The Pros

Darla Albright

Emmy Award winner and Makeup Artist, Darla Albright, has worked on numerous TV, film, and music industry events. Her credits include the Academy and Emmy Awards, department heading, and working on the hit TV series Scrubs, Justice, That '70s Show, General Hospital, Ghost Whisperer, and The Riches. Her film work includes The Good Girl, starring Jake Gyllenhaal; Dr. Dolittle 2; and working with Tyra Banks on Coyote Ugly. Darla has also toured the world with her personal client, Neil Diamond, for all of his stage, TV, and personal appearances.

Matiki Anoff

Matiki Anoff is a native of Ghana, West Africa, educated in England, and currently resides in New York. After graduating from the University of Arts in London, England, she embarked on a career in fashion and editorial makeup in Europe; working on spreads for Vogue, MariClaire, and Elle magazines.

Matiki moved to New York to pursue her passion, working on feature films. After a few years in the independent film world, she had a chance meeting with director Spike Lee; that meeting led her to her 20-plus years as a makeup artist in film.

Currently, Matiki also designs the HD makeup for the world's leading sopranos for the New York Metropolitan Opera HD Live Performances, which are viewed throughout the world.

Lars Carlsson

Lars Carlsson is the Department Head of the Wig and Makeup Department for Folkteatern Theatre and the owner of the Makeup-FX company in Gothenburg, Sweden. He has been working professionally since 1989. His early career started in amateur theatre and local TV in his hometown of Boras, Sweden. Lars continued with formal training in an apprenticeship at Gothenburg City Theatre, Gothenburg, Sweden.

Lars continues to freelance as a Makeup Artist, Special Effects Makeup Artist, and Wig Maker with his company, Makeup-FX—all while maintaining his on-staff position at the theatre. His many credits include film, television, print, theatre, and opera, and he is an experienced lecturer and educator.

J.C. Cerilla

J.C. Cerrilla was born and raised in Manila, Philippines. He studied in an art school which eventually introduced him to the world of photography. Fascinated by the craft he made a career out of it. At the age of just 22 years, he was already shooting for magazines such as Cosmopolitan and Playboy in the Philippines.

Not wanting to settle for mediocrity, J.C. moved to New York and was able to assist photographer, Andrea Blanch, a protégé of the legendary photographer, Richard Avedon. J.C. is now doing freelance work and concentrates on commercial beauty and fashion photography.

Richard Dean

Richard Dean has painted some of the most unforgettable faces in the world, including Nicole Kidman, Uma Thurman, Madonna, Eva Mendes, Amber Valletta, Demi Moore, Glenn Close, Diane Lane, Tom Cruise, Michael Douglas, and Bruce Willis. Richard has collaborated with Julia Roberts on 16 movies—from Sleeping with the Enemy and My Best Friend's Wedding through Erin Brockovich, Closer, and, most recently, Charlie Wilson's War. Richard's first movie experience was on the tiny independent film, Union City, starring Deborah Harry. Currently, he is shooting Baby Mama with Tina Fey in New York. With a master's degree from the University of Michigan focused on theatrical design, Richard began doing makeup in the fashion and print arena before moving on to television and then 50-some feature films—among them Desperately Seeking Susan, The Cotton Club, Something Wild, Fatal Attraction, Mona Lisa Smile, and Hitch.

Kenneth Diaz

When Kenny Diaz was young, his father would go all out for Halloween. He would make Kenny and his younger brothers very elaborate costumes. That paved the way for Kenny to make costumes for kids in the neighborhood, and even winning an award for his efforts. Who knew that would lead to an exciting career working extensively as one of the top Makeup Artists in the motion picture industry today? Kenny has two Academy Award nominations and is a two-time Emmy Award winner. He is founder of K.D. 151 Blood Products, an industry standard. Kenny had a special interest in pyrotechnics after watching a television special on the subject. He inquired about pyrotechnics classes at schools located in the Los Angeles area. He enrolled in a makeup school, finding no other avenues that could help him. This included classes in Salon Makeup! By the end of the one-year course, Kenny knew he would become a Makeup Artist for the entertainment industry. He continued his career working for student and independent films such as Roar, starring Tippi Hedren and her daughter, Melanie Griffith. After the film completed, Diaz became an instructor, developing the skills and confidence that have contributed to his success today.

