Art Careers / Special Effects Makeup Artist

Media and Entertainment

What Does a Special Effects Makeup Artist Do? An Art Career for Kids

Curious about this job? Here is what the work looks like, a typical day, the tools, where people do it and how to get started, plus a small activity so you can try it yourself.

What a special effects makeup artist does

A special effects makeup artist changes how actors look for movies, TV and theater. They can make someone look older, add a pretend scar, or turn them into a creature using makeup, wigs and sculpted pieces.

A day on the job

  • Read the script and plan each character's look
  • Sculpt and make soft pieces that attach to the face
  • Apply makeup and wigs to actors, sometimes for hours
  • Repeat the exact same look every day of filming

Tools of the job

  • Makeup and brushes
  • Sculpting clay
  • Molds and soft rubber or plastic pieces
  • Wigs and hair
  • Photos for matching looks day to day
  • Digital design software

Where they work

  • Film and TV sets
  • Theaters
  • Special effects shops
  • Theme parks and events

The path in 4 steps

  1. Start now

    • Design face paint characters on paper first, then try them
    • Sculpt creature faces with clay
    • Study how faces change when people smile or frown

  2. In your teens

    • Join theater makeup crew
    • Take art, sculpture and chemistry or biology
    • Photograph your makeup looks for a portfolio

  3. Training

    Training often includes a makeup or cosmetology certificate program, plus one or two years of learning on the job from experienced artists. Some people train through apprenticeships.

  4. Build a portfolio

    Before-and-after photos of makeup looks, character designs and sculpted pieces.

Skills that help

  • Sculpting
  • Color matching
  • Patience
  • Working closely with people
  • Copying a look exactly

Try this job

A small taste of the real work, using things you already have.

Draw a simple face outline three times. Design three characters for the same actor: a wise old wizard, a friendly monster and a superhero. Use colored pencils and label what you would add, like eyebrows, wrinkles or horns. Special effects artists always design on paper before touching an actor's face.

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Learn more

For more about this career, read the O*NET OnLine summary.

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Questions teachers and parents ask

What does a special effects makeup artist do?

A special effects makeup artist changes how actors look for movies, TV and theater. They can make someone look older, add a pretend scar, or turn them into a creature using makeup, wigs and sculpted pieces.

How do you become a special effects makeup artist?

Training often includes a makeup or cosmetology certificate program, plus one or two years of learning on the job from experienced artists. Some people train through apprenticeships.

What skills does a special effects makeup artist need?

Sculpting, Color matching, Patience, Working closely with people and Copying a look exactly.

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