Decorated skin!

MU Virginia on set with stylist Isha discussing the tribal markings

India's 'African' tribe the Siddis...in Gujurat!

Mulain was with MU Virginia yesterday for her TVC involving African tribal looks...we had lots of fun trialing the designs and deciding which products we were to use... MUettes Loveleen, Bianca and MU Sunita were all hands on deck with decorating 6 tribal African men with markings! Great fun but organised systems of applying them were set up...working on 2 men at a time and keeping the same shapes and textures was key. We got inspiration from 2 fabulous books ...MUst gets!

1) DECORATED SKIN - A World Survey of Body Art by Karl Groning ***** (5 stars!)

A must get!

2)PEOPLES OF THE WORLD - Mirella Ferrera ***** (5 stars!)

Get to know people from our global village my darlings through these amazing books. Expensive but with you for life to inspire and open your mind up. Mulain was amazed to find that 2 men from our 'African' TVC tribe were from Gujurat! Yes Gujurat! MU Virginia was in shock for most of the day.....this African tribe, the Siddis came to India hundreds of years ago through trading and set up their communities in certain parts of India...Gujurat being one. They are totally assimilated into Indian culture but don't marry outside their community, so they still have their African features....but on an everyday level they speak Gujurati, eat Indian food...they are Indian! Mulain loves finding out these little nuggets of knowledge.

We had a great 2 days on the TVC....can't wait for it to air to show you guys! MUs Natasha and Sunita are still shooting with b:blunt and MU Sara is running our 1 week Intro to Make-up week.

Busy, busy! MUs Xavier and Menaka are in Rajasthan working alongside Judi D and Maggie S and one of the MUs favourite D.P. (Dev Patel).....they are having a great time and will be back in December...can't wait to hear their news!

Nighty night guys and dolls...time to sign off....M x

Prep time!

Tribal reference image for inspiration....

Fabulous tribal book!

Trialing rock salt on brows to create ice effect....

fat mu trialing African textures....

The directors vision of 'God'....

Real tribes in action....

Lovely shapes and texture.....

Getting inspired for 'God' character....Western classical look

Real ice on face...extreme weather!!

Brrrrrr - cold look on!

Great tribal ref images.....

Friday was prep day for the MUs...all prepping for shoots....MUs Natasha and Sunita gearing up for a b:blunt shoot on Monday and MU Virginia for a TVC involving a woman in labour, 'God', African tribals, Eskimos and Japan!!!! So lots of things to pack for and think about.

MU Virginia had to research African tribal body painting and art...looking at shapes, textures, colours....working alongside costume and the production designer with a certain colour palette in mind! Muted colours, broken textures..nothing bright and vivid....faded and real was the brief. This was also applied to all the other characters too! Eskimos...real life feel....no 'filmi' Eskimos was the brief....so we had to look up what happens to the skin and hair in extreme cold. The Japan setting was again muted colour and subtle shapes and 'real' again...so hair and make-up would have to similar feel.

So before the shoot...all hands on deck for prepping....oodles of references required and trialing of products before hand....we had such fun!!! All the MUs brainstorming as to what to use and where to use. MU Natasha suggested salt rocks to mimick ice on brows, Multani Meti for body painting to create a cracked, broken up feel...turmeric powder! chandan! talc! We tried everything. Of course our handy palettes are always on standby to help us create what we want..grease, aqua, powders....(what would we do without you?). Have to prep for 'God' too!.....wigs and facial to trial and test.....Mulain just loves, loves, loves character make-up!!!!! Too much fun.

So off for more practice now...can't wait to tell you how it went!

Have a great weekend...M x