Marta Antunes

Lisboa. Portugal. 1993

2008-2011. 2D&3D Animation. ETIC_ Escola Técnica de Imagem e Comunicação

2011-2012. Visual Arts and Technologies. Escola Superior de Educação

​2012. Professional Makeup. Lisboa Makeup School
2013-2014. Cenography. Restart - Instituto de Criatividade, Artes e Novas Tecnologias

 

Like many children, I always enjoyed playing dress up. Whether it was costumes my grandmother would make for me or simply raiding my parent's closets and pulling out whatever seemed appealing to me and that felt right. Few things made me happier than creating characters. As I grew up, I put that aside and began expressing these characters that I would create through drawing, designing their looks and environments. But it was only when I reached my teens that I realized I could have the best of both worlds. I found myself noticing and focusing on what actors wore, how their looks changed from movie to movie, play to play. What each story's atmosphere was. And it was then that I began thinking “How do they do this?” My interest grew. I wanted to do it too. I wanted to learn to craft all the different garments and costumes. I needed to know how to change my appearance so much using make-up, how I could change myself into a completely different person, being or thing. This is where I learnt what I wanted to do. I began to look for books, tutorials and documentaries that could show me what it would be like on the backstage of huge productions such as 'The Lord of Rings'. While researching, I suddenly realized that what attracted me most was creating the characters, from a two dimensional image on paper to a real, three dimensional actor on stage. Costume roleplaying (eg. Cosplay) allowed and still allows me to do a little of everything I like the most, from costume making to make-up and wig styling, from prop making to the moment when I'm on stage or at a photoshoot representing the character I brought to life. I have tried several different fields, looking for the path I felt would be the one that would make me the happiest and most fulfilled, particularly taking a 2D and 3D Animation course. It taught me how important it is to work in teams, to listen to each other and to work together to overcome difficulties and achieve the best results through consensus. I studied Arts and Technologies for a year and this made me even more certain that what I wanted was to design, build and create costumes, props and special effects make-up. I went to a Make-up course right after, which strengthened my interest and desire to work backstage. I want to do more, to be better and to challenge myself and improve my skills. I would adore to take this passion of mine to the next level and do it as a professional challenge. Your course encompasses a big part of what I enjoy and strive to do, and looks like a great chance to study and learn to achieve it. My desire is to keep exploring the creation and crafting of costumes, props and special effects make-up, so one day I am going to be working on the backstage of big movie or theatre productions, doing what I love most.