How to breathe life into my first Human face sculpt for silicone ?

Sonja Schnorrer

Hi everyone! 

I'm working on my first full face appliance, and would love to hear your thoughts and feedback!

It's a full face character makeup of a middle aged male applied on a 25 year old male actor. 

So far I'm happy with changes made to the main facial structure, [but if anyone spots anatomical mistakes or has any suggestions please please let me know! (:] I have only started testing out a few wrinkles and textures! 

I have a couple of questions about sculpting around the eyes:

Regarding the upper eyelid, I am wondering how far I can extend the brow bone and upper lid sculpt without inhibiting my actor's eyelid movement? Or where it's best to have the appliance end for the most  blend-able edge? (So far i have not extended the clay past my lifecast's natural upper lid crease!)

And about the lower eyelid, my actor has slightly protruding, large eyes and large lower eyelids, which makes me worry that the lower eyelids may be misrepresented in my lifecast, since the actor's eyes are shut and so the lower lids are compressed and the full scale of them is 'hidden'. Will this affect where my appliance should end?  Could I try and compensate for the hidden amount of eyelid when making my mould? (I will cut the full face appliance into several smaller appliances and was thinking about building up the lower lids on my positive moulds).  My main concern is that when the actor's eyes are open, that there would be an unnatural gap between the end of the appliance and my actor's lower lash line. (I've tried to take a picture where the eye area is more visible, I've removed any little 'bubbles' or shapes from eyelashes in the lifecast, so what's visible in white is the subject's eyelid)

I'm also very interested in what the character looks like to you! How he makes you feel, what kind of a man you think he may be, whether he reminds you of anyone! However vague or specific I'm excited to know! (:

All kinds of feedback, advice or suggestions are very much appreciated!! 

Thanks a lot in advance!!

Sonja (: 

Chris Ellerby

Hi Sonja,

Most appliances I've worked with in the past don't cover the top eyelid.  This is primarily because that area needs a lot of movement, and anything you put there is likely to bunch up when the eyes are open, making it appear unnatural. 

Lower lid/eye bags are usually run as their own pieces, and typically don't go very far up the lower lid.

Many old age makeups I've seen rely on stretch and stipple around the eye, and then adding basic eye bags.

Bruce Spaulding Fuller's Character Makeup lesson series has some great info for breaking down a sculpt for prosthetics.  Here are 3 parts of the lesson series that may help:

https://www.stanwinstonschool.com/tutorials/prosthetic-makeup-sculpting-character-creation-tutorial

https://www.stanwinstonschool.com/tutorials/character-makeup-sculpture-breakdown-mold-making

https://www.stanwinstonschool.com/tutorials/character-makeup-sculpture-breakdown-moldmaking-part-two

Hope that helps!

/Chris

Sonja Schnorrer

Hey Chris! 

Thanks for the info! (: 
I love Bruce Spaulding Fuller's series! and keep coming back to it for more tips and advice! 

And regarding those eye questions, I decided to sculpt a few test pieces on a spare lifecast of the same person! Specifically to test out how close to the eye (Or far away from the eye!) I need to get to make the appliance look good!
And also to get some practice making those molds! 

Thanks again! 
Sonja (:

Thomas van der Veer

looking good!