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I Began Experimenting With Makeup When I Was 14, Now I Use It To Create These Dark Characters
Let me introduce myself first. My name is Joyce Spakman, and I am a professional make-up artist and a self-taught stylist.
I began experimenting with makeup when I was 14 years old. It all started with some small designs and doodles on my arm. I didn't even know make-up education existed but when I was in high school one of my teachers told me about it and I immediately knew what I wanted to do in the future.
When I was 18 years old I started a theatre make-up studies in Amsterdam that took 3 years. These were the best 3 years of my life! I loved working with make-up every day and every year I noticed a big progress in my own make-up works.
At that time, I also started working on my handmade headdresses and Miss G Designs was a great inspiration for me. At school, I wanted to complete my characters with some cool styling. So I started with headdresses from cheap materials that would still look good on camera. I really liked the creativity involved and the more I did it, the more I wanted to experiment with it.
On my third year of studies, I started organizing workshops: first, make-up workshops, and later - headdress workshops as well.
Fast forward 12 years I work as a freelance make-up artist. I love working at events and festivals. I also have a lot of masterclasses and workshops here in the Netherlands. Now I have my own workshop space and some people call me a hoarder because of the number of materials I have. I spend hours on eBay (I think a lot of people can relate!). The one thing I still love doing the most is creating the whole character, from styling to make-up. Although, these kinds of projects could take up to 2 months.
All the pictures below show my designs created from scratch. I really hope you like my work.
Some of these pieces are available for buying at my Etsy shop. I also make custom items.
This post may include affiliate links.
Church-Inspired
Model: Roebie Make-up/ styling/ photo by me
I was asked to bodypaint at an event in the Netherlands. A few months before the event I went on a city trip to Budapest and I really liked the goth churches. I took it as an inspiration for this project. I actually wanted to make some gargoyles on the shoulders but I didn't have enough time to implement this idea. Deadlines are the worst! If you look closely, you will notice that the headdress actually has fragments of stained glass. This picture was taken with my mobile phone at the event.
Oxidized
Model: Estrella Dewi
Photographer: Sanne Van Bergenhenegouwen
Make-up/ styling by me
This headdress took quite some time to make. It is huge, and also pretty heavy (it is as heavy as it looks). The corset is also handmade from plastic.
This makeup look took about 2.5 hours. Luckily the model was very patient.
I really love Sanne's photography work. She really turns it into a piece of art.
Pearls
Model: Ciara Pennasilico
Photographer: Josefien Hoekstra
Styling and make-up by me
This piece of styling took the longest to make. All the pearls and stones you see are hand sewn on the headdress and the corset.
This took me about a year to finish. That is why I needed a pretty model and a great photographer. Josefien is one of my favorite photographers to work with.
Virginie Ropars' Doll
Model/ make-up/ styling/ photo by me.
This creature is inspired by one of the dolls of Virginie Ropars. If you haven't heard about her works yet, you should check it out.
The skull is hand-sculpted. This is actually a one-piece headdress with the dreads attached.
I took the photo in my living room with an amateur equipment.
Flower Fairy
Model: Sterre Verhoeve Make-up/ styling/ photo by me
Something totally different from what I normally do.
Wendigo
Photographer: Laura Sheridan
Model/ make-up and styling by me
This piece I made for the NYX Squad awards. It was inspired by the demon Wendigo.
I work at the NYX store in Amsterdam and this brand hosts a contest every year.
Employees can't participate in this contest so they made one for the beauty advisors as well. With this picture, I won the contest in the Netherlands.
Teal
Model: Sterre Verhoeve
Make-up and styling by me
This is by far my favorite color combo: teal and red. I absolutely love it.
Sterre has the most fairy-like face.
I did the photoshoot in my living room.
I am in LOVE with this one. Everything you do is absolutely amazing and stunning, but this one really speaks to me. I adore it, so awesome.
Clown
Model: Chiara Pennasilico
Photo/ make-up/ styling by me
Chiara's eyes are closed in this photo. I drew new eyes on her own eyes because I wanted them to look a lot bigger.
I can't believe you drew those eyes! They look 100% real!! Your work is truly incredible! I'm looking through them all a second time cause they are so beautiful and executed beyond incredibly well! Just. Wow!!!!!
Church
Model: Spooky
Photographer: Laura Sheridan
Styling and make-up by me
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Asia
Photography: Josefien Hoekstra
Model/ Make-up/ styling by me
This was a picture I made for the first round of the NYX Squad awards 2017. The theme was the color explosion.
In the beginning, I wanted to do something with Indian colors and powders, but soon the costume turned out to involve many more Asian cultures. I took a lot of inspiration from Bali, Indonesia.
The headdress is actually very ugly in the back. It's made out of a cheap material since it had to be done in 3 days. That's why I do not sell this piece.
