Golding leafing Hi! Blitz shoot with Lara Dutta

Mulain and the MUs have been awaiting the launch of the September issue of Hi! Blitz to see how their Ajanta themed / gold-leafing body art shoot went. See shoot above. It's very different to how we wanted....and unfortunately the magazine ran out of time to do the necessary post to make the images look like Ajanta paintings. So...we are a little heavy-hearted at this end as we have worked towards this shoot for months....so much prep plus the actually day of shoot the make-up, hair and body art took 5 hours!!!! Natasha MU did n't stop to take breath getting the gold leaf and patterns and shapes on, while getting the body airbrushed too! MU Virginia worked side by side creating elaborate hair styles to match each change....and MUs Xavier and Pooja flanked them in creative support....anyway...onwards and upwards...there are more shoots to do...do let us know what you think my friends of this shoot?

And any questions about gold-leafing...ask away!

M x

Toulouse-Lautrec inspiration!

Lautrec inspired us for the Circus / theatrical shoot we did last week...

The MUs creating the Madame look with the camp wrestler in the back...

Shapes to inspire painted on eyebrows

A hair design to give us ideas....

A scene from HBO's 'Carnival'.....to see a modern take on a circus

A bearded lady poster....

More hair inspiration

More hair sketches.....

And back to Lautrec....

Mulain thought it would be of interest to you artists out there to see how the MUs research for their shoots and fashion work...actually any work! As we preach and preach and preach in the academy.....DON'T COPY!.....take inspiration from what has been done before and build on it injecting your own style, ideas and take on the brief. Tres importante. Plus it's much more exciting to create your own magic my darlings.

Virginia MU did a TVC last week and the theme was a 'theatrical, quirky circus troupe'...fabulous brief and a real chance for the MUs to get out there and play with their brushes and paints! Firstly we identified how many characters we had to create and then we worked on the individuality of each one. We had 2 bearded ladies, 1 madame, 1 crazy drummer, 'a head' on a table, 5 bald men, a 'camp' wrestler. Each one got a stamp of individuality with a comical twist but all kept within the same colour palette to hold them together as a group and keep in with the costumes and production design.

Theatrical eyebrows played a key role in all the characters and we painted on some lovely shapes...made them bigger and bolder and gave the 'madame' a mono-brow for an extra quirk. (Does help if your director trusts you and has the vision to back you on your ideas!!) We also threw in a 2010 Lady Gaga touch with everyone....with glitter and lashes. We researched dancers, performers, circus acts, the 'bizarre' and also took huge inspiration from Toulouse-Lautrec one of the great Impressionist artists. His vibrant, buoyant slightly caricature take on the subjects in his paintings helped us hugely....from the colours to the shapes he created and the mood of his paintings. Merci monsieur...and Mulain recommends you all google him and observe.

Key products and tools for this shoot!

A steady hand and no shaking make-up van!!!!!
Paint / art brushes
Grease palette (Kryolan is a good option)
Aqua palette (try Kryolan again)
Selection of whacky lashes (Doris and Bharat, India, Charles Fox, London)
Clown white (Ben Nye)
Eyeshadow palette (Ben Nye)
Blusher palette (Ben Nye)
Aqua glitter pots - utterly fabulous (Ben Nye)
Facial (beards and moustaches) - (theatrical shops or your nearest wig maker / postiche maker)

All in all we had a great time apart from the crazy moving make-up van and can't speak for the bearded ladies though...ummm...may not be speaking to us now...hee hee. Mulain wants to do more shoots like this my friends...SUCH FUN and SO CREATIVE!!!!

Take care and get researching!

M x

The make-up space!

A good, clean, bright working environment is essential to an artiste!

You want good eyelines? Give your artist the right, calm, non-moving place to do it! MU Sara on the Indigo Airlines TVC


The young MUs Nat and Virg in their make-up hq for a film in Gujurat, set up in an old palace - we created a lovely, homely, happy place for the actors to come in and get into character



A nice, calm, relaxing working space to paint, spray, stick, glue...whatever an artist wants to do, Natasha on Slumdog

Desperate times in a make-up van on Luck By Chance.... it was very hot!