Daniela Eschbacher

Daniela Eschbacher is one of today's newest Makeup Artists. She lives in Paris, and works for international magazines and commercials in places such as Switzerland, Germany, Sweden, Holland, England, Austria, and Japan. She started out assisting various artists before branching out on her own projects with photographers, stylists, and independent movies. Daniela has always been fascinated by photography, fashion, and the creation of illusion. After graduating from Economy High School, she went to Vienna to become experienced in hairdressing and acquire a degree. At the age of 20, Daniela moved to Paris and attended an international artist's school. By this time, she had already started to work with established Makeup Artists and Hairstylists. Daniela's work has been featured by such publications as Make-Up Artist Magazine.

Kris Evans

For over 20 years, Kris Evans has created unique makeup designs in the world of entertainment. Kris has worked on everything from Saturday Night Live to large production films, creating characters in such movies as X-Men: The Last Stand and National Treasure. She has also used her skills on Broadway in The Phantom of the Opera. Kris is used to traveling worldwide in the NBC Olympic broadcast team or for couture runway shows and fashion shoots.

Kim Felix-Burke

Kim Felix-Burke grew up in the film business. She wanted to be a fashion illustrator, but her stepfather, Ed Levy, a successful film producer, suggested that Kim try makeup instead, reasoning that “[p]ainting a face is just another form of a canvas.” This sent Kim off to basic training at the Joe Blasco School in Los Angeles. Kim was fortunate to continue her education in makeup by working for some of the great “old-timers” in Hollywood. Twenty years later she still loves “slinging dirt” and “primping pretty faces.” Kim lives in the Los Angeles area with her family.

Dan Gheno

Dan Gheno teaches and lives in New York City. Professor emeritus at the Lyme Academy College of Fine Arts in Old Lyme, Connecticut, he lectures and teaches at The Art Student League and the National Academy School in New York City. Dan has been featured in numerous national and international publications, including American Artist, Drawing, and Drawing Highlights. Gheno studied at Santa Barbara Art Institute, Art Students League, and National Academy of Design. His work is featured in exhibits nationally and in the collections of several museums.

Steven Horak

Steven Horak graduated with degrees in vocal performance from Washington State University and the Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music, intending a career as an opera singer, but always having an interest in and an affinity for the field of theatrical makeup and wigs. Steven began singing for Detroit's Michigan Opera Theatre (MOT) in the old-man roles often assigned to young bass-baritones, “doing my own makeup in all cases, as no real makeup department existed.” Observing that he appeared to have some talent in this area, the company offered to pay a large portion of his tuition to the San Francisco Opera (SFO) Wig and Makeup Training Program, on the condition that he return to MOT and establish a department for them. After receiving his certificate from the program, which was led by SFO's Wigmaster, Richard Stead, he fulfilled his commitment to MOT and returned to Detroit to accept the staff position, which he held for 12 seasons. During the off-season, he represented several wig and makeup companies (Theatrical Hairgoods Co., Bruce Geller Associates, and Tom Watson Associates) at opera companies across the nation, including the Greater Miami Opera, Opera Co. of Philadelphia, and Opera Theatre of St. Louis, among many others. He also began building his own wig stock and client list, which included the Chicago Opera Theatre. In 1994, a staff position in the Makeup Department at the Metropolitan Opera was offered. He continues to do wig rentals and wig building, most notably for Studio EIS, a company in Brooklyn that fabricates realistic human figures to museums across the United States, including the recent, extensive exhibit illustrating the life of George Washington at Mount Vernon, Virginia. He also takes one summer opera job in the NYC area each year, where he hones his skills at cranking out full makeups, including wig application, in 10 to 15 minutes, recalling his early days “on the line” at SFO.

