Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/1179836
THE ARTISAN FALL 2019 • 53 of each actor but also making sure they looked period-appropriate and as similar as possible to the historical fi gures they played. Photo research also revealed that enslaved African-Americans were not always dirty and unkempt as they are often portrayed. That was an important fact that I wanted to showcase. Their clothing may have been worn and sometimes stained but their skin was clean. I saw dirt on hands and arms on photos in the fi eld but when they were not working, their skin was clean. It is important to note that the "no make- up" look required a lot more maintenance and an extensive process to ensure everyone from our main cast to background actors are able to transform into 19th-century citizens. This meant we had to fi ll in arched eyebrows, dilute or thin foundation and concealer, apply blush minimally to ensure the skin looked natural. We used very little powder as I didn't want the skin to look too matte. For the male cast, it was also important to make sure that all facial hair was period-appropriate. We added facial Leslie Odom Jr. stars as William Still. Inset: Janelle Monáe is made up for her role as Marie. Photo courtesy of Angie Wells.