So from my research, I have started designing and so far this is what I have. For this one I feel this would work well for my catwalk shoot, as although the hair is quite a statement and will be of a large size, the style of make-up I have practiced and with what my model shall be wearing (a black boob tube with a tribal necklace), this look as a whole would move well which is why it would be perfect for the catwalk and not editorial.
This is from a practical studio session where we were allowed to spend our time practising any of the techniques which we weren't too comfortable with for our final shoots. I practised on my friend, Freya Mayo, and i aimed my session on perfecting contouring as with my final look I want the cheek bones and jaw line to be really defined, to give the final image quite a masculine feel. Whereas with my final shoot, my model is mixed race, but with Freya being white, I still took this opportunity to practise. Using mainly bronzer and a mixer of shades of orange and pink from my shadow palette, I think this was a great success as it made me realise that when doing a shoot, before hand when applying the make-up I must bare in mind that the lighting of the shoot will fade out a lot of the colours and tones. So much remember that to apply more and darker shades, will work out best in the end as I will gain the result that I want.
This is the design which I worked from when practising on Freya. As you can see on the face-chart that there are quite of lot of pinky orange tones, quite peachy as with throughout my research I focused on colour with regards to the make up and the hair.
These are my initial idea designs, as with my focus being on colour, I wanted to incorporate this throughout the colour. To create this I think my options would either be to use Fullers-Earth which we practised in class or to use super-colour. I think with Fullers-Earth this would be a decent option as applying colour on top, the colour tends to show out quite well once the fullers earth has fully dried, but the downside about it it I think it only looks well if you apply it only to the hair line because with the way I want to style the hair, this wouldn't work well as the fullers earth would restrict me as to what I could to with the hair after applied. Whereas with super-colour, once the hair has been styled, using a think brush I could add the colour easily where I want it to be but it will make the hair quite straw like.
A big part of my look, I want to concentrate on accessories as I think this would be a good focal point for my final look. I think its safe to say, tribal influences will always appear in fashion whether it is in the clothes, makeup or accessories. As I have got my hair and makeup ideas sorted, I wanted to focus my ideas onto the accessories as I think this would bring the overall image together.
This is a collection I found online when researching tribal fashion and accessories, from the Spring collections 2011. One of the Autumn trends which carried over to Spring was tribal looks. Safari-inspired pieces graced the runways at Michael Kors, Donna Karen and Diane von Furstenberg, as designers played with mixed prints, raw textures and vibrant hues. From head-to-toe animal prints at Michael Kors to warrior-like tribal dresses at Herve Leger, it is clear that tribal is still a main trend in the fashion industry.
Rhianna has always been seen as a fashion queen, with her quirky bag girl/nineties look with denim cut-offs, oversize bomber jackets and creepers, but one of her most recent single releases 'Where Have You Been', Rhianna has gone all tribal. Wearing croc pasties and lace up trousers, the video styled by Mel Ottenberg, has a dark voodoo and tribal theme that reflects the set it was filmed on. Rhianna quickly moves to a desert style barren set where she kicks off some serious dance moves wearing pink harems and a zebra print swimsuit by Robert Cavalli. I love the way she mixes and collaborates bold tribal prints and colour.
Rhianna - 'Where Have You Been' music video:
From looking around shops and into different current collections online, I have realised that it doesn't need to be a numerous amounts of jewellery to get the tribal theme I have wanting to create. This is a necklace my friend Emma made, she wore them the other night when she came round my house and I asked if I could borrow them as I thought they would be perfect for one of my looks.
I tried with this necklace to wear it strategically down my chest but so the beads would cover my nipples, as I thought I might try out one of my models wearing it but with no top on underneath. To refer back to some of the tribes I looked into at the beginning where the woman don't wear tops, the walk around bare so I thought this could be a good aspect to focus on. In the next few days I am going to arrange to meet up with one of my models and try it out, or even maybe get them to wear a boob tube underneath and then simply Photoshop the top out after so it comes across as bare skin.
