Evaluation research

Evaluation

Overall I have enjoyed the Elizabethan 'Red heads and Royalty' project hugely and have found a new interest in the Elizabethan era and would love to work within this time period again.  I feel that I have leaned many useful  techniques and have expanded my knowledge on both the Queen Elizabethan era and makeup behind the period of time.  When going onto the next project I feel that I should do a lot more research into the background and look at the Elizabethan portraits observing the different hairstyles and what they used in each image that i could use in my final design. For the next term I would like to design much more fascinating creations that are much more eye-catching , striking, dramatic and would catch the viewers attention much more. I would like to be much more confident creating designs and applying the makeup, not be afraid of how ridiculous the final outcome could turn out and just explore with props and accessories instead of holding back. I am very much intrigued by everything hair and find hair a hobby of mine. I feel this project got to get me out of my comfort zone by challenging myself to try new techniques. I found my partner Rebecca and I worked very well together, learning each others design in class time and out making sure we knew what we were doing in time for the timed assessment. We weren't afraid to comment or criticise if anything wasn't up to our standard and helped each other out if needed. 

Health and Safety , care of your model research

Health and Safety

Before applying any makeup to the face or body or putting heat onto the hair you must make sure it is all okay with your model. For example your model may have allergic reactions, piercings or damaged frail hair. There are a series of questions you must think about asking before going any further with your look.

Is the model allergic to any products?
Is her hair damaged?
Is her hair weak?
What type of brush would be best?
What is the models skin tone?
Is it okay to apply makeup to the eyes?
Is the hair natural or dyed?
Has the model got ant piercings?
Has your model got any sore patches that may cause irritation when you come to contact?

Rebecca is my chosen partner for the Elizabethan project where i will be applying makeup and heat to the hair. I asked Rebecca the questions above so i could prepare and watch out for anything that may harm my model.


Is the model allergic to any products?
No
Is her hair damaged? 
Her hair is very long and thick but isn't damaged.
Is her hair weak?
No
What type of brush would be best?
Denman hairbrush
What is the models skin tone?
Light and fair
Is it okay to apply makeup to the eyes?
Yes
Is the hair natural or dyed?
Dyed
Has the model got ant piercings?
Ears
Has your model got any sore patches that may cause irritation when you come to contact?
A few small spots on the left cheek

Final assessment as the artist practical

Final design as the artist - Assessment

Below are photographs of the hair and makeup designed by myself and then created by my partner onto myself. For the past couple of weeks we were told to design an Contemporary Elizabethan hair and makeup design for my partner to create and then swap around i would create my partners design onto her. 

I feel my partner and i worked well together as we took into consideration each others opinions and if she had any criticism or positive feedback of any of the practice sessions we wouldn't be afraid to tell each other. We made sure we practiced regularly so we had time to improve before the final assessment date. 

I feel my partner Rebecca accomplished my look and achieved the overall idea i was wanting to portray. She made sure she left plenty of time so there was no need to rush. 

Hair - 

Final assessment as designer practical

Final assessment as designer

Below are photographs of the hair design my partner sketched out on a hair chart and re created on my partner by myself. I feel i did well with her design and felt she was very happy with the final outcome. My model has very long hair so was challenging to make sure there were no fly away pieces falling down. When it came to the braided buns due to the length of the hair the braid bun became very thick and was hard to secure and hold in place. I had to make sure plenty of hair grips were on hand to prevent anything coming loose and droopy. At the front of the head the model wanted two braids on each side, padding at the top back of the head and six buns, three below the padding and another three at the bottom of the head. I am pleased that i was able to hide all the padding and managed to hold the six buns in place.

Pinterest board - Inspiration research

Pinterest Board 

http://uk.pinterest.com/acarey24/elizabethan-era/

Whilst doing A- level photography at college i found it very useful to create a pinterest board before designing to get inspired and have an idea of what i like and dislike. I find by doing this helps me when designing as i have a rough idea of what my design would look like in my head. By doing this i can also see what i find interesting and would like to use in my work and have them kept in once place.

