Whilst I have been creating my performance, I realised that in order for me to truly create an immersive environment for my audience, one component that would be effective in achieving this immersion would be my appearance. Due to the fact that many rock and heavy metal bands use makeup and costume in order to create a certain image of themselves, I knew that this would be an important aspect of my show. The appearance of those who are involved in the world of rock and heavy metal has always been of interest to me ever since my teenage years. The long hair, the dark clothing, the extreme use of makeup regardless of gender, all of these things came together to create a striking image of self-expression, rebellion and freedom. Moreover, I decided to start experimenting with makeup for my show.

Initially, I knew that the makeup I wore had to be extreme and eye-catching in order for it to contribute to the tone of my piece. Therefore, I first looked at some images of bands and musicians who I knew wore makeup, including Motionless in White, Marilyn Manson, Alice cooper and KISS. during my research, I realised that there seemed to be two main pathways in terms of how these people enhanced their appearance with makeup. One route mainly comprised of the exclusive use of black and white makeup, using the white to make themselves as pale as possible and then using the black to enhance the eyes in varying amounts. Whilst some artists only used a small amount to enhance the eyes, others would use copious amounts of black in order to completely cover their eyelids and sockets and then create patterns on the rest of the face, including lines, dots and crosses. The second avenue of exploration showed that some artists preferred to use other colours such as blue, purple or red along with the black and white in order to create a more multi-dimensional look. Bearing this in mind, I decided to experiment with some makeup in order to emulate the appearances of these artists.

The first picture was influenced by my research on such metal acts as The Defiled, Motionless in White and Marilyn Manson. I created this look as it utilised the contrast between black and white as well as the use of additional colour in order to create a more unique appearance. The use of black and red eye shadow along with pale face powder and black lipstick created a bold and eye-catching image which I liked due to the boldness and the overall simplicity of the design. After showing this image to some of my friends, the overall reaction was one of approval.

The second picture was again influenced by the bands that have been mentioned above as well as such artists as KISS and Alice Cooper who exclusively use black and white in their makeup. I decided to present a more overtly extreme alternative through the greater overall use of black and the painting on of additional lines for dramatic effect. After showing this image to some of my friends, they showed a preference for the first design as the second option was too complex. In fact, one person commented that I looked more like a character from a Tim Burton film than a heavy metal fan or musician.

Bearing this in mind, I believe the first image will be the blueprint for my makeup during my final performance. This is because the design is more directly influenced by the bands that I was a fan of when I was younger, therefore creating a more personal connection between me and my performance. In addition, the less complicated design still adds drama and intrigue to the most important features of my face without being too complicated or alienating.