Prosthetics in one form or another has fascinated audiences from the early silent pictures to modern day blockbusters. Generations of makeup artists have created visual wonder and timeless images which have entered our pop culture and stirred our imaginations leaving some of us the with the indelible mark of thrill, horror and inspiration.

In the early days, picture making was certainly a struggle with the primitive products of the time. The classic Frankenstein movie is a typical example of waxes and collodion, used for special effects that looked good for the era, but were limiting and fussy for the longevity of the shoot. With the evolution of the industry, we now have various materials in which we can express prosthetics in new and incredibly bold ways.

Prosthetics artists wear many hats; designer, sculptor, mold maker, lab technician, painter and on set makeup artist. These titles utilize many disciplines in order to manifest certain effect and deliver the end product. Holistic training gives the artists not only the technical side of the trade, but the sensitivity and savvy to understand relationships within the crew infrastructure, and to deal professionally and confidently with producers and directors. This course takes the student to the bare bones of art fundamentals while incorporating the latest materials and technologies. The excitement is in the process. Starting with a brick of clay and finishing with a masterpiece is a truly amazing and rewarding experience.

As long as there are filmmakers there will always be prosthetic makeup artists. As the field of makeup artistry is continually evolving, if the writers can imagine it, we can create it.

Course highlights:

Negative Mold
- Utilizing Ultracal 30 gypsum cement
to create accurate and durable molds
- Using silicone rubber to create
negative flexible molds

Creating the Positive
- Positives molds (sculptures, appliances, and lifecasts) are created
in class using industry standard materials
- A complete "lay-up" process is demonstrated obtaining professional results

Sketching/Maquette/Design
- All large class projects are designed from sketch to final project
- The design analysis method is employed to create a logical series of steps to ensure quality and meeting our deadline

Sculpting Fundamentals
- Discussions and demonstrations of tools and sculpting techniques that industry professionals employ
- Use of various clays to render sculptures is employed in class by all students

Types of Tools
- Use of surface forming tools for mould clean-up
- Range of basic sculpting tools and their uses
- Use of hardware tools

Texture Stamping
- Utilizing latex and silicone rubber to create skin-like textures from "real-life" objects, resulting in realistic skin textures for appliance sculpting

Principles of Mold-making, claying out, flanging/keys
- Creating good moulds are key to creating prosthetics
- Technique for creating the overflow, cutting edge and keys, to snap molds together for professional results
- Art of strengthening molds for baking rubber
- How to avoid undercuts and lock-ups

Splash Coat/Reinforcement
- Step by step process for creating perfect molds
- Usage of "splash coat "technique to capture detail and avoid air pockets
- Reinforcing with materials to create strength for baking at high temperatures

Generic Wound Trays
Fast and simple moulds to create gelatin appliances
- Quick techniques for meeting deadlines due to last minute scripts changes
- Two piece mould systems for casualty assimilation (positive and negative)

Running Foam
- Precise chemistry and scheduling for a perfect foam outcome
- Filling and baking moulds for successful foam runs in our convection oven

Silicone skin
- Basic principles of industry grade materials
- Exploring different types of silicon grades, running skins, intrinsic coloring, extrinsic paint finishes, and general chemistry

Gelatin Appliances
-Creating a custom formula to create realistic flesh-like skins for appliances using a prosthetic grade gelatin

Dental Prosthetics
- Fangs and dentures are created in class by each student
- Using Dental Acrylic and liquid monomer to create realistic prosthetic teeth
- Learn the fast and slow methods in forming quality prosthetic teeth

PAX paint technologies
-Painting appliances with PAX to enhance foam prosthetic with color and realism
-How to formulate your own flexible paint system

Rubber Mask greasepaint
- Custom blending colour techniques
- Coloration on rubber to achieve a "skin like look"

Tattoo colour (alcohol activated makeup)
- Utilized to add colour to gelatin, foam latex and translucent appliances
- Also used to create a "pointillism" type of effect on appliances to add depth and realism

Airbrushing
-Types of air brushes
-Operation and maintenance of your airbrush
-Painting effects with the airbrush
-Types of air brush mediums