Don Jusko

Don Jusko was an artist before art college. After college in 1962, during the Cuban Crisis, Don was a part of Naval Photo Squadron VFP-62, based in Jacksonville, Florida. After four years in the Navy, he worked as the Art Director for an advertising agency in Jacksonville. He then opened his own agency in San Francisco. For the past 30 years, he has been painting Maui scenes on location, capturing the island's history. Don's work continues to be admired by all. While painting on location with his own choice of transparent primary pigments, the Real Color Wheel was born. By 1996, a printed copy was being sold on the Internet. Today, his color site garners 1.7 million hits a month, with free printable downloads of his color wheel. This color wheel has given artists the ability to paint natural-looking dark shadow colors by mixing real color oppositions together and not using black pigment.

Devon Keene

Devon Keene is a current student and working artist originally from Tampa, Florida. She is currently a junior studying at Ringling College of Art and Design located in Sarasota, Florida, where she will receive her degree in fine arts. Devon works in various mediums, most commonly sculpture, painting, and photography. Since she first started out using photographic mediums, most of her work is heavily influenced by the image. She is involved in various artistic organizations and her work has been exhibited in a variety of shows throughout Sarasota, Florida.

Erwin H. Kupitz

Erwin Kupitz is a professional Hairstylist, Wig Maker, and Makeup Artist, with more than 25 years of experience in the fields of opera, theater, film, media, and management. He has been the owner of the wig-making business Custom Made Hair Goods for the past 12 years. Erwin is the president and founder of Cimuha, Inc., which has been in operation for the past three years. He is also the Designer of Hair Replacement, EHK, for the hair-replacement company J.A. Alternatives, Inc., located in New York and New Jersey. Erwin completed his education and corresponding apprenticeships in Germany. In addition, he has expanded his professional training by attending workshops and seminars at various institutions in the following fields: special effects makeup, hair coloring, and modern hair-cutting techniques. Erwin's professional affiliations include membership in the Chamber of Handcrafts, Germany, and the IATSE Local Makeup Artists of Hollywood. Erwin embarked on his career in Europe, and from 1982 to 1992 held the positions of Makeup Artist, Principal Makeup Artist, Wigmaster, Vice Department Head, and Department Head in performing-arts productions ranging from the Bavarian State Opera and Theatre in Munich, Germany, and the Royal Opera in Belgium to the Salzburg Festival in Austria. From the onset of his professional work in the United States in 1992 to the present, Erwin has had a prolific career that has encompassed the following: 59 major motion pictures (including Academy Award–winning films Forrest Gump, Titanic, and Dreamgirls), 22 television shows, and eight stage productions. Erwin received Emmy nominations in 1994–1995 for Outstanding Achievement in Hairstyles for a Mini Series (In Search of Dr. Seuss, TNT), and in 1998–1999 for Outstanding Achievement in Makeup for a Television Series (Buffy the Vampire Slayer, FOX TV). The list of accomplished actors who Erwin has worked with include Academy Award winners, screen legends, and contemporaries such as Jack Nicholson, Shirley MacLaine, Warren Beatty, Sir Anthony Hopkins, Angelina Jolie, Anthony Quinn, Diane Lane, Michael Caine, Patrick Stewart, Gene Hackman, Diahann Carroll, Edward Norton, Plácido Domingo, Jane Seymour, Hugh Jackman, Andy Garcia, James Woods … and the list goes on and on. Erwin's body of work reflects his flexibility to traverse the diverse media of the performing arts with a degree of technical expertise and professional experience that future Makeup Artists and Hairstylists can respect and aspire to in their own careers.