Crimson Peak
Model/ make-up/ styling/ photo by me.
I was very inspired by the movie called "Crimson Peak", so I decided to create a character with my own spin on it.
I handmade a headdress which is attached on the back of the head. It took hours to arrange the rhinestones by hand but I really like the outcome. My sweet boyfriend and my sister helped to take this picture.
This photo was taken in my living room. The background is actually a wall.
Time Traveller
Model/ make-up/ styling/ photo by me.
This was a design I made for this year's NYX Squad awards. I didn't win but I had so much fun creating this look.
It took some time to build this whole costume and setting. I was given 3 weeks to deliver the picture.
In the beginning, I couldn't find the perfect frame for me to use as a background. I visited a lot of thrift shops! I got all the clock parts from a watchmaker. My dad made the background out of wood and added the frame. But I still needed the painting...
So I had to make the whole costume. The headdress is inspired by the clock arrows and the costume itself has a steampunk vibe to it. If you look closely, I also have medals, an hourglass in my hand, clock arrows on my nails and binoculars on the corset!
Medusa
Photographer: Laura Marijn
Model/ make-up/ styling by me
This is one of my favorite big projects.
All the snakes' heads are hand-sculpted, one by one. The background you see in this picture isn't even edited. It was made by the photographer and me.
Wow! This is soooo good! That head piece is perfectly Medusa and I'm so impressed that you made those snake heads! My goodness woman, what can you not do!?! ;)
Fairytale
Model/ photo/ styling/ make-up by me.
This image is inspired by the artist Dustin Bailard who one of my biggest inspirations right now.
I made the background from a big piece of fabric, roses, moss, and a tree bark. I used the baking flour as a whitewash.
Spider
Photography: Michiel Fischer
Model: Zoe Spakman
Make-up and styling by me
I attended a one-week SFX make-up course by SFX make-up artist Bruce Fuller. This was the outcome. I molded, sculpted and painted this prosthetic.
The model is my little sister.
Alice In Wonderland
Model: Debbie
Bodypaint/ styling by me
I was asked to bodypaint at the event in Birmingham, so I traveled there.
This costume stressed me out. Books on the shoulders almost caused my parents' house to burn down. The nipple pasties took me hours to perfect. Moreover, I had to take this costume on the plane along with all my make-up and personal belongings.
Penumbra
Model: Maki
Photographer: Laura Sheridan
Make-up and styling by me
I tavelled to Antwerp to work with this amazing photographer on this shoot.
Pastel Love
Photographer: Josefien Hoekstra
Model/ make-up/ styling by me
This was the final round of the NYX Squad awards 2017 where all the NYX beauty advisors from Europe competed.
Unfortunately, I didn't win but I had an awesome time creating this. This look is totally out of my comfort zone.
The carousel is totally handmade. I spent hours cutting all the cardboard and painting it.
Dominator
Model: Jady Henkel
Styling/ make-up by me
Every year I am asked to do the styling and make-up for 1 character during the biggest hardcore festival in the Netherlands "Dominator".
This year, the theme was torture devices.
This photo was taken with my phone.
Moth
Photo/ model/ styling and make-up by me.
In the second round of the NYX Squad awards the theme was phobias.
Personally, I really like moths and I find them beautiful. This is why I chose them. I wanted it to be a bit scary, but still beautiful.
All these moths are hand drawn and glued to an iron wire to make them look as if they are flying.
This picture was taken in my living room.
If you look closely you can see the wings on the nails as well.
that is soooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo good!!!!
Mad Max
Model: Liora
Photo/ styling and make-up by me
This picture took quite some time to create. My dad got me a drywall to paint a backdrop. It took me about 2 days to paint the background for this picture because I wanted to add a lot of texture.
Halloween
Model/ make-up/ photo by me.
I love painting something that makes the face look totally different. If you look closely you can actually see my mouth.
Predator
Model: Sophie Spakman
Photographer: Daniel Chorup
Special effects make-up and styling by me
This one was a big project. It was made for my final exam in my makeup school.
The whole costume is handmade from scratch. It was my first time working with worbla (thermoplastic). I also made the silicone baby alien.
I had a funny incident with it. I used this costume for IMATS London (a big makeup competition). So I had to take this costume on a plane. Because I was still stressed out after my exam as this was only 1 week apart, I forgot to take off the nerf gun from the shoulder. And you can't take any fake weapons on board. The customs guy told me to throw it away, so I did.
But of course, I also had the alien baby in my carry on luggage. I had to tell the customs guy that I have a baby alien in my suitcase, after telling I had a gun and a big knife (on the leg armor).
This guy looked at me like I was a freak. Finally, I could bring the knife and the baby alien with me, but it took me 1.5 hours to get through customs.
Cathedral
Photography: Josefien Hoekstra
Model/ make-up and styling by me
I love this colorful image by Josefien.
