Dinah's Creative Development: Cleopatra

For an assignment at college I have to design and apply a makeup for theatre. The brief explains that the makeup is for a production that is based on Cleopatra's life. It highlights that the makeup design is for the main character 'Cleopatra' and that she will be wearing golds and blues. the production is live and will be 'put on' in a large venue with patrons sitting both close up and far away.

My task includes breaking down the brief, designing multiple looks, applying the makeup in class, answering a number of questions, and creating a "mood board." I have chosen to complete the "mood board" online because I believe its more accessible this way.

So... here we go!:

Who was Cleopatra?

http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/historic_figures/cleopatra.shtm - The BBC website briefly explains Cleopatra's life as a strong independent woman.
http://www.biography.com/people/cleopatra-vii-9250984 - Like the previous website, biography.com give a quick synopsis of Cleopatra's life, including a short documentary.
A biography found on Youtube.com:

What is interesting is that the BBC and biography sites explain that Cleopatra was not necessarily beautiful, but that she was incredibly intelligent. It's interesting because I have always been told, and always assumed she was one of the most beautiful females in history, and her beauty was what gave her a lot of power. However on her wikipedia page it says that, "Cleopatra was regarded as a great beauty, even in the ancient world." but then again thats wikipedia.. you cant really believe everything it says!

Cleopatra's makeup

According to Amy Breau (2012, indiana public media) Cleopatra used natural substances like rocks and plants to create her makeup.
For her eyes she used green paste on her lower lids and dark blue shadow with "gold-colored pyrite flecks, made from ground lapis lazuli stone" (Amy Breau, 2012, INDIANA PUBLIC MEDIA, p.3) for her upper lids. to deepen the colour of her eyebrows she used a combination "mixture of powdered lead sulfide and animal fat" (Amy Breau, 2012, INDIANA PUBLIC MEDIA, P.3), to make a black kohl.
Breau (2012, INDIANA PUBLIC MEDIA) explains that Cleopatra used a red clay as blush and lipstick.

Makeup pictures and designs