Padding

Padding  shapes -

The two main shapes within the Elizabeth era which includes padding is a lift using padding at the center of the top of the head and a heart shape with two padding on each side of the head.




From the Middle Ages to the Elizabethan era there was a dramatic change in culture from a fiercely religious middle ages to non religious society where they concentrated more on science, politics and art. Young married women were seen with their hair uncovered for the first time since being in a less stricter religious surrounding.

Elizabethan hairstyles were high and frizzed with padding to create a frame around the head. The ideal hair was red and naturally curly inspired by Queen Elizabeth who highly influence fashion trends within this period. Wigs were introduced in 1572 as women were thriving for distinct red fair hair.

Queen Elizabeth's hair was often curled and occasionally padded, however wore wigs in her later years wearing her unique high curled style until her death.

When including padding into my own hairstyle designs i felt it was much easier using the padding at the center of head rather than the heart shaoe as it was much more challenging to create enough volume of the hair to cover the padding of the heart shape and make sure both the sides were the same length.

My 3 final designs research

My Three Final Designs 

Design 1 -

Within design number one i used padding at the front of the hairline to create a high lift pinned into place using hair grips , i have then created a loose braid going down like a waterfall and added some purple flower accessories down the braid. I like this hair design and feel it looks effective for an elizabethan era hairstyle however was quite simple to create.I feel by adding pearls across the padding will make this look more interesting and eye-catching.

Design 2 -

Design number two has two pieces of padding on the sides of the head instead of centre like the others to create a heart shape. I have then created a braid which spirals across the back of the head. I feel by adding some ribbon into the braid or a hair accessories at the top centre of the braid below th padding will make my look much more effective.

Design 3 -

  Design number three is a much more simple design. I am pleased that i have managed to create enough volume in the air to hide the padding. I have added three purple flowers at the centre of the padding to make my design upperclass. By adding the flowers adds sophistication makes my design more adequate. 

Practice session and short analysis practical

Practice session and short analysis

Practice Session - 

Below are photographs of the first practise session in class. This hairstyle includes:  three braids,  two on each side of the head parted in the middle and one from one side of the head across to the other side, padding at the top of the head behind the braids and 6 braided buns at the back of the head. For my development i need to practice on being a lot neater and parting my sections precise to prevent the hair from becoming messy. On the hair chart the front braids are dutch however that is a skill i haven't fully achieved and need a few more practices to make perfect. My model has long hair so i found it challenging controlling the hair and making sure each piece was secured into place. I am pleased with myself that i managed to cover up all of the padding and that the six buns were secured tightly without fear of coming dropping and coming loose. Overall i am confident with what i am doing and believe that my assessment will go well without rushing. The design is elaborate, sophisticated and challenging however feel positive i will achieve the final outlook my partner is expecting. Myself and my partner have used our time effectively and made sure we helped each other out if we were struggling. We met up in our free time out of class if one of us needed extra time on a certain area and gave each other tips and little tricks to achieve.

 

Assessories within the Elizabethan era - research

Elizabethan Accessories

Necklaces - 

Within the Elizabethan period peals and gold chains of a variety of different lengths and sizes were worn by upper and middle class. The upper class wore several strands of pearls and gold chains together. Beads made of gold, or carved semiprecious stoned were also incorporated in necklaces and caranets. The middle class often wore delicate necklaces with small flowers included.

Brooches and Pendants - 

Brooches and pendants were popular in the 1500's secured by pins of ribbon at the back. These were used to either fasten a gowns neckline or to pin tartlets closed or used on hats. In the later 16th century, these brooches and pendents were shaped as mermaids, swans, birds, dolphin, spiders, fruit and flowers. Pendants could be hung from a necklace, worn with ribbon around the neck which would be attached to a gown or sleeve, attached to the end of a jewelled griddle of attached to a bodkin and worn in the hair as an ornament. Some were also worn on hats.

