The Peru Amateur Circus uses many staples seen commonly under the traditional Big Top, including clown performances. A clown makeup expert gives AAA State of Play an exclusive tutorial on her signature looks. She includes a 7 step routine that will leave you circus-ready in no time! It includes methods for a long wear time, as well as technique for keeping your choice of nose on all night. Find out more about easy clown makeup looks in the video above.
Step 1: Use a brush or sponge to lay down the clown white around the eyes, mouth or the whole face if you want.
Step 2: Powder all of the white face paint using a sock full of setting powder, baby powder or cornstarch. A powder puff can work too.
Step 3: Add the color elements around the eyes, mouth and cheeks to enhance expression and creativity.
Step 4: Do a second powdering over the color.
Step 5: Add your extra touches such as eyeliner, brows and mascara.
Step 6: Brush away excess powder and wet pat your face by dampening a towel and pressing it over the powdered areas of the face.
Step 7: Add the final touches, like glitter, if that is your thing. And now you have a cute clown makeup look!
The depiction of the modern clown is most associated with circus acts. This character was developed from comedy roles in various theatre shows in the 19th and 20th century. But they can be traced all the way back to ancient Greek and Roman theatre, where they brought to life the character of the “rustic fool.”
In the late 1700s, a man named Philip Astley added a clown performer to his equestrian shows at the London riding school. This popularized the character further in Western Europe as fans enjoyed and spoke of the hilarity of Astley’s act. By the 20th century, the “rustic fool” archetype was replaced by the “tramp” or “hobo” character. This characterization was only reinforced and more popularized in the Depression Era of the United States.
In the mid-20th century, clowns became quite commercially popular among children and adults. Not only were they performing in the circus or theatre, they were now visiting hospitals and birthday parties to cheer up children. The most well-known characters are Ronald McDonald and Bozo the Clown.
While clowning is meant to be an expression of creativity, there is one very important rule: Never steal a clown’s face. It is acceptable to take bits and pieces or find inspiration from an original clown face paint style for makeup ideas. But it is never okay to directly copy a face design. While most faces will be instantly recognizable as a clown, the details like eye shape, nose and mouth outline will define the character.
The familiar whiteface clown makeup is what is referenced most in pop culture. This makeup look can use minimalistic, sharp black lines over a fully white face to emphasize facial expressions. This is most common in theatre and other more sophisticated performances. It can also be more of an exaggerated Bozo-type “buffoonish” look. For the latter, it is typically accompanied by oversized clothing and accessories, along with a colorful wig.
People who perform as clowns often see their character as an extension of themselves, rather than an entirely different person. They are taking an aspect of their sense of humor and personality, exaggerating it, and building a persona around it. Classic clowning is a beloved and timeless tradition that has lasted centuries. While aesthetics, makeup and characters have evolved, the basis of the performance art is still reminiscent of the ancient performances of “rustic fools.”