Dancing in the make-up during lunch hour to help unwind on Outsourced!

Good mirrors and lights are essential....Natasha during Luck By Chance

MU Xavier trying to paint in theatrical eyelines while also trying to keep himself steady....we are like the Cirque de Soleil of make-up artistes really.....

MUs Natasha and Virginia have both been on shoots last week (Natasha is still on hers) and both complained about the 'moving' make-up vans they had to work with. Mulain chuckles to himself as he is just a mere bystander but watching the artistes trying to work and create difficult eyelines with a steady hand while ADs are coming in and out, slamming doors, models moving around is not easy my darlings...it's like a zoo....really....plus MU Virginia had the van man walking on top of the van too ...icing on the cake...it's like being on a ship in these vans. We also got told in the middle of working....'we have to move the van'....so all of us had to hold onto all the make-up equipment and products and go through 5 mins of being shunted back and forward....one just has to laugh.

So to all you budding make-up artistes out there in India and the world. Good luck! Mulain tip is to insist on a van or space which is for make-up and hair only. Has security, has good lights, is clean, good ventilation. Remember it is not a holding area for actors / models ...it is a professional working area. We at fat mu take our work very seriously and do get upset when we cannot perform properly....cos when it's up on the big screen it's your name on it! So remember your working space should be as you want it!

Put your foot (feet) down my friends and demand what is rightfully yours!

M x

TGI Friday!!!!

The MUs have been working hard all week in the Academy and on shoots so looking forward to Friday night and the weekend!!!!! Woo-hoo.....Lots on still.....Our favourite fat mu MU-se Madame Nomita Morrison is coming to town (fantastique), fat mu students final photo shoot tomorrow (can't wait to see their creations).....waiting to see our Hi-Blitz shoot with Lara Dutta (think it hits the streets tomorrow my friends) and sorting out future shoots and classes. Phew...this city never stops!

Going at this mad pace will kill us all Mulain feels so taking time out this weekend to keep fit and do some walking and yoga. Inspired by MU Virginia's Puma ad (see above) Mulain is going to don his best sporting attire and feel the burn but making sure he has fun too. Tres importante! So my dears if you too are feeling burnt out and frazzled by mad Mumbai, Mulain suggests you do the same.....you will feel a whole lot better I can assure you of that.

Enjoy your Friday nights! Mwah!

M x

Cupid's Bow Lips

Loving Rita Hayworth's Cupids Bows above....

Guideline....


Guideline

Visualise Cupid's actual bow to get the shape you want

Mulain loves the fact that Cupid's Bow Lips are in fashion....Yay! Now all we have to do is get that shape right. Most important, it is vital to imagine the shape you want...see images above to help, then just follow the rules....

1) Lips should be primed and ready for lipstick (light exfoliation with your toothbrush boys and girls)...and balm of course.

2) With a soft, but firm lip pencil outline the bow shape...this is a critical stage of your lip design...make sure it is even both sides and curved.....no sharp points on top anywhere and must match colour of your lipstick...no darker outlines pl-e-ase.

3) When your shape is outlined, with your lipstick or lip brush fill in the shape......pick a nice, rich, luxuriant, matt colour....Chanel is always a good bet my darlings.....

4) Check to see the colour of your lipstick reaches all of your lips, edges too please!

5) Highlight above the top lip with a silvery tone for cool tones...for warmer tones try a more golden one. This accentuates the lips and draws attention to the mouth.

6) Smile and pout and you are ready to rock 'n' roll my friends.

Excited for all of you and this look...enjoy it and make sure your statement lips have a statement smile.

Mulain.....

Bearded ladies!

Mulain is so excited about tomorrow....2 shoots to drop into with MU's Natasha and Virginia.......one a glamour shoot and one full of circus freaks! Love the contrast, totally different challenging briefs involved....expect both MUs will be pooped! Dropping in on MU Virginia first up as want to see her getting her circus 'bearded ladies' ready...what fun.....not sure Indian TV or Film has ever seen a beautiful lady with a full-on beard on.....after doing the look test today Mulain and the creative team admitted that strangely the beards did n't distract from the beauty of the girls.....as seen on Ms. Salma Hayek above....it's tres cool and different. Could we start a trend here? Mulain would love that....Also creating a feminine strong man and other fun characters all with different quirks and features.