Bradley M. Look

Emmy winner for Star Trek: Voyager (“Threshold” episode) and eight times nominated, Makeup Artist Bradley Look has written numerous articles on makeup, including co-writing the book Star Trek Aliens & Artifacts. Born in Peoria, Illinois, Brad now lives in Southern California, where he works in the entertainment industry. Besides teaching The Art of Film and Television Makeup at national and international universities, Brad has worked on productions such as Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End, The Santa Claus 3: The Escape Clause, Boston Legal, Poseidon, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, Star Trek: Voyager, and Star Trek—just to name a few.

Gil Mosko

Gil Mosko, president of GM Foam, Inc., created GM Foam in 1987 to meet the needs of the Makeup Artist for a more user-friendly foam latex. Gil Mosko has numerous awards, including 10 Emmy nominations, and five Emmy Awards for Outstanding Achievement in Makeup for a Series. He was also director of the Star Trek Makeup Lab. Mosko has developed foam latex, which has become the standard of the industry. He started his career with a major in environmental biology and a minor in chemistry at the University of Colorado. From there, he worked at Mattel Toymakers for two years as a designer in the Preliminary Design Department. For the next 15 years, Gil owned and operated Gil Mosko Pottery and worked as director at R&D Nearly Me Corp., holding patents for revolutionary designs for prostheses for mastectomy patients.

Michele Mulkey

Michele Mulkey has been a special effects Makeup Artist and prop maker for over 11 years, working in both Los Angeles and New York City. While attending college in Pennsylvania, Michele discovered her love of makeup while taking independent study classes for theatre makeup with her mentor, Professor Brenda C. Eppley. Upon receiving her degree in the performing arts/theatre, Michele moved to California to continue her professional training as a Makeup Artist through classes at Make-Up Designory. Starting her career in Los Angeles, Michele honed her skills working both in-house and on-set for many special effects shops, including Keith Vanderlaan's Captive Audience, Crisis FX, Alterian, Inc., and Film Illusions.

Working out of her own Special Effects shop and traveling back and forth between Los Angeles and New York City, Michele continues to work as a special effects Makeup Artist and prop maker in film, television, and theatre, as well as serving as a member of the faculty for Make-Up Designory's New York campus. Michele's credits have a combined total of over 34 feature films and television shows, including Petunia, The Last Samurai, The Chronicles of Riddick, Venom, Son of the Mask, Blood Junkies, Charmed, C.S.I. Miami, Joss Whedon's Firefly, Law and Order: Criminal Intent, and the Off-Broadway production of Beast.

Matthew Mungle

Academy Award and Emmy Award winner Matthew W. Mungle is regarded as one of Hollywood's premier special effects Makeup Artists. With over 100 film and television projects to his credit, Matthew has earned accolades and recognition as one of the industry's top masters of makeup illusion. Born in Durant, Oklahoma in 1956, Matthew was one of five children. As a boy, he was fascinated by makeup. Matthew credits the film 7 Faces of Dr. Lao as a factor in him deciding to become a Makeup Effects Artist. In 1978, Matthew applied to and was accepted into Joe Blasco's Makeup Center, the premier academy responsible for training many of the film and television industries' elite Makeup Artists. Matthew's impressive list of film, television, and theater credits include the box office hits The Perfect Storm, Bedazzled, The Polar Express, The Omen, X-Men, The X Files, CSI: Miami, Six Feet Under, The Fast and the Furious, and the Broadway hit Wicked—just to name a few. Matthew, founder of W.M. Creations, Inc., along with John E. Jackson, has developed products for the Makeup Artist that no one should be without. Matthew wanted to give the working Makeup Artist a chance to create and buy products he would use himself. Matthew continues to educate and influence new Makeup Artists today worldwide.