From doing some further research, I came across this blog which showed the work of Yvonne Nusdorfer...I LOVE HER WORK! The end result images are amazing, I love the colors she has used and the modern, funky twist she has put on the tribal theme.
These are some of the images I find most inspirational:
This is a blog I came across which I found inspirational as it got me thinking about how to set my model, the position in which I want her to sit in and how she should carry herself. As this can make or break a shoot as you can direct the attention to a focal point which is something I need to consider, for example including a hand or not, whether I chose my model to be wearing rings/bracelets or not. As one of my models, Rhiannon Cleghorn is mixed race, half Jamaican and half Irish, I think using strong, bold tones on her skin will work well.
I think with my catwalk look especially, the accessories
will be an essential aspect to my final image but I feel that this must be kept
to a minimum. I feel to keep it simple but effective, I shall stick to a pair
of earrings and that is it. Due to the fact that in fashion, a runway or
catwalk is used by models to demonstrate clothing and accessories during a
fashion show, with keeping the accessories to a minimum this will keep the
focus on the makeup and it won’t draw the attention away from the detail. By
keeping it with just earrings as well, this means that my model will be able to
walk comfortably down the runway with no worries that the final product will
change as she walks down. I find this is good practise to think of ‘THE BIGGER
PICTURE’, when I shall be working on bigger and more important shoots in the
future. As this is a still shoot and my model shall be sat down in a studio, I
have to think visually as if she will actually be walking.
Monday 12th November 2012, the inspirational wig maker and hair artist, Seema Chorpa came into uni and did a guest lecture on what she has achieve and how she got there throughout the years. http://seemachopra.com/ This is a small collection of some of Seema's work which she presented to us during our lecture, then after we were split into 2 groups for a tutorial workshop. During this, we were paired up and told to try and create one of our hair designs for our project and finally, for our shoots. My partner Emma used me as a model from this, I learnt how to attach hair pieces securely and safely for the comfort of the model and how to create different shapes/textures/designs from a range of techniques. Once the base was complete, Emma then experimented with plaits and crepe colored hair to see how adding color would look.
I found this workshop very helpful as although I was doing the practical work myself, I learnt from simply observing. It gave me fresh ideas and confidence to try and create a unique look for my final shoot which I can incorporate these techniques in which I have learnt.
When I think of tribal make-up, I think of the traditional war-paint like marks across the cheeks and down the nose/forward which normally represents which tribe you are from or what you stand for, similar to scarification. But as I am trying to create 2 different signature looks I aim to try and push the boundaries or maybe use similar techniques but in reverse to achieve this.
I found this image on a pinterest page and alhtough im not sure whether it is meant to be under the name of 'tribal', I was drawn to this due to the fact I thought about the similar lines and directions which tribal makeup usually is, but in reverse. This is something that I think I will experiment with on myself to try and create a similar effect. As the project is to create 2 looks, 1 for catwalk and 1 for editorial, if I am to continue on with this look I think this would look best for my catwalk look.
As well as reverse marks, I found this image on 'Instagram' and the main thing I love about it is the simplicity of the makeup, although the image as a whole seems allot more complicating and a lot more going on due to the heavily tattooed male model who's arms are around the girl. But when you take the male model away and look more in depth at the girl model, the look is so simply yet so effective, I LOVE it !! With something like this, this is a prime example of taking the whole look into consideration as the classicality is key with a look like this. I feel this would be a good look to push forward and would work very well for my catwalk shoot as the hair would be key for this look.
From researching different makeup artists Facebook pages and the Internet, something which I have picked up on and which I think works well is decorative patterns and relevant designs onto the face instead of the standard make-up look. I think I shall do a few face charts and designs to create a few looks which include the different patterns together to create something more unique and that'll stand out.
