Charlotte
Hawkins
Make up Exploration
BODY ART
Inspiration and Ideas
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Dotwork Tattooing
Dot work is a type of tattoo technique. Using small dots in the skin. These type of tattoos are used for expression and thoughts. The tattoos also may show a message. Dot work tattooing are widely used for identification purposes by different gangs in America and Europe. Tattooing was used for the purpose of punishment. The technique is using a needle and adding tiny little dots to create a pattern or picture. Shading or colouring is not used. This creates a unique texture and dimension onto the skin. I wanted to incorporate this tattoo design into my body art design as i wanted to try out using different brushes to create the same effect as a tattoo gun would.
These are some examples of some of the dotwork tattoos which i thought had good shape, shading and dot work. I want to incorporate this tattoos into my design. These tattoos are designed by a tattoo artist i follow on instagram. All his work is very good. These two piece stood out to me.
ASTONREYNOLDS is his instagram name.
This youtube video shows the way dotwork tattoos are applied onto the skin. I find the technique interesting as the small dots are a different way of shading,adding dimension and depth to a tattoo. Dotwork tattoo also reminds me of mehndi.
Mehndi
Mehndi is the traditional art of painting the hands, feet or body with a paste made from the powdered, dried leaves of the henna plant. Henna was first applied as a means to cool down the body. A dot was applied to the palm of the hands and helped to cool the body. After becoming bored with the look of the single dot on the palm, the early users of henna began to add lines and other shapes. Eventually this elaboration became the beautiful designs we see today.
I practised using the henna paste on the back of my models neck. Using this paste was like icing a cake as i had to use a tube to squeeze out the henna onto the skin. Using small dots and patterns makes the henna look more special and detailed.
This was my first attempt at Mehndi. I didnt use a reference photo for this piece, which i wish i had used for inspiration however i used my dot work photos as reference for shape pattern and details.
I researched into some of the most beautiful Mehndi tattoo designs and artists. Mehndi is used for Asian weddings and body artists are hired to create beautiful pieces on the Brides hands and feet.
Here are some examples of some wedding Mehndi designs which stood out to me.
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This MEHNDI design stood out to me because of the small tiny dots and details made on this design. I found it difficult to make small patterns and marks when doing my design as the Mehndi tube would let out too much henna ink which made the marks larger than i wanted. However the tubes which are used for henna artists such as this one could be smaller making smaller, tiny dots and lines. The artist for this design is unknown, i found this image on google.
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Henna comes in different shades and colours. The traditional colour is brown, once washed off is left with a orange colour. However this Mehndi design stood out to me as i felt the red really complimented the skin tone and also the jewels and beading shown in the outfit.
This design also has a lot of small details and lines. I felt the way the patterns were applied onto the hands complimented the brides hands making them feminine and beautiful.
This design inspired me to create a henna piece using red or colours rather than brown.
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This Mehndi design was different from the other two which i liked. I felt it was more of a modern design using different shapes and patterns. I like the lace effect going up the arm and how parts of the hand were missed as this adds depth and makes the Mehndi design stand out more.
My design is smaller and not as detailed. However I wanted to practise using the henna tube and making my lines straight and even. My dots were neat however some parts were not as small and the lines missed bits of henna.
Next time i will use a larger design and practise adding different techniques such as dots to create a detailed and beautiful piece.
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This youtube clip shows the ways and techniques henna is applied to the skin. I shall use these techniques on this video to make my own design next time i use henna.
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I used my dot work photos for my reference to create my body art piece on my models back. This makeup design i wanted to not just apply onto the face but have it come down onto the neck which elongated my models neck and making it beautiful and feminine. I used a thin tip black liquid eyeliner and started painting on my models neck free hand. Using black eyeliner made applying onto the skin easy as the fine tip glided on the skin well. This meant my lines were very thin and neat. Adding the dot work to my piece using my fine tip eyeliner was more difficult as the tip was not as fine as a tattoo gun. Using a fine tip biro would add these tiny dots however pen ink would not be good on human skin. Because the thin tip liner brush was soft there was not enough pressure added onto the skin to make the dots very defined and small. Using a tool which is too thin could hurt my models back or pierce throw the skin. I wanted to research into ways i could use a small tool to add small dot work onto my dot work and mehndi inspired body art piece.
