Artwork of the Day : Poison Ivy by Miss Pipedream Fantasy

What can I possibly say about this piece? Exquisite. Glamourous. To die for.

This fine lady is done in a vintage pin-up style with a fairly obvious nod to Batman: The Animated Series. The face is quite beautiful. So kind with just a hint of mischief and menace in those eyes. I adore the pout. Oh! The hair color is so lush and the texture is perfect. Who wouldn't want this do? I also love this particular shade of "olive" green. Opera length gloves? So classy.

If you follow the link below to her Deviantart page you can view a much larger version of this image. There you'll notice her bodice has a slight spiral pattern. Miss Pipedream Fantasy you have lived up to your name. She is quite dreamy indeed.

[misspipedreamfantasy.deviantart.com]

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Cosplay of the Day : Lady Ginevra

Cosplayer Lady Ginevra has created quite the masterpiece. It takes a lot of nerve (and talent) to successfully pull off a green skinned Poison Ivy costume - and she's done just that.

There is a wonderful contrast of textures and colors. The smooth satin played against the rough and spiraling tendrils. Purple and magenta hues look fantastic when paired with spring greens and what you see here is no exception. The application of the green makeup is flawless. I'd love to know if this was an airbrushed effort or a well done sponge application. An elegant use of flowers for sure. Follow the link at the end of this post to see many more photos of this costume in action. Also, Joker and Harley Quinn look equally awesome.

[LadyGinevra]

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Poison Ivy (Uma Thurman - Batman) Costume Make-Up by Kandee

This is Kandee Johnson's take on one of Uma Thurman's makeup styles in Batman & Robin (costume #2). The video tutorial is just under 30 minutes in length so be prepared to sit for a while or fast forward when you feel the need.

I was mostly pleased with the final results. I kind of felt like there were a few unnecessary or repetitive makeup applications. I also would've paid more mind to scale. The wig looks a bit too big and heavy and the leaf mask also looks too large for my tastes. Almost bird like. Not sure about the foil either. Beyond that this video is a perfect example of how a warm Autumnal color palette can work for Poison Ivy. It's true - plant motifs do come in more than just green. I very much appreciate Kandee's enthusiasm. The opening bits were fun (if not a tad weird - but in a good way).

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Cosplay of the Day : Meagan Marie

I'm the kind of person who is always on the hunt for new and different costuming goods. Especially in regards to items that can be used for Poison Ivy related cosplay. I've learned that typing in basic image search terms like "Poison Ivy" and "wig" (or boots etc.) will pull up some rather interesting and unexpected results. That is how I stumbled across Meagan Marie and her astonishing turn as Poison Ivy.

I tend to be a perfectionist about most things. It's one of the reasons why I find myself fussing more with the look of this blog instead of focusing on posts. (Hush!) So it was fulfilling to see a cosplayer who knows exactly what they are doing.

From her site: Created back in the 60s, Poison Ivy has seen many different costume iterations over the years. I’ve always loved Ivy from the Batman animated series, but the costume was a bit too simple for my tastes. Uma Thurman’s take on Pam Isley in Batman & Robin was a bit more attractive, especially the long and glamorous cape. Ultimately though I drew most from Ivy’s various comic appearances, ending up with the traditional leaf covered leotard and leggings. Can’t go too wrong with that. Still, the end result was more my interpretation of her various outfits than an exact replica of one in particular. While many think of Ivy as a sexpot who manipulates people to her advantage, I always liken her to a classic (and classy) vixen – sexy, but not overtly so. Mysterious and slightly wicked, but only because she believes so strongly in her cause.

There really isn't a single thing out of place. The style and color of that wig is perfection. The makeup is bold but not overdone. (Those lips!) I've often seen leaf bustiers look far too "crafty" (poorly done). But these leaves were carefully placed and the end result is exquisite. I especially love the hints of deep red along the cup trim. The sheer cape adds a touch of class to an already elegant look.

What ultimately works here is the contrast of the bold red hair with the deep earthy, woodsy palette of greens. Brava!

[meagan-marie.com]

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Poison Ivy Halloween Makeup (Comic Book Version) by MakeupByRisa

Youtube user MakeupByRisa has created a makeup tutorial on how to create a look inspired by the modern age green skin Poison Ivy. I think she did a good job and the transformation is fun to watch. Also, she used actual panels from comic books as inspiration.

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The Poison Ivy Leaf Eyebrow Masks (A Tutorial)

I've received hundreds of emails with questions regarding this particular costume accessory. Can it be bought? As far as I know there was not a stand alone replica of this mask for retail purchase. Trust me, I've looked. The only thing released was a sequined eye mask made to resemble Poison Ivy's eyebrow prosthetics. That unfortunate creation came packaged with the officially licensed Poison Ivy costume from Batman and Robin. That would simply never do for costume enthusiasts, so most people made their own. This tutorial is very much a do-it-yourself project and it will cost you practically nothing.