Kenny Myers

Nominated twice for Emmy Awards and Department Head on the Academy Award–nominated picture, Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country, Kenny Myers has mastered many projects and has had many successes over the years. Kenny graduated from William Paterson College in 1976 with a master's degree in communication arts-theatrical design. In 1976, Kenny moved to Los Angeles and began to work as an apprentice to Chris Walas. During the past 20 years, Kenny has been involved with many pictures, including The Prestige, X-Men: The Last Stand, War of the Worlds, Collateral, The Last Samurai, Home Alone, Star Trek, Back to the Future Part III, The Return of the Living Dead, and Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me. In 1999, Kenny, in conjunction with his company Cine Makeup, Inc., created an effects makeup line of highly pigmented flesh tone inks called Skin Illustrator. Shortly after, Kenny teamed with industry manufacturer Premiere Products, Inc., and is continually expanding the product line. Kenny was truly honored when asked to become a member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.

Dina Ousley

Over the past 15 years, Dina Ousley, president and founder of Dinair Airbrush Makeup Systems, Inc., has guided and directed the development of a sprayable glamour makeup and glamour makeup application system. Of even more significance, during that time, she pioneered “the new art of airbrush makeup.” The artistic makeup techniques she has developed go far beyond the boundaries of traditional application, and more fluently and vividly express the Makeup Artist vision. The new art of micropointillism makeup is a futuristic version of pointillism where one dot of color at a time is applied to depict images. The 15-year proving ground for the makeup and techniques occurred during her work as a Hollywood Makeup Artist. Over the past 20 years she has worked on feature films, TV specials, national and regional commercials, music videos, and star still-photo shoots. Her Makeup Artist career followed her earlier career as a film and television actress.

Cristina Patterson

Born in Madrid, Spain, Cristina Patterson came to Los Angeles at the age of one. Cristina was introduced to the film industry by her mother, Raffaelle Butler, a Hollywood Makeup Artist. Following her mother's example, Cristina dove into makeup for motion pictures. In 1995, she joined Professional Vision Care Associates as a Contact Lens Technician. In 2002, Cristina was promoted to Special Effects Coordinator. She is now designing and painting contact lenses for film and television, and prosthetic lenses for patients. Cristina is an accomplished, self-taught painter in the fine arts. She is always working to find new ways to paint contact lenses.

Robert Revels

Robert Revels graduated from the Academy of Art University with a BFA in illustration. Robert has worked in the illustration and graphics industry since 1994. Mr. Revels has worked on a variety of projects ranging from children's stories to large concert backdrops for artists such as Carlos Santana and U2. Since graduating from the Academy, he has garnered numerous awards. Revels was chosen as one of two artists to represent the Academy in the San Francisco International Arts Festival. He was also the recipient of a Judges Choice Award from the San Francisco and New York Society of Illustrators annual shows. He is also the founder of the greeting card company, Rockfish Designs. Mr. Revels has returned to teach at his alma mater to give back to the next generation of artists.

Christien Tinsley

Christien Tinsley is an Academy Award–nominated Makeup Artist who grew up in Auburn, Washington. At the age of 21, Tinsley moved to Los Angeles after receiving his first job as an effects artist. Working at Steve Johnson's FX Shop, Christien developed a range of materials and was soon overseeing and supervising effects for several films. Tinsley's first union job was applying prosthetics to Clint Howard in How the Grinch Stole Christmas. Tinsley continued on to his next film, Pearl Harbor, which ultimately launched his signature product, Tinsley Transfers. Christien developed “prosthetic transfers” when creating the look for Jesus in The Passion of the Christ. Today, Tinsley Transfers, Inc., has emerged into a leading provider of tattoos and prosthetic transfers effects for some of Hollywood's biggest stars, including Brad Pitt, George Clooney, Vin Diesel, and Justin Timberlake. Tinsley accredits his influences to such individuals as Rick Baker, Greg Cannom, Steve Johnson, Rob Bottin, and Dick Smith.

Joseph N. Tawil

Joseph N. Tawil is founder and president of GAM Products, Inc., the Los Angeles–based theatrical lighting and special-effects company. He is a graduate of Carnegie Mellon University, a fellow of the United States Institute of Theater Technology, and an associate member of the American Society of Cinematographers. Tawil has authored a dozen articles on lighting that have been published in industry trade journals. He often guest lectures at universities on the subject of color, and is a frequent speaker for the International Photographers Guild about color measurement. Tawil holds more than a dozen patents in the lighting field, and has created many special-effects and projection devices (including the patented Film/FX and SX4 film loop) that have become standard production tools for the entertainment industry. They include the first deep-dyed polyester color filter, the first off-the-shelf, stainless-steel pattern, and Black Wrap, the original, for which he received an Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Award.

