Ekaterina Strukova: how to become a make-up artist and where to apply your skills?

Ekaterina also told how unusually realistic sculptures were created for the Modern Innovative Museum of Ukrainian History, including a sculpture of the first president of Ukraine Leonid Kravchuk. Let's read!

How did you get the idea to become a makeup and special effects artist?

There was no idea as such, it just happened that way. She followed her own path, was not afraid to take risks and take new steps. That's all. The main thing is to hear yourself and act as your heart tells you.

Where did you study to acquire the necessary knowledge?

It all started back in 2000, when I went to study at a children's art school. At that time I thought that I would go to college to study at the Faculty of Painting. But everything turned out differently, I didn’t give up painting, but I changed course and decided to visualize it on the body.

The first step was the Academy of Beauty Arts, where I studied to become a stylist-make-up artist. I started doing hairstyles and airbrushing, and over time I was invited to work on TV channels and reality shows.

Then I saw the American reality show of make-up artists Face Off. And that’s it, I got carried away with special effects! (Smiles.) At first, she made everything from scrap materials and used her skills on the heroes of mystical series about vampires. In 2014, she came to study in St. Petersburg at Lenfilm with Ksenia Malkina. This was the first decisive step in such a difficult direction.

After completing a course in plastic makeup, anatomical props and comprehension, I began to hone my skills in film production in Ukraine.

Do you think it is important to have a talent for makeup? Can anyone become a make-up artist?

It seems to me that a person should have a vision of the image as a whole. You need to understand how the actor should visually look in the frame in order to emphasize his character as written in the script.

Each person definitely cannot become a make-up artist, because to each his own. Some are strong in programming, some in journalism, but others fade away without creativity. Well, creativity can be different, the main thing is to hear yourself.

Where are different types of makeup and special effects most often used? Where can you apply your skills?

The skills can be applied to everything from wedding looks to Halloween. Personally, I mainly use my skills in filmmaking and video content creation.

What’s also cool is that our profession has no boundaries; with knowledge of the language, you can work in any country. And in foreign makeup departments, the work is divided between several masters: separate hair stylists, separate haircut stylists, separate make-up artists and separate special effects specialists. These are our universal soldiers... Therefore, we have something to develop in Ukraine. (Smiles.)

What looks do you like to create the most? Or maybe you adore certain details?

I like to create different images, so nothing gets boring. Of course, lately I have been more inclined to prosthetic makeup and special effects of various kinds, be it an exhibit for a museum or the effect of blood spattering from a knife wound. You always want to make it look real. If the viewer believes, then the work is done well.

How do you improve your own skill level?

By no means do I rest on my laurels, as something new and interesting constantly appears in any field. And in terms of materials and technologies, I am constantly learning. All my free time between projects I either study or conduct a workshop for colleagues to show what I can do.

Which make-up artists inspire you, who do you want to follow as an example?

Rick Baker is an Oscar-winning specialist, a legend for make-up artists around the world, he has been in the profession since 1950. 69 years of experience! This can't help but inspire.

You organized a specialized workshop on makeup and special effects in Kyiv. How difficult was it to launch such a business in Ukraine? What difficulties did you encounter?

Initially it was difficult, since the field is very narrow and was not developed at all in Ukraine. After three years of existence, we still face difficulties, just at different levels. But we are growing, and that makes us happy. In addition to short intensive training, we began to import effects for film shooting, opened a headquarters where you can come, see and select materials, and also launched an online store for theater and television make-up artists, so that specialists in our country have the opportunity to use in their work products of world brands.