This image I found on Google which is interesting as the collaboration of different designs and techniques results in a fascinating end result including different types of media. Tribal tattoo designs which is something that I have researching into is something that I would like to expand upon. The symmetry is a factor which I think would work well, from this I shall start designing.
One thing I think will work well together for my shoot is the combination of using dark shades to contour the face and emphasize the cheek bones. From the tribes which I have looked into, many of the woman are quite masculine, with prominent jawlines and cheekbones and also walking around with no tops on, like many of the men in tribes. This got me thinking about how I could incorporate the two genders but to focus it onto my female models. To achieve this I think I shall practice my skills by contouring the face and keeping this as the key aspect of my look. To emphasize this I think I shall stick to one feature of the face and make this the focus point of the overall final image.
From researching different tribes and scenes also, I have picked up the fact that spots are included quite often. Probably means different things to different tribes and colours and what not, but I think they create interesting patterns and could do all sorts with this concept.
In class during one of our practical seminars, we looked into how to create the same/similar effect of scarification. Considering how brutal the original process is, our imitation was quite simple. A combination of liquid latex, beans, rice and peas ended in an interesting result, which we then painted on top of. Something I thought was different in a good way was after we completed the task, when I started removing the beans and peas of my models arm...........the effect in which it left I thought was brilliant!!! It reminded me of crocodiles skin which refers back to scarification. Instead of keeping the peas on, I think for my final shoot if I am to use this technique I shall remove the peas and keep that as the end result.
Once we learnt the basics of applying, we then experimented with colour to see what different effects would come out from applying colour in different ways. I worked with a girl called Freya in my group and she used my arm to practise on. Once applied, she used different shades from her Super Colour palette and then after added glitter to see how the end effect would work out.
Contouring will be key with my catwalk look as well, so from a distance, to imagine the position of where the photographers will be, although my shoot will be in a studio, I have to think practically and imagine my model to be walking down a catwalk so my end result must be able to move fluently with no hesitations.
This is a picture from my practice shoot of one of my initial ideas for my catwalk look. I concentrated on the contouring to see how the skin and bone structure would come out under the light. As well as taking images on my phone throughout the process, I took my model into the studio and took some pictures under the proper lights to see how the colors would come out. I realized that to achieve the look i wish to at the end, I must apply not only more of the products, but include some darker shades and tones as when my model was sat in front of the professional lighting, the flash of the camera took out the majority of the colors.
'How One Man Changed The World With A Pair of Scissors' Part of the course, I travelled to London with the university to visit Somerset House to see the exhibitions on Vidal Sassoon and Tim Walker. Honestly, for the course I didn't see the relevance to see these exhibitions as I didn't see the connection to our projects with the theme being 'tribal' buuuuuuuut, I had a great day out with everyone from my group as it was nice to hang out with the girls out of uni.
The actually exhibition its self, I thought was very disappointing considering the legend on who the exhibition was for. I feel that from what Sassoon achieved and created, he deserved more of praise for what he did. The exhibition itself I thought was a bit naff. As it only really included...his time line, a brief explanation on what the exhibition involves, and pop art canvas which has a few images of Sassoon's infamous hair creations.
Not even any imagery from the 50/60s of what Sassoon created, but edited onto canvases and with very brief explanations of where the images originated from. Apart from the bibliography which was a time line of his life, there werent any factual parts whcih explained his techniques and where he got his inspiration from which is what I was looking forward to seeing being a hair stylist myself.
Vulgar, gross, disgusting, stupid, silly, pointless, early regrets, immature mistakes waste of money. . . .
these are just a few words that I have heard people use when commenting on my tattoos. Do I care? Nooooooooooo! To me, I see tattoos as art work upon the body, including my own as 2 of mine are large pieces, covering half my back and a half sleeve crawling onto the back of my shoulder. 21st century now, tattoos have become a fashion accessory and much more sociably acceptable than say 30 odd years ago.
