to work with Haley Meehan is on a movie. my job then was to make her look like she has been beaten beyond recognition so this was a nice change.

I love working with Karoline hix. She's so down to earth and professional Not to mention we get along really well.

I was excited I got to do this wild metallic gold eye on Tasha Teneil. Her designer Krista Druen was trusting enough to let me take it all the way up covering her eyebrows.

Dia De Los Muertos

When talking to  Photographer Dana Rogers about doing a tintype photo shoot with makeup I knew I wanted to do something fitting with the look and style that would fit. I wanted to do something timeless, something that looked like it existed when the camera was made back in the 1870's. It didn't take us long to land on Dia De Los Muertos or Day of the Dead.

I knew straight away that I wanted to use a Mexican model to keep things as authentic as possible. With my good friend and model Casandre Elyse Medel coming in town from Colorado we had one day to get it right. The weather was perfect and watching Dana work was like magic. Tintype photography is such an interesting and beautiful process. This image are scans of the original because the original is one of a kind.

I did this really pretty DOTD makeup with a color pallet I loved using lime greens, yellow, greys, black and white knowing it would be lost in black and white. At first I was a bit disappointed that no one would see that pallet but after I saw the first image processed I could not have been happier. It was like taking a trip in a time machine. I hope you enjoy.

Devil's Attic Haunt Makeups 2016

All Photos By Antonio Pantoja

This isn't just a makeup but a full body suit. Our actress Alicia Carper had to come in before the season started so I could paint the suit and what not. With altering the suit with the help of Kelsey Eisenhut. Then adding latex pieces waiting for those to dry and then painting the entire thing it was at least a two hour process. I'm pretty happy with how it all came out and how well it has held up.

I have of course seen the Texas Chainsaw Massacre movies but I will admit to not knowing a ton about the character of Chop Top. With that said I love the way he looks. With his exposed metal plate on his head he's gets a lot of comments on the makeup.

This is my second year as the makeup manager for the Devil's Attic. When I took over the makeup room the characters we had were pretty much already set. We were able to tweak a lot of the looks and put our own spin on them which was a lot of fun. When we were brain storming ideas for the new rooms for the 2016 season I wanted to do a Bloody Mary room. Bloody Mary is a character we all know but no one has a clear idea of what she should really looks like. This meant I could make her look however I wanted. With an enchanted upside down five pointed star on her face, just say her name in the mirror three times and vengeance will be hers. Then she will mark your place on her body in your blood.

when I started at the Devil's Attic back in 2013 I wan't even in the makeup room. I was a midseason replacement for the priest character. With that said it's always been near and dear to me. when i started in the makeup room in 2014 not only was I not good at airbrush but I hated using it. With that said doing airbrush makeup on myself (something I do a lot now) was out of the question. Even last season I was still using grease paint on the priest. This year I upgraded the makeup room to all European Body Art alcohol based products and upgraded all of the makeups as well. I am very happy with how all of our monsters look and now our priest looks just as possessed as our Regan.

The Exorcist is one of my favorite scary movies. It is so well acted and the cinematography is amazing. Not to mention Dick Smith did an amazing job on the make up. If I can even come close to a fraction of what he did I'll be happy. With all of that said I am pretty happy with this makeup and Sydni Whitman wears it well.

Cotton Candy Zombie

Photographer Danny Alexander approached me about assembling a group of makeup artist for a kind of Halloween makeup shoot. I thought, what better time to get "Team Demon Fabulous", my makeup team at The Devils Attic together and we could each do a makeup for him.
I didn't want it to be as straightforward as that though, I wanted us to add something to the idea and make everything a bit pretty, or fabulous as our name suggests. I went with the idea of a cotton candy zombie. 

My model was Katya Estes and I love what her and I were able to create together. She had a hard time getting the contacts in but she was a trooper. Team Demon Fabulous consists of Kelsey Eisenhut, Mary Proctor, and Lauren Bradley. I could not be happier to work alongside this team of talented individuals.

Louisville Zombie Walk 2016

I am the makeup and special effects manager at The Devil's Attic haunted house in Louisville, KY. ThIS year we host the 2016 Louisville Zombie Walk. My makeup team (Team Demon Fabulous) and I set up at Highland Taproom which was ground zero for the the Zombie party. We were doing zombie makeup for an extremely reasonable price. With and estimated 42,000 people in attendance we were quite busy. 

The amazing Jacob Roberts set up next to us and took zombie portraits of some of the makeups we were doing. it was fantastic to have him involved and the images he captured are so cool. This is one of the images.

The Touch

Love is closely entangled with pain. When you love someone you let them touch part of your heart. When that love is betrayed that touch that was once beautiful and comforting quickly leaves that spot tainted. The part of your heart you thought you could trust is poisoned.

The question is if you can move past that do you try again? You can guard yourself and never let anyone get close again. That or you can learn to trust someone and risk the pain all over again. More times than not, pain is the price we pay for Love.

Photo: Gabrielle Colton
Model: Katya Estes
Makeup by me.