Having
always been interested in make-up and its application to transform the human
face or body, Mandy Kierans studied special effects and make up for TV and
Film, in Dublin. This led to a position as assistant make-up artist for a
production company, Paradox Pictures in England and her love of decorating the
human body.
As her
reputation grew, by word of mouth, she was often sort after in her field.
Giving workshops to under privileged children; doing make-up and hair for
television, as well as films and children’s TV programmes. She did the special
effects make-up for the crowd scenes in the film ‘Saving Private Ryan’,
directed by Steven Spielberg, as well as the make-up for the crowd scenes in
the film ‘All for Love’, starring Richard E. Grant and Miranda Richardson. A
lucrative four-year contract with Schwarzkopf hair products meant that she
created the make-up design for all the Schwarzkopf events (fashion shows, TV
adverts and magazine spreads) held in Ireland and England during this period.
Her
inspiration comes mainly from the ethereal world of angels and fairies coupled
with the elements of earth, wind and fire. She likes to convey beauty in her
work and colours are always bright. So much so that when she was learning how
to reproduce, wounds, scars and bruises at college, her teacher found it
strange that even in the most gruesome wound, she had incorporated glitters!
For private commissions, when’ decorating’, a person for a party, the
inspiration for her design comes not only from her interaction with that person
but in finding out what their favourite colour, drink, or time of the year is.
In such a way she comes upon a design that is unique to that person.
As well as
make-up Mandy uses other materials to enhance her creations such as
papier-mâché, foam latex, and hair by a process known as ‘knotting’, where the
hair is painstakingly attached to gauze with a crochet-like hook implement,
hair by hair. One creation, a body painting of a swan incorporated flowers and
animatronics wings that threw confetti and glitters into the air every time
they moved.
Mandy
Kierans was born and bred in Droghead, Ireland but moved to Groningen in 2002
to live with her Dutch boyfriend, who she met whilst on holiday on the island
of Crete. Since moving permanently to Groningen she has taken part in various
events, workshops and festivals, where her body painting skills have been
enthusiastically received.
For the
future, Mandy would like to go into party planning, for anyone wanting to throw
a fabulous party. She would manage and market the event, organize the entertainment, catering, right down to the smaller details, such as hair and
makeup for guest or entertainer.
First published in the Connections magazine #13 Autumn 2006
View all issues of Connections HERE (editor, designer, illustrator: 2006-2013)
