THE ART THEATER

Hmm, so many people, so many things, honestly. My life has always been surrounded by art—both looking at it and making it—from a young age. My mom was such a huge influence on my journey, guiding me toward discovering what I truly love. She was a career artist, and I always admired her dedication.

When I was in high school, I remember feeling unsure about what I wanted to do with my life, but I knew it had to be something creative—because that was really the only thing that made sense. It wasn’t until college that I started experiencing life with my eyes wide open. I loved playing dress-up with my friends and making a spectacle out of it. I was fascinated by history, diving deep into different artists, dancers, musicians, and poets from across time. But what I loved most was characters—the way they came to life. I think about those John Galliano runway shows I’d watch over and over, thinking, I want to do that.

Working in this industry, there’s a lot of time spent building yourself up and finding the confidence to show up and feel like you belong. So many people along the way have extended their hands to pull me up. I like to think that I’m always learning in this career, and it's introduced me to so many truly talented people who have taken me under their wing. From makeup counters and Sephoras in Beverly Hills to big music productions and film sets, every step has taught me something new. I believe that staying curious about what you love and genuinely appreciating the people around you is what leads to those special connections that last a lifetime.

My proudest moment in beauty production was the shoot I did with Animal Crackers for Shoen magazine. There were times when I’d second-guess my beauty skills, especially since my idea of beauty was so different from what you'd typically see on Instagram or in YouTube tutorials. But for this shoot, I really let my imagination run wild, drawing inspiration from Cindy Sherman, corpse paint, glitter rock, and John Waters. It was a realization that not everything has to be perfectly polished—sometimes, the rawness is what makes it stand out.

Hands down, the live performance special effects makeups my teams and I have done are my proudest moments. Hearing the crowd’s reaction in real time as the makeups are revealed on stage is absolutely wild. We put so much hard work into these ideas, then set them under bright stage lights with high-def cameras, letting them move and come to life as screaming fans examine every detail. It has to be perfect—you can't just jump in for touch-ups. It definitely hits you in ways you’ve never felt before.

The last Monsterpalooza makeup I did was in June 2024. I paid for all the prosthetic supplies out of my own pocket because I really wanted to create a paint job I’d never seen before. I spent about a week tinkering with paint and tattoo transfers to create the illusion of an inky oil spill all over my model’s skin. I was really happy with how it turned out—I wanted to highlight the prosthetic pieces with a paint job that felt like it had crawled straight out of my brain.

How long do prosthetic makeups take?

It really depends on how complex the makeup is or how many people need makeup. A prosthetic makeup can take anywhere from an hour for small cuts and gashes to up to 4 hours for a full creature makeup with prosthetics and body painting. The time goes into applying and blending the prosthetic pieces seamlessly into the body, making sure the edges are sealed so they don’t lift throughout the day. Then comes the painting, whether it’s skin-like, alien/fantasy, or gory.

Can you reuse a prosthetic?

It’s not impossible to save and reuse prosthetics, but I wouldn’t really recommend it. A lot of the time, these makeups are worn for long days, and reusing pieces isn’t ideal for sanitation reasons. Another reason I don’t reuse pieces is that prosthetics have very thin blending edges to make them look seamless. When you remove the makeup, it can damage those edges, and if you try to reapply the next day, it takes longer to perfect and get the same seamless look.

I have a project and wanted to know if it’s doable and if you’re interested?

I’m always interested in working on unique projects! I have a process where I imagine and visualize whatever I’m creating, then put a blueprint in place to figure out how to get there. There’s a lot of planning and prep involved in my work. The most exciting part for me is asking, Is it doable? You’d be surprised at what can be done with practical effects makeup. The sky’s the limit! I really love taking things apart and figuring out how to make it work. It’s my favorite thing when people dream big.

The best review is always a returning client! I work really closely with my clients to get a clear sense of what they’re hoping for. Getting to know them and how they see things is not only important, but also incredibly rewarding.

Is it possible to want a million different dream gigs? Gosh, I’d love to go on a world tour with a band or travel outside the States for a big production. I’d love to work on a show like Doctor Who, or be an artist on a film like Suspiria. I’d love to have my own prosthetic effects shop and get hired by a production to design creatures. I’d also love to teach new artists how to do effects. So many dreams, honestly!!

Email me! Hello@dolosfx.com  my website is dolosfx.com and is also linked on my Instagram @screaminmeemz. DMs work too!