My Students

Vampires, ghosts, and gangsters, oh my! Our costume/makeup class is filled with some talented kids who are now starting to think of a career in the technical arts, but our class supplies are not funded by our school. We are using old makeup left over from productions going back 15 years.

We have a large school with a great arts program driven by passionate teachers.

Our district is in southern California: close enough to the entertainment industry to drive and visit, but in a more stressed socio-economic community. We struggle to make a connection between school and career. Due to the success and quality of our arts programs our faculty was inspired to create a Professional Arts Conservatory with no financial support from our district. There are several private, expensive arts academies within driving distance, but no public institution which makes arts training available to any child with talent and motivation. It is our goal to provide that training free of charge, but we need to do it entirely through private donation. One of the new courses designed to fill the career technical education needs of our kids is the Costume/makeup course where students are introduced to techniques and the idea that a career is possible in new and innovative areas.

My Project

Our kids perform makeup designs periodically throughout the course- about 6 times a month. This pace eats up makeup product and many of our kids cannot afford to go out an purchase a makeup kit for themselves, much less the special effects makeup which really gathers their interest. By fulfilling this project, students will have access to materials needed to let fingers follow imagination. The students will also volunteer at a community events and provide makeup services to performers, allowing them to practice professional makeup techniques and demeanor. Career readiness is a very important part of our program and students must leave our program ready to enter the workplace or matriculate to a specialty school where advanced makeup techniques are taught, readying them for a life in the entertainment industry. These work place skills will serve in whatever career they eventually choose.

Costume/makeup class appeals to the non-traditional learner who is not necessarily a fit for a 4 year university.

By deepening their ability to be creative and have fun with their design assignments, students may light the spark of ambition and think of their future work life as being fun and exciting, and not drab and hum drum. Makeup skills are also a fun way to teach basic art skills to students who might not think of themselves as artistic or creative.