Mulain will write all about it when he is done. Up at 5am so early to bird my little chick-a-dees..

Bon nuit x M x

Chambor Eye Pencils

Mulain's top product of the week is Chambor's Eye Pencil.....What a rainy week it's been in Mumbai...my goodness .....it's a wonder we have n't all been swept away....really...so much water!!!! Should n't complain I know..but.....Anyway, commented on MU Virginia's eye liner staying put in all this wetness....it was good old Chambor......IT STAYS IN PLACE...MONSOON PROOF my friends.......easy to put on, no animal ingredients and it's around 500 Rs...plus easily to get hold of....there is a Shopper's Stop near all of us! Really impressed and it glides on without dragging that delicate eye area....what more does a girly need...instant and constant eye definition.....Wow...go get 'em girls!

Mulain x

Memoirs of a Geisha

Mulain feels slightly behind the times (can you imagine?)....but to-tally missed Rob Marshall's 'Memoirs of a Geisha' when it released a few years back. Stupid Mulain!!! What a be-au-ti-ful movie....mon dieu! Great casting, great production design, great costumes and of course fabulous hair and make-up!! The film gives a real insight into the old habits and beauty routines of the Geishas....beauty is pain is an understatement really! Such discipline and hard lives these women had....walking, dancing works of art....there to be admired...literally living art works.....like dolls. The amount of prepping for their appearance is mind-boggling....the make-up was a fine art of white powder, painted red lips and at one point charcoal for eye definition....definitely worth reading and researching if you're interested.

Mulain really recommends you see if you have n't.....a MU-st see,

Mulain x

fat mu MU-se

Mulain was out with a fat mu MU-se on Friday night......hanging at the Pali Village Cafe in Bandra....have a blast with Sona Mohapatra. What a lovely and talented lass she is! So grounded, real and refreshing a real tonic. Mulain first met Sona in 2006 when the MUs did the make-up on her music video 'Aaje Ve'....do take a look on YouTube for those who have not seen.....really different and shot by another fat mu MU-se Deepti Gupta (Honeymoon Travels DOP). Mulain loves the fact that Sona is just herself and uses make-up to enhance herself not mask herself, less is more is her advice and Mulain to-tally agrees.

Hope your weekends were fun and frolicking.....M x

Himalaya lip balm

Mulain has been using Himalaya lip balm in the last few days as he has run out of Carmex and Lizzy Arden's 8hr cream....mu-st say I am pleasantly surprized with how good it is. Have it in my manpurse now and on-standby for those dry lip moments....which are many due to the Mumbai climate and air-conditioning combined. I have so many lipsticks and glosses but really need to keep my lips primed, poised and ready for them, otherwise they get cracked and to-tally unsmoochable....not a good look! So at Rs 20 a pop this little tube of delight is my new best friend. It has a natural UV filter and is packed with Vitamin E to nourish and soften lips...fabulous as far as I am concerned. Available from most chemists, druggists in India which is also a massive plus point, no excuses for dry, unchapped, unglam mouths ...am I right?

Mulain is in the middle of a bridal practical assessment in the fat mu academy...back to work to see how our brides are looking....chat later...

Mulain x

Practice makes perfect!

MU-ettes in the academy practicing....

Practice, practice, practice.....

Mulain often gets asked how to be the perfect make-up artist...how long does it take to 'get it'..?Etc etc. There are no answers for this my friends...all Mulain knows is that like everything one has to practice and practice until you can do it blind, backwards or whatever it takes. This may sound depressing for any newcomers out there just starting out....but honestly, realistically it takes time to perfect any skill......and we are always learning so it's a neverending journey my darlings....jump on board if you dare....she/he who dares wins!!! Mulain read Malcolm Gladwell's 'Outliers' recently and in it there is an undercurrent theme of understanding success or the 'successful'.....in all his examples of success from The Beatles to Bill Gates (pretty successful you'll agree?) there is a 10,000 hour rule, or 5 years if you like....basically you have to give your skill time and work at it....it will come!