A popular style of tattoos is of course the 'Tribal' tattoo, mostly associated with chavs..eughh! I can not STAND sleeve tribal tattoos, so much space for amazing designs..yet ruin it with a generic tribal tattoo. I see the body as a blank canvas, so much freedom to cover in any way and to be creative and have fun, obviously some don't see it that. RANT OVER!
As someone who is very much into tattoo culture and the art of tattoos, I have actually always had a keen interest into the history of tattoos, especially religious and tribal tattoos, (PROPER tribal tattoos), so as well as researching piercings for my project, I looked through my collection of tattoo magazines and books and I came across this. . .
TATTOOS - Ancient Traditions, Secret Symbols & Modern Trends' by Doralba Picerno was a present from my boyfriend and is one of my favourite books. Full of facts, stories and stunning pieces of body art, this book has been a good source of research as there is an entire section on 'Going Tribal'.
Evidence of tattooing and various tattoo implements dating back to the Paleolithic era exists in Japan and continental Europe, providing proof that primitive forms of tattooing were practised some 10,000 years ago. Grooved bone needles, believed to have been used for the purpose of marking skin, were found with other tools in a Paleolithic cave excavation in France. But the first human remains to be found bearing tattoos are from only 5,300 years ago. This was the time a man affectionately nicknamed 'Otzi the Iceman' is believed to have lived. Found in the Northern Italian Alps, his is the oldest mummified body ever found, and it bares distinct tattoo marks.
Tattooing in tribal societies past and present has long been used to communicate a social status, to mark an achievement or an affiliation, or to invoke protection, and in ancient and in relatively recent times it has been considered an important rite of passage into adulthood and into a particular social role. Tattoos have also been used to ward off evil, to mark someones courage, for embellishment and for punishment. Early tattoos were not figurative, as they tend to be now. They consisted mostly of dots and lines which were positioned on visible parts of the body as a means of non-verbal communication.
These are a collection of images I had collected for myself and that I found off the internet which I thought were interesting and would be good references for my research when it comes to designs.
The tribal style we see today originate from various tribes like those from Borneo, the Haida, the Native Americans, the Celtic tribes, the Maori and other Polynesian tribes. The shapes and motifs of these tribal tattoos are deeply rooted in the tribe's mythology and view of the world.
The traditional tattoo artist aims to reflect the social and religious values of the tribe in his tattoo designs. Recurring themes are the rituals of the tribe, and ancestors, the origins of the worlds and the relationship with the gods in which they believe in.
With this image of the 3 gorgeous woman, I love the back piece the lady on the left is rocking out. From someone who has half of their back tattooed (in 1 painful 7 hour session), it takes a lot of dedication and passion to go through the gruelling pain of a back piece and I think this is a perfect example. The simplicity of it and the symmetrical shapes gave me inspiriation as for some of the shapes I could start putting together when I start designing, as these are well known when it comes to tribal tattoos, the traditional block, sharp edges.
3 words how I would describe to men of the Wodaabe. The Wodaabe or Bororo are a small subgroup of the Fulani ethnic group. They are traditionally nomadic cattle-herders and traders in the Sahel, with migrations stretching from southern Niger, through northern Nigeria, northeastern Cameroon, and the western region of the Central African Republic.
Unlike the Mursi and Benin tribes, where i focused my research on the process of scarification and what the ritual means towards these tribes, the main thing that stands out from the Wodaabe, is the expression of bold, eye-catching colour and the use of accessories for the body to express their beliefs and culture.
One thing which I am going to focus on, especially for my editioral shoot, is to concentrate on my models facial expressions. As my research especially the Wodaabe, they hardly just stand still and let someone take their pictures so before my final shoots I am thinking of perhaps organising a practising session wth my models, to explain the look I am trying to create so they fully understand what I want the end result to look like.