This was the day I shaved half of my eyebrows. It had to be done for this makeup look because eyebrows had to be higher.
I made the corset and the headdress for this look. Nails were made in the style of stained glass to match the costume.
Bodypainting For A Concert
This is the behind the scenes of one of my biggest paid projects. I had to style 4 women with wigs, skirts, shoulder pieces, and pasties.
Pearl Headdress
The quality is not great. My sister took this picture with her phone. But it still shows how big this headdress really is, and how many pearls I'd sewn onto this piece.
Halloween
Model/ make-up/ photo by me.
I took this photo for Halloween in 2017.
Sometimes I create 'quick' makeup looks without any styling. I have to update my Instagram feed occasionally and the making of all details for photos can take too much time.
The lashes are made out of paper.
Scary Clown
Model/ make-up/ styling/ photo by me.
This makeup look was inspired by a clown's morphsuit!
Editorial Grunge
Photographer: Josefien Hoekstra
Model/ make-up/ styling by me
This picture is inspired by the grunge queen herself, Gina Harisson.
It may look a bit different than a normal editorial picture, but I personally really like when a picture has it's own style and when it's different.
Fun fact: this picture was made while I was sitting on the toilet.
Clownesque
Male model: Bas Frisher
Female model/ photo/ make-up/ styling by me
The male model in this picture is my boyfriend. I'm so glad that he is okay with me doing make-up on him and he agrees to be a guinea pig for every experiment I come up with.
I can't imagine how much time and effort you put into these. They are so amazing!!!
Aah thank you :). It does take some time haha. But I keep doing it and it is all about the end result right :)
Load More Replies...That is soooo sweet. I wish haha
Load More Replies...Fantastic stuff. Appreciate your commitment and would like to see you never stop..
That is sweet. I will never stop doing this :)
Load More Replies...I wonder how you would have done on Syfy's "Face-Off." You would probably have kicked butt on that show!
Haha I love that show! But I'm not specialised in the prosthetic make-up tho.
Load More Replies...Wow! These are so magical! I don't usually comment on make-up art but this is truly amazing!
Aaah thank you so much! This makes my day :)
Load More Replies...I'm sure Heidi klum will be extremely proud of you! She says she's good with theatrical make-up, hence the annual crazy Halloween costumes. Your stuff reminds me of that, but turned up a notch. Excellent work!
aww this is the best compliment I can get. the halloween costumes of heidi klum are next level haha. super sweet! thank you.
Load More Replies...Absolutely wonderful. You're incredibly talented. I hope you go far in your career!
aaah thank you so much Mickey!
Load More Replies...These are absolutely delightful and inspiring! Thank you for sharing these. I love the darkness with femininity. Perfection!
awh thank you so much Karasi!
Load More Replies...Wow! They look magical! I can't even imagine how much work and time each one takes.
Thank you! :D it is a pre when its a hobby. So it doesnt really feel like work haha
Load More Replies...You have so much skill. I can barely do my own makeup. I really don't know how you do this. They're the best body painting I have ever seen.
WOW. This is the work of a truly passionate artist! You are SO talented and DAMN yiu must be patient! :D
I can't imagine how much time and effort you put into these. They are so amazing!!!
Aah thank you :). It does take some time haha. But I keep doing it and it is all about the end result right :)
Load More Replies...That is soooo sweet. I wish haha
Load More Replies...Fantastic stuff. Appreciate your commitment and would like to see you never stop..
That is sweet. I will never stop doing this :)
Load More Replies...I wonder how you would have done on Syfy's "Face-Off." You would probably have kicked butt on that show!
Haha I love that show! But I'm not specialised in the prosthetic make-up tho.
Load More Replies...Wow! These are so magical! I don't usually comment on make-up art but this is truly amazing!
Aaah thank you so much! This makes my day :)
Load More Replies...I'm sure Heidi klum will be extremely proud of you! She says she's good with theatrical make-up, hence the annual crazy Halloween costumes. Your stuff reminds me of that, but turned up a notch. Excellent work!
aww this is the best compliment I can get. the halloween costumes of heidi klum are next level haha. super sweet! thank you.
Load More Replies...Absolutely wonderful. You're incredibly talented. I hope you go far in your career!
aaah thank you so much Mickey!
Load More Replies...These are absolutely delightful and inspiring! Thank you for sharing these. I love the darkness with femininity. Perfection!
awh thank you so much Karasi!
Load More Replies...Wow! They look magical! I can't even imagine how much work and time each one takes.
Thank you! :D it is a pre when its a hobby. So it doesnt really feel like work haha
Load More Replies...You have so much skill. I can barely do my own makeup. I really don't know how you do this. They're the best body painting I have ever seen.
WOW. This is the work of a truly passionate artist! You are SO talented and DAMN yiu must be patient! :D