Rings - 

Rings were worn by middle class and the nobility. Rings were worn on the second joint of the finger as well as the first. Gold bands engraved with a motto inside were commonly worn as wedding rings. Signet rings were worn for daily use or business. Signet rings were often gold and could be carved of a semi precious stone. These rings could be enamelled as well. A nobleman's signet ring could depict the families heraldic device.

Earings - 

Earnings within the Elizabethan period could be single ring, jewel or pearl. Pendant rings were also worn with with more pearls or a teardrop shaped stone hanging from the central jewel. The hearing would be attached to the ear by attaching ribbon which was then threaded through the hole in the earlobe with a needles and tied into a bow.

https://elizabethantimeswiki.wikispaces.com/Fashion+and+Classes
http://www.elizabethancostume.net/jewelry/#necklace

My Elizabethan hairstyle practical

A contemporary Elizabethan hairstyle, experimenting with braiding.

Within this lesson we were allowed to experiment and practise our skills. I decided to practice my braiding by forming a plait going around the head. To do this style i sectioned a small section of hair to form a pony tail at the back of the head to form the spiral look. I then started braiding the hair from behind the ear and braiding the hair using pieces of hair from the pony tail to the hair i left out to form a ring. This technique was challenging however i felt i achieved the desired final outcome.

Portrait analysis of an Elizabethan portrait research

Elizabethan Portrait

Here is a portait of Queen Elizabeth  created in 1580-5 by Marcus Gheeraerts the Elder. There was no name for this oil painting,  Within this portrait the queen is holding an olive branch in her left hand, a sword and dog beside her feet.

Symbols seen in Queen Elizabeth portraits - 

The pelican - This was one of the most used symbol within Queen Elizabeth portriats. This was to portray her motherly love as mother pelicans were believed to pluck their own breasts to feed their dying young. The mother would then die and this became the symbol to represent jesus sacraising his life on the cross.

Dogs - Dogs ssymbolize trust, loyalty  and faithfulness as they stick by their owners side throughout their life.

Gloves represented elegance and wealth.

Olive branches which can be seen included in this portrait represents peace.

Ermine - This is an animal of the weasel family.This was believed to symbolize royalty and high nobility

A sieve - This is the symbol to symbolize her virginity and purity.

Crowns, obs and scepters were used to symbolize and signify monarchy

A phoenix - This is a mythological bird which never dies however after 500 years is consumed by fire and re-born. This then makes it a symbolism of Resurrection, endurance and eternal life. Only one bird is alive so also represents the queens uniqueness and longevity.

Contemporary Elizabethan hairstyle practical

My Contemporary Elizabethan hairstyle

Here is my contemporary hair design-

After creating my hair charts i wanted experimented in class to see bring my idea for my assessment to life and see if it was practical and could be easily accomplished by my partner as she was recreating the hair hairchart.

I decided to use padding on each side of the hair forming a love heart. It was challenging to cover up the padding and whilst making sure the padding was firm and could be held into place for a long period of time without coming loose. To hide the padding i used a crimper and a brush to buckbrush the hair to create volume and thickness. At the back of the head i decided to do a spiral braid starting from behind the ear gradually going to the centre of the head where it will join into a spiral bun.

Elizabethan - research

Elizabethan Hair Research

Modern Elizabethan hair -


Inspiration of modern Elizabethan styles - Each of these images the hair has been removed from the forehead and has been pinned back by either a braid or a middle parting. I feel image 2,3 and 4 of the photographs have been kept much neater tighter however within the first image the style is much more loose and less tense by creating a very loose braid across the head into a messy side pony tail, Image number two have included a number of small, tight cornrows going across one ear to the other. The style is kept very clean with all fly aways have been kept to place. I decided to include image number three as not only has the stylist created a lift at the top of the head seen in many designs but has also included a lift at the bottom of the head to create shape instead of a flat design. After looking at a number of braided hair styles i came across this image which i thought was unique and very different to what i had been coming across. I love how the artist has created a different technique of braid with the hair however still signifies the Elizabethan era due to the middle parting and braids at the back.