I've created a template that can be printed out at home; it's no larger than a standard 8.5 x 11 sheet of paper. It's available in three different formats:

Low Resolution 72 dpi (jpeg)
High Resolution 200 dpi (jpeg)
Adobe .PDF

These are all available for download. Just right click and save or print out through the browser interface.

This is a list of some basic materials needed for this particular project. You may or may not end up using a few of these items. I also suggest a spray bottle (mister) for keeping your paints wet and some toothpicks for aid in precision gluing. FYI the foam sheets are available in various shades of green. The palette of colors depends on the brand you choose. I chose the basic green by "Funky Foam". It's somewhere in between the Kelly Green and the Lime Green. These foam sheets can be found at craft stores like Micheal's or Hobby Lobby.

1. Begin by printing out the template (preferably on a heavier weight paper or tag board). After cutting the shapes from the paper you should have four pieces total. If you are doing both halves at the same time then you would have eight pieces. Place the cut pieces on top of the foam and trace around them. Once the tracing is done place the paper pieces aside. These can be reused if necessary. Before cutting, make sure the scissors are decent quality and sharp. Trust me it makes things easier. Start cutting and take your time.

2. By now you should have your foam pieces cut out and ready to assemble. However, before the gluing process I do an additional step. If you look at the foam mask pieces you'll notice they have a slight "cookie cutter punch" appearance around the edges. (See pic) To get rid of this I take my scissors and carefully trim away the sharp edge. You're basically creating a more organic bevel effect. But only on one side; the edge that faces forward. Be mindful of this because you want the back of the mask to be flat. Same goes for the detail leaf pieces. Consider practicing on scraps before moving on to the mask. The edges don't have to be perfectly beveled and smooth. Leaves on the official mask have a curled and wrinkled appearance. I finish off the foam preparation step by running an Emory board (nail file) over the bevel.

3. The gluing process can be a bit tricky. A lot of that depends on how you want to adhere these pieces together. I prefer to use high temperature hot glue because the bond is quite strong. Place and glue the leaves based on the diagram. When doing this just be mindful of where the glue is applied. Keep it mostly centered on each piece and do not glue past where the leaves extend beyond the base. Otherwise there will be globs of glue showing on the back side of the decorative leaves. Once cooled, slightly bow and flex the mask. This is to see if any of the edges stand up or out. If so, just take a toothpick and dip it into some hot glue, then slide it under the loose edges. Also, you will get a better bond if you press the pieces together while they are cooling. Consider using the scraps for practice purposes before this step. For the less adventurous or skillful a glue like Arleen's may suffice.

4. The painting step is what really makes this mask pop. I don't have any brilliant suggestions for novices. But I figure, if you can paint your nails, you can't paint craft foam. Acrylic paint is best. I usually squirt a small amount onto a plate (why bother with a palette). I also keep water on hand to dilute the paint as needed (aim for a consistency just above water colors). I usually start with the darker green paint and begin to shadow the valleys of the mask in layers. Often times no highlighting is necessary. The last thing I do is add the veins. The painting process is open to interpretation. Add more paint (or less) or none at all. Acrylic paint dries fast and shouldn't crack. I've kept my completed example fairly matte. But if you want more of a pearlescent sheen there are pearl and metallic acrylic paints available. If you feel the need, add some jewels or glitter for extra sparkle.

5. The mask(s) are ready to wear. There's a couple of different ways to adhere these to the face. Eyelash glue is a lightweight option but not the most secure. Prosthetic adhesive may work. But I have always suggested the use of spirit gum. It's inexpensive and long lasting. But before we get into the spirit gum adhesion -- let's talk eyebrows. You likely have them (and want to keep them) so they need to be covered up. Why? Because any adhesive you apply to the brow area will stick and pull out hair if the area is not prepped/blocked out. I've used Kryolan's Eyebrow Plastic. It's applied like heavy duty chap stick over the eyebrows then smoothed with a finger. Once this is done you apply the spirit gum to the back of the mask (avoid the ends of the leaves). Let it dry for about 45 seconds and then tap it with your finger to make it super tacky. Place the mask in the correct position and hold in place. The holding may take a while to get a sure bond but once dry they will remain.

Some things to keep in mind: Play with the positioning of the masks before gluing to the skin. This will aid in knowing where to apply the adhesive on the back of the mask. These do travel up near and sometimes into the hairline. You don't want to end up with spirit gum in your hair or wig unnecessarily.

If at all possible put your makeup on after these are applied. Too much foundation or powder (etc) will inhibit the bond if done beforehand.

To remove the masks, use spirit gum remover. Chances are that you can buy this at the very place you bought the spirit gum. Use a Q-tip and work the liquid behind the mask. The gum will dissolve and you can reuse the mask if wanted. Rubbing alcohol will do. Or you can just rip it off like a band aid and perhaps suffer the consequences.

And finally...if you are wearing these out and plan on drinking an "adult" beverage -- do remember that alcohol will break down the spirit gum bond faster (through perspiration). You may end up with an eyebrow mask in your fancy drink if not careful.

Addendum: I've begun to find masks (online) that were created by using this tutorial. Great! I'm more than happy to feature any person interested in sharing their efforts. Be proud, be green!

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