Sculpting her future

Brooklynn Faison is changing the game at Alva High with a new modern technique where she casts a face with plaster. Faison then uses the mold for making masks for One Act, and uses the masks also to improve her costume makeup skills, because she wants to eventually break into costume makeup and design for major motion pictures. Faison loves makeup and by taking a step up from traditional makeup designs would better her chances of making it big in the makeup industry.

The materials used in the process of casting a face with plaster are liquid latex, a plastic spatula, a sponge, cream water paints, third-degree burn cream and a face cast. These materials cost $150-$300, and she pays for it with her own money. Faison has learned this process from watching YouTube videos in her free time. The process takes about an hour and a half. It's a lengthy and difficult process, but she believes it's the best way to help her chances in breaking big into the into the makeup industry.

The process of making a plaster mask is tedious and complicated. The process includes first getting the work area ready by laying newspapers or a drop cloth on the floor, having paper towels handy.

Next, prepare the supplies for use. There must be enough strips of paper to make three layers of strips all over the face. The strips must be 2-3 inches wide and 3 inches long. The best way to cover the whole face is to make some of the strips longer, wider, shorter or thinner.

Place all of the strips in a bowl, set out a second bowl filled with warm water to wet the strips for easy application. Prepare your subject for the process. The person whose face is used to mold the mask should wear clothing that he or she doesn't mind getting wet with drips of plaster. Decide how much of the subject's face will be covered with the plaster. It's best to have a conversation with the subject about his or her comfort level of the amount of plaster they want on their face. If the entire face will be covered, make sure the nostril area is left clear so that the subject can breathe freely. It's easier to work with a subject who is lying on the floor face up, to prevent it sliding off the face.

After these steps, put petroleum jelly all over the subject's face – place it especially at the hairline, on the eyebrows, and around the sides of the nose. Do not skip this step, since it prevents the subject from experiencing pain from pulling when the mask is removed. Then, plaster the mask onto the face.

People who work in the makeup industry had to do a lot of hard work to get high up in the world of beauty; it's not easy to make it big in the makeup industry.

Nick Bradt, asked what he does to help Faison in the process, replied, "I helped her gather the supplies needed and helped her get started with the process and helped if needed."

Asked how this process benefits One Act, he said this year it doesn't help much because they don't use as many special effects as last year with the steampunk theme. When asked if he would continue the process of plaster making after Faison graduates, Bradt replied, "Yes, we will find someone to continue this process for us since it does benefit us a lot." Bradt also commented that he is helping Faison pick a school to further her makeup skills and make it big in the makeup world.