Recommended Books Showing Front Covers

TECHNIQUES OF THREE-DIMENSIONAL MAKEUP
One of the best books on prosthetic laboratory techniques in make-up. Full of pictures, techniques and plenty of commentary. Best book I've seen in a long time.
By Lee Baygan

AIRBRUSH MAINTENANCE
This is a pocket-sized hardcover book that tells about airbrush operation, cleaning, maintenance and trouble shooting for all kinds of air brushes.
By Peter Owen and John Sutcliffe

BEHIND THE MASK
This is an excellent book about the makeup artists behind much of the best special makeup effects since The Exorcist, who have proven to be the leading experts of this art.
By Mark Salisbury and Alan Hedgcock

SILICONE ART
Materials, Methods and Techniques for Coloring, Painting and Finishing silicone rubber. Wonderful collection of silicone technique. Chapters include; cure types, catalysts, coloring, silicone painting, coloration, seaming, bonding, reinforcing, silicone and foam latex, surface prep, membranes, fluids, and sources. Well researched volume, leaves few questions unanswered. Highly recommended.
By Tom McLaughlin

STAGE MAKEUP (8th Edition)
Well known as the "stage makeup bible". This book covers all aspects of stage makeup application. Basic techniques as well as new methods and materials are covered. Many drawings of historic hair styles for use in ordering or manufacturing wigs. Softbound
By Richard Corson

DICK SMITH'S DO-IT-YOURSELF MONSTER MAKE-UP HANDBOOK
Features 16 step-by-step, easy-to-follow instructions on Halloween makeup for all ages by make-up legend Dick Smith.
Dick is an Oscar winner whose credits include The Exorcist, Altered States, Little Big Man, Amadeus, and many more. This is a classic re-release.
By Dick Smith

FOAM LATEX SURVIVAL MANUAL
DONNA DREXLER'S FOAM LATEX 911
In these two indispensable guides, Donna Drexler, one of the make-up industry's premiere foam latex experts, offers beginning and advanced techniques for running great foam latex appliances.

DO IT YOURSELF VACUUM FORMING

This is a tremendous little book that gives you all you need to know to build your own vacuum forming machines. This is an invaluable tool for creating vacuum formed molds for various reasons. Comes with other printed materials to buy machines already made by the company if you don't want or don't think you can build your own.
By Douglas Walsh

THE MONSTER MAKER'S MASK MAKER'S HANDBOOK
How to make a mask, A to Z. Sculpting, mold-making, casting and painting are all covered step by step in an easy-to-understand format.
By Arnold Goldman

GRANDE ILLUSIONS & GRANDE ILLUSIONS, Book II
Savini's learn-by-example guides to special make-up effects, with photos from his films. Grande Illusions covers Day of the Dead, Friday the 13th, Creepshow II and many more. Book II has pictures of all of Savini's latest creations. Splatter is the optimum word.
By Tom Savini

THE TECHNIQUE OF THE PROFESSIONAL MAKE-UP ARTIST
An updated version of Kehoe's excellent book. A "must have" for anyone interested in film or television makeup. Contains a full range of techniques.
By Vincent J-R Kehoe

SPECIAL MAKE-UP EFFECTS
The special make-up effects section of Kehoe's TECHNIQUES OF THE PROFESSIONAL MAKE-UP ARTIST. A "must have" if the cost factor on the whole makeup book is too much. Contains a full range of special makeup effects techniques.
By Vincent J-R Kehoe

THE PROP MAKER'S MASK MAKING HANDBOOK
James explores the entire scope of mask-making for prop builders, costume designers and make-up artists.
He covers materials, life masking, mold making, character masks and much more.
By Thurston James

THE PROP BUILDERS MOLDING & CASTING HANDBOOK
A comprehensive guide to the use of more than thirty molding and casting materials in the design and construction of theater properties and scenic elements. Includes a section on vacuum forming.
Materials covered includes; plaster, polyester resins, latex, neoprene, silicone, urethanes, breakaway resins, hot melt, fiberglass and many others.
By Thurston James

FX SOURCE BOOK & FOAM LATEX OVENS
Gary Boham's two excellent reference books. The FX Source Book consists of the updated and expanded reference guide from Dick Smith's course. Contains contact for 480+ materials sources sources and companies for special makeup. Foam Latex Ovens provides the information you need to build just about any kind of foam latex oven. These are two books you SHOULD HAVE.

THE ILLUSION OF LIFE
This is the only book that deals exclusively with the specialized art of Mechanical Animation. Contains dozens of company profiles, bios, contacts and rare photos of the workings of these sophisticated robots. Is not a "How to" type book.
By Gene William Poor, Ph.D.

MEN, MAKEUP AND MONSTERS
This book includes profiles of twelve masters of movie special makeup effects, including Dick Smith, Stan Winston, Tom Savini and Rick Baker and others.
By Anthony Timpone

MAKING A MONSTER
1980. A rare book with an inappropriate title. "Film Make-up Greats" would probably be better. Contains bios on veteran artists with numerous pictures of their work.
By Al Taylor and Sue Roy

LON CHANEY: THE MAN BEHIND THE THOUSAND FACES
1997. A new book about the life and work of Lon Chaney Senior. This is a must have for fans of this great makeup artist and actor.
By Michael R. Blake

THOUSAND FACES OF LON CHANEY
1997. Another new book about the life and work of Lon Chaney Senior. This is also a must have for fans of this great makeup artist and actor.

THE FILMS OF LON CHANEY
1998. The third in the trilogy on the life and work of Lon Chaney Senior. This too, is a must have for fans of this great makeup artist and actor.

MAKING FACES, PLAYING GOD
The actual title of this book is much longer. It is titled "Making Faces, Playing God: Identity and the Art of Transformational Makeup" and is an excellent treatise on the art, the artists and the techniques of changing faces. Focuses on the work of many different makeup artists - specifically those under 40 years of age (the contemporary guys) and is very well written, very scholarly. Reads much like a text book for a college course in makeup. Loads of good photos of both "in-progress" makeups as well as finished makeups. Good book and reasonable cost at about $15.00 bucks plus shipping.


By Thomas Morawetz

THEATRICAL FX MAKEUP
This book has been released and I have it finally. While the cover looks pretty good this book is a basic treatise on theatrical special effects makeup. It's nicely done and useful for beginners but it does exactly what a lot of theater makeup books do - some of the makeups represented in it, even the "straight" stuff (namely gender bender makeups, hair work etc.) are a little too heavy handed. I think it is a useful book however and will be a good addition to the library for an idea or two.

By David Sartor and John Pivovarnick