This is the front cover of the 'DAZED' magazine which had Bjork on the front cover for their 200th issue. From the collection of images during this article, looking into Bjork's fashion over the years of her career, I found the images to have some references to tribal fashion.
The colours in these images relate to the Wodaabe men due to a similar scheme so with these being from an editorial shoot, this has giving me ideas into how I could potentially edit my images after my initial shoot. The way the colours work with the outfit and over taking the surroundings is a quality which I shall take into consider.
As well as the artistic head-pieces that the Mursi people show off, another key factor which caught my attention was there interpritation of 'scarification'. EW!
Scarification is basically a design which is cut ONTO the skin, the excess is removed and once the design is finally healed, it is then cut back open for the skin to heal again. So by the end you are left with the design raised upon the skin due to however many times the skin has been cut. And to think I actually wanted scarification when i was 16, eughhh! The thought and process of it is disgusting, but to the Mursi people it resembles and signifies alot more.
It is usually the men which have it done, and like other tribes it is a marking of an enemy killed by them. So in a way, its to show how manly you are basically! Whereas some tribes paint onto the skin specified designs to resemble their tribe, the Mursi people use scarification for the same process. Personally I find the designs stunning, I think the end result of scarification is amazing as you can have anything done and the design is just raised, still the same colour of the skin, its just the process and getting to the end result which is gross!
To create a similar look, if I were to consider investigating into this more, I could use a form of art clay/wax to mold and place onto the body and then paint over to make it blend in and to look like the skin is raised.
During todays lecture, we looked more into scarification, the meaning behind it and what it resmbled through Western Africa within different tribes. We watched an intriguing video on Youtube including the Benin tribe in Nigeria and what scarification meant to them. To this tribe, it was the norm for toddlers to be put through this grouling process on their faces to mark the sign of childhood, which was disturbing to watch as to us, who arn't used to this tribes traditions, was far too much for a little toddler to handle. Numerous of cuts sliced onto the face of a toddler is never nice to watch but this is a process which the people of the Benin tribe must go through to be excepted. Once they grow up, from the ages of 15-30 the same procedure is carried out but onto the stomach of the being to mark the acceptance of adulthood.
These are some images I found when I looked more into Hans Sylvester's work. I collected and collaged the images which I am going to do throughout my blog as I feel it will look better and polished when my blog is finally published.
With these images, I find the Surma and Mursi tribes fascinating as unlike most aboriginal tribes where they decorate the body with different paints and accessories to celebrate their culture and beliefs, these tribes use dried flowers and fruit to create these amazing, hand-made head pieces which just blow my mind. Out of my primary research which I have done so far, I find these tribes as my biggest inspiration, and the aspect of a head/neck piece is something which I am definitely considering to include in my final shoots. Eary stages I know, but I feel I could really show my artistic side within this project as I am Fine Art/Textiles based and have been studying art for the last 7 years, so getting arty farty is something which I am looking forward to !!
This was a video I found on Youtube, and this has helped me a great deal as it has given me a better insite on the way the Mursi people live. One thing i found interesting was at 2.26 minutes when one of the tribe members emerges out of his hut, presumably at the beginning of his day, and starts applying his body paint naturally without a mirror or any guidance. This is a technique which I think I might expand upon, the body paint but to apply it with my fingers and quite roughly.
New academic year, new uni brief....and I LOVE it! Title is 'Wild Kingdom' and the theme we have been given is tribes, which I love even more due to the fact that there are so many options and avenues I could go down. With our first lecture we were shown a powerpoint on different photographers/MUA/fashion designers/hair stylists, and I feel a lot more confident about the brief from being shown different types of media. Which got me thinking how I could incorporate different styles together.
The main artist which could my eye was Hans Sylvester, a photographer from Germany, celebrates the unique art of the Surma and Mursi tribes of the Omo Valley, which are situated on the boarders of Ethiopia, Kenya and Sudan. This is something I am definitely going to give a go, introducing dried leaves and flowers to the hair.
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