Setting the international standard for advanced makeup artistry education, CMU is proud to deliver the highest skill training of any makeup artist college in Canada. CMU offers a variety of professional makeup artist courses in Toronto within our makeup diploma and certificate programs.
Makeup artistry is more than just makeup application. To create a complete look, an artist must have the skills to conceptualize and execute a cohesive hairstyle to tie it all together. In this course, students will broaden their skillset beyond makeup application to the face and body and learn how to create flattering hairstyles for various occasions. This course teaches techniques for blow-drying, braiding, updos and bridal hairstyling, as well as the history behind vintage and period styles. Students will understand how to interpret direction from multiple sources (directors, producers, clients and stylists) to create the perfect hairstyle for any situation. Hairstyling skills are an invaluable tool in a makeup artist’s repertoire and increase their employability in all areas of the industry.
In this makeup artist course, students will learn the fundamentals of colour theory and skin analysis and how to apply these principles to create makeup looks for various ages, ethnicities and occasions. They will also learn how to leverage their skills to develop successful careers online as influencers and brand ambassadors or in-studio, on film sets or in salons. Students learn about breakthrough and innovative techniques, formulations and applications for fashion and editorial makeup, and designing and executing bridal makeup.
Have you ever wondered how an ordinary man becomes Mufasa in the stage production of the Lion King? Or how you’re able to distinguish the slightest facial expression on a performer no matter where in the audience you sit? That is the magic of Theatrical Makeup. In this makeup artist course, students study stage makeup theories and principles, employing facial anatomy, lighting, venue size, highlighting and contouring to design and execute makeup applications for live performances. The theatre course includes practical applications of specific character looks such as Chinese opera, skulls, animals, and historical period looks such as the 18th century. By the end of the course, artists will design and apply looks for every type of theatrical production, from stage plays to live concerts. Facial hair has the power to bring a character into a new period or augment a personality trait making them evil or gentle, distinguished or pathetic, rich or poor. Perfectly placed hairpieces can add realism to a character makeup or prosthetic application. In this course, students will learn the skills to knot moustaches.
Film & Television is the most diverse course offered at CMU. Students will learn to create looks for various industry mediums, from commercial work to episodic television and feature film settings. Students will gain essential industry knowledge in the theory portion of the course. In studying theory, students will learn the various stages of production, how to run a makeup department from inside a trailer, and how to maintain continuity onset.
The practical makeup studied in this course covers a wide range of application techniques, allowing students to meet the skill requirements for this demanding, highly competitive industry. Application techniques can include casualty simulation & minor injuries, bald caps, burns, frostbite & exposure effects. Building on their knowledge base from the Fashion course, students will further delve into natural makeup applications to subtly augment an actor’s features, including ageing makeups, breakdown makeups and creating realistic-looking tattoos. The sky’s the limit in film & television.
Prosthetics covers the process of using sculpting, moulding, and casting techniques to create artificial appliances to transform an actor’s appearance dramatically. This makeup artist course is essential for students pursuing a career in the field of special makeup effects. Students will study the theory and principles behind prosthetic makeup design and application. After learning how to translate two-dimensional concepts into three dimensions, students will create moulds and learn how to sculpt, detail, and texture a design. Proper appliance application and blending techniques, as well as appliance removal and skincare, are also covered.
This course will introduce students to the principles and techniques behind figurative sculpting, which will prepare them to develop concepts for three-dimensional artwork. Students will learn about representational form, armature building, basic human anatomy, and fine detailing. These studies will continue with a creature head and figure sculpture.
This course will introduce students to the principles and techniques behind life drawing. Students will gain the basic skills needed to draw the human form through observation. Focusing on human anatomy, musculature, and fine details will allow students to portray their concepts and work in a two-dimensional environment. Students will move on to study the human figure and skull and final creature concept drawing.
Students will learn how to design, construct, and mould an original sculpted character. This course is ideal for artists interested in working in special makeup effects labs, building projects for a film or television production, animation studio, museum, or entertainment venue. Artists will learn how to safely, effectively and confidently use the tools found in a workshop environment. A thorough study of how to plan a project is covered. By the end of the course, each student will have completed an original character or creature.
This course teaches students Photoshop skills and workflows for digital sculpture creature creation. Photoshop technical theory, tools, palettes, and painting are introduced, followed by advanced techniques. This course thoroughly explores image manipulation, special effects, photo retouching, restoration, colour correction, and painting texture maps for three-dimensional work in preparation for the environment and character concepts.
This course provides students with knowledge and skills in using Zbrush, the leading digital sculpting tool for creating professional 3D character and creature designs. Through a series of exercises and assignments, students will design and develop high-resolution characters and creatures and learn rendering techniques for presenting their work. Students will also learn about the 3D scanning and printing process and how these, along with Zbrush, are used to create concepts based on real people. Students will also learn how to manufacture parts that can be used in real-life prosthetic makeup designs.
This course will prepare students for employment as digital and practical sculptors for creature & character design. Students will learn strategies and tactics for job searching, networking, professionalism, and more. Artists will develop a complete and personalized career tool kit that includes a CV/resume, visual content (photos/video), a demo reel, and a comprehensive online portfolio. Finally, a mock interview will test and teach interview skills.