But it will pay off my friends.....just keep plugging away.......Bill and John and Paul did n't give up and look at them now......read the book, it's great....it 'll open your minds.


Caio for now..... M x

Miss Universe 2010

Imagine winning the title of Miss Universe? What pressure....that is basically saying that you are the most beautiful mortal in our Solar System! Think that's a bit insane non? So Miss Mexico has won this year (no Miss India again!)......another young beauty gets a crown and sheds tears and gets flowers and wants to save the world. Are beauty contests a bit outdated my friends? Is it a bit limiting for women just to be judged on beauty alone? If it was about the whole package of brains, strength, looks, stamina then maybe it would be an up-to-date contest....but putting young mademoiselles in swimming costumes and parading them around like show dogs? Ummmm......Mulain not convinced my friends.

What do you think my darlings? Yes there is lots of fabulous make-up on and glossy lips and lashes galore....wonderful tresses and great shoes...but feel it's a little too empty for us all in 2010.....but that is little old moi.

Bridal week in the academy this week and onto airbrushing next week, then character week then another batch of MU-ettes will be out in the big, bad, Bombay world.

Tuesday night in Mumbai....might head to Blue Frog or the lovely Pali Hill Cafe....spoilt for choice now in our city that does n't sleep.

Mulain x

All the lovers....Minogue make-up!

Mulain just love, love, loves Ms. Minogue's new video and make-up! It's white everywhere my darlings....futuristic 60s feel eye liner, nails, eye shadow....all to match the underwear on show...oh la la! What a video....she truly is a trendsetting popstress. So go to your nearest beauty counter and see what's out there.....In Mumbai hit Bourjois, Maybelline, Max Factor, MAC to check out all things white....if in UK get to Boots as sure Barry M's selection will get you going. Get playing, pump up the volume.....'all the lovers...tra la la'.....great stuff Kylie-Ji....fresh and totally frolicking stuff!

M x

Theatrical fun!

fat mu academy theatrical references / inspiration!

A trapeze artist !

Students hard at work!

MUs in action....

Work in progress!

Today Mulain was watching the practical theatre / stage / catwalk assessment at the fat mu academy....what fun! We had Lady Gaga inspirations, Helen looks, show girls, 20s Geisha make-up, circus performers......All students working on COLOUR, SHAPES, TEXTURES! Eyebrows were blocked out, new shapes put in....whacky lashes added, faces painted, a 60s eyeline here...a 20s smoke there.....really pushed the students into thinking about everything they have learnt so far.......glamour, 20th century decades, lashes, contouring, bases, Mulain could go on.....all in a timed assessment too.....pressure, pressure, pressure.

As those pros out there will know it's about creating your vision in a small amount of time....not easy and involves lots of practice and more practice.....and more practice....and still more.

Mulain will also be attending the black and white photoshoot tomorrow...let's see what magic our MUettes can create.

Mulain will be watching....M x

My free spirit by Rima Kohli

Today my darlings I want to share with you a blog written by Mulain's cousin Rima currently working with women in Kabul, Afghanistan.


A beautifully written piece I would love you all to read which tells us how beauty also works from the outside in.


Making someone look beautiful is not just limited to the glamour world. All women are beautiful in their own unique way and need to be made to feel that way. Sadly the way of the world is n't so. This is where we come in, all of us... real women, make-up artists, fashion designers, stylists, hairstylists etc....


By using our talents to make a positive change, by going in and helping these women feel beautiful can help change lives. Making them look good and thus feel good injects confidence and raises self esteem leading to a more positive outlook on life.... in a sometimes bleak world...... read on....


My free spirit: Freedom is Beauty, and sometimes, Beauty is Freedo...: "Beauty is part of every culture. The power in feeling beautiful is immeasurable. There are some great stories in Kabul that nurture the be..."