Nightmares & Dayscreams Freelance Makeup Artistry

Haunting Virginia

September 19 2022 -It is about this time of year every year so far that I have been spending alot of time in Virginia. I spent one weekend in Norfolk checking out the expanded Tidewater Horror convention and then just this pat weekend I was back at Hampton Roads for the 2022 Haunted Screams Expo. True to form I brought costumes and did a little shopping amongst my merchant friends. I was unable to be part of the Monster On Makeup Wars challenge this year as my makeup artist was away on assignment, but I did manage to bring home second place in the Adult Costume Contest. < Many thanks to Charles A Townsend for the amazing images he captured while at Haunted Screams.>This gives me just a few weeks to get together all the pieces I am making for Culling Innovations Halloween Mini Photo Shoot in Salisbury MD on October15th. But First...I have the distinct honor of having been asked to help with makeups for Farragut Forward a local ongoing Star Trek tribute You Tube Film short being done locally. So Time to clean up my kit and polish up on my beauty skills.

The Most Wonderful Time of the Year

August 2022- So fall is finally here. That means I am kicked into high gear once again. Maryland Renaissance festival last weekend. This week I am on the road again to Norfolk VA for TideWater Horrorcon with a quick side trip to check out this years Howl-O-Scream at BuschGardens Williamsburg. Still working on costumes for next weeks Haunted Screams in Hampton VA as well. So busy but things keep squeezing into my jam packed schedule with a new special event I just got asked to help out on in Fredrick MD in October...Shh...mums the word for now..must not Jinx it. I have been getting some amazing conversations with a few local independent film makers and discussing their projects. All this leading up to my first trip to FaerieCon in Baltimore in October and as quick trip to World Oddities..all before Halloween. Then there is the HUGE project I have been working on for my return to Ocean City Comicon once again in December. Never fear dear friends things are very active here @ Nightmares & Dayscreams. Can't forget to mention my true new collaborations with David Insley of Culling Innovations coming up in just a few weeks. Time to get Spooky!! Many thanks to the one and only Father Evil for this stunning photo from our reunion at Scares That Cares Charity Weekend 2022.
**I was So Thrilled to see that FatherEvil recieved a special recognition Award at the New Jersey Horror Film Festival on September 17th and I truly wish I could have been there to celebrate his special moment with him. Well done my friend. You deserve it.** -xoxo

Yet Another Friday the 13th gone by

With Covid still around and mandatory mask making a comeback there are still conventions to attend people to see. Halloween is just around the corner ,even if Summer missed the memo to pack up and head out. What that means is more time to cosplay and even start working with other models before I return to my Fall festivities once more at Trimper's Amusements on the boardwalk in Ocean City MD. First I have an September full of new conventions to attend. Some old and some new. Some I will just be a guest and others I am volunteering my time both in and out of costume. As my family and friends are well aware about this time of year with Theater colliding with conventions and Halloween it becomes about like Where's Waldo to spot me. However you can be sure that until they lock us in I will be haunting the east coast. Find me at the New Jersey HorrorConvention & Filmfest , Haunted Screams in VA, Tidewater HorrorCon in VA and Monster Mania. Can you spot me or my creations? Follow me on Instagram and Faceboook to see more of my work as I get time to upload them.
Dover Comicon 2021 was fun. Working with Community Players of Salisbury on Para-Cles to be held at historic Furnace Town MD in just a week. And Auditions set next week for Noises Off I will be quite busy.
Unitil later- Sweet Screams

Aug 16, 2021

Happy Friday the 13th from 2020 - the year that almost didn't happen

While Covid-19 has certainly made Halloween 2020 much quieter than normal. I was very happy to have the chance to get out and create once again. I was asked by the kind folks at Trimper's Rides in Ocean City MD to change their staff into zombies for the final weekend of October 2020. It was a task I am used to doing but have honestly never been the sole artist when creating zombie hordes for events. Since they are normally larger groups I have always worked as part of a team for most of my prior events as well as when I worked in OC Screams years ago. Time management and preparation become key when faced with having to do several people in a short amount of time. Also simplicity. My designs are normally very detailed and this time I learned to work fast and go for basic makeup tricks that pack punch and fool the eye. In the end I was exhausted but I think the staff and management were both happy with my services and I gained more experience.
Oddly these events led to me deciding last minute to not go out myself on Halloween. I did have the time to create several new character looks that I was quite happy with and I have made several new connections with people through all this down time Covid has created. While I am anxious to get back to work and have a potentially very busy 2021, I know that we are all holding our breath to see if things will go backwards before they get better.
Keep Creating and People will notice.