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I wanted to make the back design flow onto the side of the face. I used a similar design of lines and dots on the cheek and also the ear. A lot of editorial makeups are not just used on the face but the hair and body is used. I wanted to incorporate this into my design using Dot work tattoo designs and Mehndi as this is something that i thing really flows well and compliments the body shape.
I was happy with this design for my first trial. For my final piece I shall make the design larger on the back and make sure the hair is sculpted into the right shape to elongate the neck and back. I will make sure my models face is positioned into the right place as i want my makeup design go up onto the face and hair.
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These two editorial designs not only cover the face but extend down onto the shoulder, neck and décolletage. This elongates the area covered and makes the photo more appealing. I incorporated this into my design as I didnt want my models face to just be covered in dotwork tattoo and mehndi designs. As these two body arts are elegant and flow with the body.
The hair is also taken into consideration when designing the editorial shoot. Having a hair style which fits with the right makeup is important to carry on the flow of the piece of art.
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Abstract striking lines on the shoulder and face compliment the striking up do of the hair. Putting the hair up elongates the neck and shoulder makes the makeup and hair flow as one. Having the hair down would hide the makeup and also flatten the striking bold abstract patterns on the face and body.
I found both these images on pinterest.
My link below is my pin board of inspiration for my makeup design.
https://uk.pinterest.com/charlotte5928/body-painting-inspiration/
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I wanted to make sure my models hair was sculpted and designed in the right way to compliment and flow with my make up body paint design. I saw these designs on pinterest by typing in hair sculpting. These two photos stood out to me as the hair flows well onto the body and face. Which was a similar idea to what i had thought about when designing my piece. I wanted the hair to flow into the actual painting however i also wanted part of the hair up to show off and elongate my models neck and shoulde as shown above in the two photos from my pinterest board.
Sculpting small bits of hair like this photo would fit well with my dotwork tattoo and mehndi inspired makeup piece as i use small liners of paint and the hair can be sculpted into small lines and strips.
I would section the crown of the hair off and sculpt by using wax and sculpting spray to form these lins of hair onto the face, back and shoulder into my paint work.
This image above was created by viktoriastutz she is a beauty and cosmetic photography currently resides in Hamburg, Germany. She was born and raised in Kassel where she discovered her love for photography at an early age inspired by her mom.
I found both these images on pinterest.
https://uk.pinterest.com/charlotte5928/body-painting-inspiration/
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Title. Double click me.
I used a black barry m liquid eyeliner to free hand draw my piece. I wanted to make the image slightly biggerso i made sure I drew the lines out bigger and wider. I looked at my practise makeup for reference. My dotwork for my practise makeup was slightly messy and i felt my liquid eyeliner did not create small enoug dots. I tried to create these dots with a small thin brush. This brush i felt worked better as i could apply more pressure onto my models skin is the brush was small and i had more control over how big the dots and where the dots were applied onto the skin.
I wanted the makeup on the face to flow with the makeup on my models back. I used naked 3 pallet by Urban decay to add highlights around the eyes and highlighted around the black lines to add depth and colour to my paint work. I used a dark brown eye pencil to curl the eyebrow as all my lines were curved or swirled.
I used gel to sculpt small pieces of the hair into my paint work. The gel made the hair stick together creating small neat lines. However i found it difficult for the pieces of hair to stay in place one my model moved her head around. To secure the hair onto the body to stay in place i used duo eyelash glue this helped the hair stick to the skin.
I felt like i needed to add more onto the shoulder as my models pose position focused onto the shoulder which was bare. I decided to draw up a quick sketch which i felt would look nice on my models shoulder. I then free hand dress it onto my models skin, again using black liquid eyeliner.
I was happier with the small design on the shoulder. This design helped elongate my models body and flowed well if the design. I decided to add glitter as i felt my design looked slightly flat and a bit of colour would contrast well if the harsh black lines. I was happy with how my final dotwork tattoo mehndi inspired editorial design looked. If i was to make any changes i would make sure the small dot work was neater by using a water based product rather than grease paint.
I was happy with how my hair design flowed well if my paint work. However next time i would make the hair neater and more sculpted as in this photo pieces of hair are out of place. I would change this by using shine spray and gel spray to flatten the small pieces of hair into place. In my pinterest images above the hair is not out of place. I felt like my hair could have been a lot neater and incorporated more hair into the paintwork. However having the hair up similar to image 10 helped elongate the neck and shoulder making my piece look very feminine similar to the image 10 above.
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