Nancy Tozier

Nancy Tozier went to Salem State University, majoring in psychology. She attended cosmetology school in Massachusetts. In the 1980s, she owned her own spa and managed another spa with 22 styling chairs, heading the makeup and skin care department. Nancy graduated from the Catherine Hinds Institute in Woburn, Massachusetts in 1989, valedictorian and winner of the Marietta Hinds Award. She has studied the art of skin tones, color theory, and skin care with mentors such as Glen Lockhart of Bion Research Skin Care, James Vincent, and Nancy Feliciano. Tozier is a respected educator and innovator.

Kazuhiro “Kazu” Tsuji

Kazuhiro Tsuji was born in Kyoto, Japan. Throughout his childhood he was interested in art, movies, science, and technology. Later Kazuhiro started corresponding with Dick Smith (Amadeus, The Exorcist, and The Godfather). After Tsuji graduated, Smith invited him to work on the Japanese film, Sweet Home. Tsuji started his own business and has worked on numerous Japanese movies including Rhapsody in August, directed by Akira Kurosawa (Seven Samurai, Ran, Yojimbo). Tsjui has also taught makeup at the Yoyogi Animation Institute.

In 1996 he was sponsored by Rick Baker (An American Werewolf in London, The Nutty Professor) to work on Men In Black. This started the collaboration between Tsuji (as project supervisor and makeup artist) and Baker that has lasted over 10 years. The projects include Batman and Robin, The Devil's Advocate, Mighty Joe Young, Nutty Professor II, How the Grinch Stole Christmas, Planet of the Apes, Men In Black II, The Ring, Hellboy, Norbit and many more. Tsuji also won a BAFTA award for How the Grinch Stole Christmas, and was nominated for Planet of the Apes. He won the Hollywood Makeup Artist and Hair Stylist Guild Awards for Planet of the Apes and How the Grinch Stole Christmas. He received an Oscar nomination for Click and an Oscar nomination for Norbit.

Tsuji started his own company, KTS Effects, Inc., in 2007. Tsuji continues to be one of the top respected Makeup Artists for designing and executing exciting and new makeup techniques.

Paul Wheeler

Renowned cinematographer, director of photography, and writer are only just the start of a list of titles that outline Paul Wheeler's career. He was twice nominated by BAFTA for a Best Cinematography Award, and has twice been the winner of the Indie Award for Best Digital Cinematography. Paul is the author of several popular books on cinematography. He also lectures at establishments such as The London International Film School and the Royal College of the Arts. He is a member of the Guild of British Camera Technicians, a Fellow of the British Kinematograph, Sound and Television Society, and a Member of the British Society of Cinematographers.

Patty York

Patty York wanted to be involved in movie making since she was a little girl. Being a big dreamer, movies activated her imagination; she was a natural at creatively expressing herself. Patty worked as a commercial artist in her early years, moving to New York City where she worked with fashion designers, all the while stimulating her lifelong obsession with the beauty industry. A need to generate more income in New York City sent Patty back to school to earn a degree in business. Patty became a “suit.” The stagnation was killing her spirit and she craved and missed being creative; she woke up one day to realize that being a suit was not her! Time to put her brush strokes to a living breathing canvas. She apprenticed with several professional Makeup Artists in New York City, learning everything she could from them. She worked as a print Makeup Artist before moving to Hollywood to pursue her dream. With additional training in the film industry to fine tune her instincts as an artist, she learned film techniques and set protocol. Today, Patty still lives in Los Angeles, and enjoys a successful career as a makeup department head and personal Makeup Artist to the stars!