After completing education, it’s a huge challenge to choose the right career. Nowadays, besides the stereotypical mainstream, various other options are coming up. Talking about new career options, fashion and entertainment sectors are growing hand in hand at a faster rate. Thus in the current scenario a career in makeup artistry is much in demand.

Makeup can not only make one look beautiful but also ghastly with the use of special effects. SFX makeup artistry is a recognised profession in India, and an increasingly sought-after career option. An SFX makeup artist should have a wide perception in utilising their skills to make extraordinary effects on the human body.

SFX products and application: Special effects makeup is also known as prosthetic makeup. It makes use of certain products, called SFX or prosthetic products like wax, latex, silicon of different grades and quality, artex and bald cap among others. The look of a certain creature or character that requires creation of texture and dimension is what could be achieved by the use of SFX products and could be termed as special effects makeup. Their application requires specific skills and understanding of the products and ingredients.

Scope: There are numerous openings in the special effects makeup industry. This profession not only provides with a specialised career option but also an opportunity to display one’s ultimate artistic entrepreneurial spirit. It offers a large scope in theatre, television, film and fashion industry, concept shoots with photographers, theme shows for designers, ramp makeup, and character events like Halloween among others.

Skills required: Special effects makeup artists should be able to think out-of-the-box. If one can improvise well, one can create an individual phenomenon. Specific expertise required to specialise in such makeup include observation skills, patience, ingenuity in using the products in various combinations and artistic excellence in replicating a real-life or virtual effect. A prospective SFX makeup artist must maintain a level of professionalism and be able to deal with high work pressures. Keeping up-to-date with the trends are must-have skills for this sector. Another mandatory factor is the acceptance to work flexible hours.

Course content: Some basic topics that come under special effects makeup are cuts, wounds, burn effects, casualty effects, old age, bald cap and blood tubing.

Job responsibilities and challenges: A SFX makeup artist is the individual behind imbibing life in a character that one sees on screen. Hence a makeup artist is greatly responsible for the look. Thus exhaustive preparation time to create molds and sculpts, long working hours, monotonous in-the-process job, and tedious detailing requirement are some of the characteristics of this job.

Other responsibilities include studying the script thoroughly to understand the requirements of the look, and sketching different options for a look to figure out the best one. Additionally, removing the makeup after the performance/event constitutes an important part of the job. Giving advice to clients about hygiene before/after applying makeup also comes under the artist’s purview.

Eligibility: Art needs no such eligibility except that particular bend of mind. However, anybody who possess a basic understanding of sketching or contouring definitely has an upper hand. A candidate must have a diploma or certificate in professional makeup and/or cosmetology. Completing a course in special effects makeup is a must to portray employability. Analytical, decision-making and verbal communication skills are the core capabilities that SFX makeup artists are expected to master.

Remuneration: Remuneration is highly subjective to an individual’s skills and extensiveness of a certain project. There aren’t many artists working in this specific genre, hence creative individuals with a good skills set are paid handsomely. The job of makeup artists in this field is highly dependent on the weight of projects they are allotted. Remuneration also depends on the workplace they choose. Sectors such as motion pictures and video industries offer the best salaries to these artists. The starting salary is between Rs 12,000-15,000 per month. Those who are hired for a particular advertising campaign can make Rs 2,000-3,000 per day. Artists having three to five years of experience in this field may earn a salary of up to Rs 40,000 per month.

It is seen that a career in special effects makeup artistry is quite fulfilling for candidates who have an imaginative urge. They interpret the makeup requirements of clients to produce a creative and technically precise visual portrayal.

The writer is co-founder and director, Euro Chroma Institute of Cosmetology