10 Stage-Worthy Character Makeup Designs

In the theater world, makeup is an integral part of a character's transformation. Shape, color, and form help tell the story on stage. Aesthetics and expressions are exaggerated, and the line between reality and fantasy blurs.

A few well-placed strokes and textures on the skin can exude the daring spirit of a Kabuki dancer or a ventriloquist dummy, as seen in Eva D.'s and Adriana L.'s examples. Subtle elements can give life to characters in pop culture as well—take for instance Tereska H.'s Jessica Rabbit-worthy crease or Catherine G.'s ghostly Victorian contouring. If you're looking to get outside yourself, these 10 character archetypes are a good place to start.