Sep 8, 2021

Sick of Covid-19 Cancelations

With Conventions and large gatherings cancelling or postponing essentially until 2021 artists like myself find that they become stale or like me you use yourself ,and family if they permit it, as models. I have been watching virtual Seminars, Q& A's and demonstrations when I can. I also have been doing the weekly challenges posted on instagram and hosted by McKenzie Westmore Tatopoulos of Westmore Beauty & SyFy Face Off Host. I was fortunate to have my Dark Fey look chosen by Patrick Tatopoulos as the Overall Winner. Ve Neil gave my Mortimer the Mortician entry for the Tim Burton challenge an Honorable Mention and then I got a second Honorable mention so far from Howard Berger during the recent Chronicles of Narnia challenge when I created my own version of me as Aslan the Golden Lion. It has felt great knowing that my work holds up even under scrutiny of such big Hollywood names all while we are stuck at home during the now 6 month stretch of Stay At Home Stay Strong Stay Seperate Together. More creations coming soon as I do have a few small gigs in the works as well as a few events this fall that have not canceled yet.

Jul 29, 2020

By now you all know that 2020 is going belly up

With the introduction of COVID-19 the entire world came to a screeching halt and so did many events large and small starting with early March to the present time. That being said I think it is a given that my schedule has cleared with event after event either being canceled or postponed. Currently any planned event with more than 10 people outside of work and church is at the very least discouraged. Now I am lucky enough to have a day time job as an 'essential worker" meaning as such my normal routine is still going strong. The volunteering and events I would have happily gone to in days gone by have scattered to the winds.
I am trying to work on a few personal projects but honestly like so many others I am cleaning, reorganizing, rearranging and reassessing. At the moment I am okay with not having anything on my calendar until August but on the other hand makeup is a very up close and personal profession which currently is one of the last to be cleared. I also am wondering if any of the summer activities I would normally do face painting for will happen. Currently it is hard to even arrange for a private photo shoot due to travel restrictions so I am teaching myself how to be the makeup artist as well as photographer. Photo editing is next up all while I am still working on my Air Brush classes and Makeup Mastery Class.
New photos soon.

May 26, 2020

Did you know?

I volunteer alot in the community through out the year when not working on my own personal projects. I find that I am getting busier with each passing year even though last year was going to be slammed and several projects got delayed or fell through completely.
I in fact got called upon to help out with Matilda for the Community Players of Salisbury and then got called upon to do Makeups for Legally Blonde Jr with the Ocean Pines Children's Theater. Then I had a small window where I got to clean up after the Ocean City ComicCon and I got to do some makeups for a whirlwind private session. I actually had 3 models to do makeups on and then was tasked with doing the photos when my normal photographer was unable to be there but loaned me the equipment. I learned alot and now have 3 more models who loved the experience. It was fun but a bit frazzling and now I know how to better manage my time and supplies for next go round. I also learned that I need lessons on how to get the best images from a DSLR camera.
I am now helping another budding makeup artist learn some simple tricks and tips for her school Fantasy Makeup Challenges which she is probably going a bit more Gore than her school is used to. Realizing that these girls are more versed in beauty makeup than in Special FX we are walking the fine line between the full Gore I could teach her and the simpler quick tricks that most folks learn for Halloween. Mostly because of budget and the fact she has a 1 hour application window that truly limits what she can achieve. Her teacher and former director we have both worked for has also asked me to be on hand behind the scenes to help with basic bald cap applications for Uncle Fester in an upcoming Addams Family school production where she is in charge of the makeups. He also has in mind inviting me to give basic theatrical makeup lecture to his drams classes sometime.
Keep good relations and an open ear to any directors you work with. I find that my willingness to work and listen have helped establish a good rapport with most of the directors I have worked with in the past. This has lead to them calling me back each time they have a chance to put on another production. I am flexible and willing to work with other artisit's when scheduling timelines mean I can not achieve everything that is needed. I do still have actors who will either consult with me before going out or ask specifically for me to do their hair or makeup for shows, but I always try to channel the directors vision when I am involved in helping them bring their show to life. This often means that I am around while the cast are rehearsing lines or running scenes. I sometimes will even consult with or help with the wardrobe if they need it for quick changes as it helps me get a feel for the actors and the roles they are assuming. Overall it helps everyone bring the role to life as a cohesive image.
So be willing to work but know your limitations. Be open to both give and accept help. I work with adults and children alike who have been doing drama longer than me so I will often step back if I feel the actor knows what to do and how to do it. The director will give us both pointers if he feels we are off track and then we work as a team to find ways to fine tune a look. In working with large groups and small staff this is key to getting everyone out in time. Moving forward I have made new contacts and tenative talks are in the works for additional projects but more on that as they develop. I have a stint as a leprechaun, a comic convention and then a road trip to New York all before Easter roles around with more theatrical productions and face painting work kicks into high gear. That leaves a short respite before Addams Family & Kiss Me Kate theater calls.

Feb 18, 2020