The Capitol's Official Makeup Artist Talks Catching Fire

The suspense is killing me.  The Hunger Games: Catching Fire will be in theaters in less than a month and thanks to CoverGirl, the series is already top of mind again. Not only did the brand come up with a new, limited edition Capitol collection, but they even have a "Capitol makeup artist" on the roster, Dotti, who created a look for each district.  I had the opportunity to chat with her about coming up with the looks and found out how you can recreate them for Halloween. It's such an honor to be asked to create the looks for 'Catching Fire!'  How did the creative process start and who was involved?

There were so many people involved! Of course the creative team from the ad agency, hairstylist, stylist, photographer and more – we were all involved in the process.

I reviewed the 12 looks from an artist perspective so we bounced around ideas with play on words and visuals to fine tune the looks I created. We all did intensive research on The Hunger Games: Catching Fire and although as a make-up artist I was responsible for the make-up looks, we truly collaborated as a team.

When did you read the series and what other research or preparation did you do to capture the characters of each district?

Reading books and seeing a film have quite a different effect on how you see the districts and the Capitol. I think a mixture of both was a good place to start for myself personally.

Which look was your favorite to create and why are you partial to it?

I was partial to more than one look for reasons being texture, the color palette, and the district itself and what it evoked in me to create their looks. I can’t pick just one so here are a few of my favorites:

Mining, Livestock, Masonry, Technology, Textiles, Grain, Agriculture.

I love how you added canary yellow in the corners of the eye for District 12: Mining.  It's unexpected.  Where did that come from?

Without sounding morbid, miners would take a canary with them always into the mines so as to gauge the danger levels of the air in the mine. So there is true referencing to canary yellow with this look.

About how long did it take to come up with and perfect each look?

Some of the looks came together on the first go but others took a few times. Sometimes you just have to walk away to see everything with fresh eyes. It was an ongoing organic process.

They're fun to recreate for Halloween!  Do you have any tips for those who want to try them at home?

Check out the Capitol Beauty Studio for how to recreate the looks. It’s so fun to explore – I love it!

Hunger Games Beauty: Jennifer Lawrence's Makeup Artist Dishes on Transforming Katniss Everdeen

It's Hunger Games Day!  I was suppossed to see it at midnight last night and my flight from Arizona got in a bit late so I didn't make it!  So anxious!  In honor, I'm giving you the scoop on what it's like to work with Jennifer Lawrence straight from her makeup artist, Jillian Dempsey, the Avon Global Creative Color Director, who worked with her for the LA Premeire.  She transformed the girl in the woods into a head turning, red carpet beauty with intoxicating eyes.   Did you collaborate with the rest of her glam squad before creating her look?  What was that like?  

Yes, I collaborated with both the stylist Elizabeth Stewart and hair stylist Mark Townsend to create Jennifer’s look.

Was her look based off of her gorgeous Prabul Gurung gown?

I was definitely inspired by Elizabeth’s choice of the metallic gold Prabal Gurung gown. It was bold and so glamorous, and I wanted that sexiness to be reflected in her makeup. We wanted to push the eyes to the extreme to complement the striking outfit.  That's why I decided to put the focus on Jennifer’s eyes.

How did you create such a striking effect?

I started by by lining them with a deep black liner and then layering a gold eyeshadow on top.  Using a featherbrush, I blended the edges of the liner with the gold shadow. By merging the two textures and colors, I created a multidimensional effect that appeared as a sparkling black to match the graphic elements of the gown. I also darkened Jennifer’s brows to further accentuate her eyes and frame her face. Mark pulled her hair back into a loose, low bun which helped highlight her eyes as well.

Key products used to create the look were: 

Eyes: Laura Mercier Caviar Eyeliner in Black

 Face: Jillian Dempsey for Avon Professional Perfect Contour Powder in Blissful (available in April), Be Blushed Cheek Color by Avon in Tropical Peach and StilaConvertible Color in Peony

Lips: Ultra Color Rich Moisture Seduction by Avon in Nude Perfection and Yves Saint Laurent Glossy Lip Stain in Coral Aquatique

The Hunger Games Beauty: Katniss Approved Braids from the Spring 2012 Runways

I have to admit, I've haven't been posting as much as I should be lately because I've been a bit preoccupied.  Once I tell you why, I'm sure you'll excuse me.  It was The Hunger Games! For the past week and a half the triology has completely consumed my life!  Every aspect of it: social, work and sleep.  The only positive side of finishing is that I can get on with my life now, but I'll never find a story that compares (and as a dorky English major, I've read a ton!). In honor of the time I devoted to the Games and my new found relationship with the main character, Katniss, here's a collection of haute braids I'm sure she'd approve of. Even though Katniss always simply braided her hair straight down the center of her back, a variety of braids popped up through the novels just as they did on the Spring 2012 runways. From fishtails to halos, designers like Michael Kors, Vivienne Westwood, Valentino, Moschino, John Galliano, Sass and Bide and Ruffian all incorporated braids into their final looks.  Check them out and make sure you read The Hunger Games before the movie comes out!