If your a follower of the Conventions scene in the USA, you may be familiar with a man by the name of Anthony Misiano.
He is an actor from America who also has a YouTube show, The Reel Butter, but he would be best known for his personification of the Joker, from Batman, known as Harley's Joker. In fact, some have attributed this man to be The Definitive Joker Cosplay.
Now, personally I'm not a die hard Batman fan. My boyfriend James is quite partial to the young Miss Harley Quinn in her various personifications, and because of that I've been exposed to quite a bit of Batman in our relationship. I've also played Batman Arkhamn Asylum (before my game spat the dummy and refused to work...)
Anthony Misiano describes his costume as inspired by the classic Joker and it took 9 months to fully assemble. He also spends 3 hours doing his make up with prosthetics before his costume is complete (I've forgotten the source for that sorry. I think it was in the SDCC interviews).
Anyway, the point of all this introduction is to highlight the fact that there is a not-for-profit webseries on the way, probably in post production now, and from the teaser trailers it looks so amazing! I believe that the series is going to be something like how Batman and Mr. J initially met.
Klaire de Lys has been one of my favourite YouTubers for quite some time now, for many reasons. Firstly, as with most of the YouTubers whom I follow, her videos are always high quality, both in content and definition, and this is important for me.
Klaire's technique and skill in make up and other fine arts is incredible. Her attention to detail is wonderful and every finished video is a work of art in itself. She posts both wearable and extreme make up videos, as well as art, DIY, giveaways and reviews. Klaire also has a second channel where she publishes videos on how she makes her props, art and other similar videos.
Here are some of my favourite videos by Klaire...
Her work with prosthetic make up is very creative and artistic, too!
Honestly, I could fill up an entire blog on how incredible this artist and YouTuber is, but instead I suggest you go and check her out yourself! Her website/blog can be found here...
It's pretty plain to see that Goth makeup at other aesthetics have infiltrated the mainstream. Winter, which it is way down here in Australia, is typically when the darker colours show their faces. This is a good thing because it means that Goth overall is becoming more accepted and that means less hassle for us. It can also be a bad thing because there's always the terrifying notion that we're percieved as just following whatever mainstream trend that's popular at the moment instead of doing our own thing. But it does make buying clothes, makeup and jewellery easier!
Makeup is something I'm particularlly interested in. My YouTube account is subscribed to heaps of makeup related channels.
One of the most important things I've learnt while watching makeup videos is that you really don't need to be watching videos that are specifically Goth, or other dark aesthetic, in order to be learning something. Often, mundane makeup techniques can be applied to Goth makeup with some colour and intensity variation. Everything related to makeup and brush care applies to us as well, and is something that shouldn't be ignored. =)
Makeup channels that are run my non-Goths that I believe are worth checking out are Michael James, Illamasqua, Michelle Phan (Yes, her. Her technique is good, ok.) and Secret Life Of a Bio Nerd.
All of these channels have done at least one makeup tutorial or related video that I believe could work well as Goth makeup, and show very good makeup application. There's plenty that is of no interest to me, but it's not a problem to simply ignore that content and focus on the stuff that is important, and DON'T complain/ whinge or whatever about their content. It's their choice to post whatever they choose.
There are plently of dark, Goth or Goth friendly makeup video makers on YouTube. Many of them, frankly are rubbish but there are a few diamonds in the rough. My personal choices are Helena Is Red (many of her videos are in Spanish, but they're in pretty good quality so you can see the techniques well and some even have English subtitles), Adora BatBrat naturally, Audfaced who does many FANTASTIC horror SFX makeup and Fille de Porcelaine who is a beautiful Loltia (who has the same name as me!).
Anyway, I'm going to leave you all with two really awesome videos from Audfaced. Enjoy!
I'm a teeny bit obsessed with Emilie Autumn, as many of you know. Not in that creepy way of course, but I do love her and her music. This is one of my favourite videos of her. It's super short, but you can see her playing that awesome violin part in the song she wrote Organ Grinder for the UK version of Saw IV (I think it's that one...)
Anyway, sorry for the silences lately. I WILL do better, I promise.
So there's something that I am obsessed with at the moment.
This graphical representation is a great example of the construction of music, in this case a fugue (FWI, fugues are cosidered to be the most complex music form. This one is a very simple one. In a fugue there is one melodic figure that is repeated in different parts at various times. Fugues therefore have to be highly structured and the composer needs to be careful about not only the melodic pattern but also all of the underlying harmonies that will sound together. Fugues are very diffifult to write well, but when they are they sound fantastic.)
There are far too many examples on YouTube to share, but they are all amazing. Listen, watch, learn and be educated!!!!
It's potential that you guys don't know, but secretly, I am a YouTube freak. I spend far too much time (and downloads) there. Anyway, one of my favourite channels at the moment is SecretLifeofaBioNerd. It's a girl from the U.S.A doing DIY beauty, sewing and reviews with some information about the science of the products. If you haven't done any upper level (say, senior high school) chemistry or biology, some of it won't make sense, but I urge you to look anyway and learn something. =) Anyway, the point of all this, and it's something that will appeal to quite a few Goths I am sure, is this video...
Skin whitening is potentially dangerous, so be careful and FOLLOW THE DIRECTIONS!!! =D
Enjoy.
