Personal Care

Makeup Artists, Theatrical and Performance Resume Example

Professional resume template and tips for Makeup Artists, Theatrical and Performance positions

Makeup ArtistSpecial Effects Makeup ArtistBeauty AdvisorBeauty SpecialistBeauty StylistBeauty TherapistBody Make-Up ArtistCharacter Artist

If you’re pursuing a career as a theatrical and performance makeup artist, this guide will help you master the role. You’ll learn the daily tasks—from precise character replication to managing supplies—and the technical tools like Adobe Photoshop, Autodesk Maya, or DigiMakeup used on set. We detail the essential blend of skills you need, including artistic judgment, social perceptiveness, and financial resource management, alongside core knowledge areas like fine arts and customer service. This page provides a clear overview of the makeup artist’s profession, the hard and soft skills employers seek, and actionable tips for building a standout resume. Start crafting your application with Mokaru to bring your creative career to life.

RAYMOND SHAW

Makeup Artists, Theatrical and Performance
raymond.shaw@email.com | +1 (555) 123-4567 | San Francisco, CA

Professional Summary

Theatrical Makeup Artist with 5+ years specializing in live performance, having applied makeup for 200+ performers across regional theaters and touring productions. Collaborates with directors to execute character designs, utilizing Adobe Photoshop for concept art and QuickBooks for freelance budgeting.

Skills

Technical Skills: Adobe Photoshop, Facebook, Intuit QuickBooks, Microsoft Outlook, Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Office software
Soft Skills: Speaking, Reading Comprehension, Active Listening, Critical Thinking, Judgment and Decision Making

Experience

Lead Theatrical Makeup Artist
2022 - Present
SpectraStage Productions
  • Directed the makeup department for a major theatrical production, applying critical thinking to design a cohesive look for a 50-person cast that enhanced the director’s vision
  • Led a team of 10 artists through 200+ performances, utilizing coordination and active listening to maintain perfect character continuity and achieve a 98% client satisfaction rate
  • Spearheaded the strategic adoption of Autodesk Maya for pre-visualizing complex prosthetics, reducing application time by 25% and streamlining the department budget in QuickBooks
Senior Performance Makeup Artist
2019 - 2022
IllusionFX Studios
  • Owned the prosthetic design and application for a lead character using Autodesk Mudbox, collaborating with the SFX team to ensure seamless integration under challenging stage lighting
  • Managed the makeup continuity for a 6-month tour, monitoring supplies and leveraging Microsoft Excel to track inventory, which cut material costs by 15%
  • Analyzed scripts to create detailed character breakdowns in Microsoft Outlook, facilitating clear communication with the costume and lighting departments for a unified production aesthetic
Assistant Theatrical Makeup Artist
2016 - 2019
Aura Artistic Ensemble
  • Supported senior artists by meticulously cleaning and maintaining over 200 makeup brushes and kits daily, ensuring a sterile and efficient workspace for the entire team
  • Precisely duplicated lead character makeup for 8 understudies using reference photos edited in Adobe Photoshop, guaranteeing show consistency across all performances
  • Actively learned advanced aging techniques by assisting with applications, contributing to the successful makeup effects for a supporting cast of 20 actors

Education

Associate Degree
2013 - 2015
State University

Certificates

  • CIDESCO International Beauty Therapy Diploma
  • Adobe Certified Expert (ACE) in Photoshop
  • International Make-Up Association (IMA) Professional Certificate

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What does a Makeup Artists, Theatrical and Performance do?

A Makeup Artists, Theatrical and Performance performs various tasks on a daily basis. Here are the core responsibilities you can expect in this role:

  • Clean supplies such as makeup brushes.
  • Duplicate work precisely to replicate characters' appearances on a daily basis.
  • Apply makeup to enhance or alter the appearance of people appearing in productions such as movies.
  • Analyze a script, noting events that affect each character's appearance, so that plans can be made for each scene.
  • Alter or maintain makeup during productions as necessary to compensate for lighting changes or to achieve continuity of effect.

What skills do you need as a Makeup Artists, Theatrical and Performance?

Employers hiring for Makeup Artists, Theatrical and Performance positions look for candidates with a strong combination of technical and soft skills. Here are the most important skills to highlight on your resume:

Adobe Photoshop
Facebook
Intuit QuickBooks
Microsoft Outlook
Microsoft Excel
Microsoft Office software
Autodesk Maya
Autodesk Mudbox
DatInf DigiMakeup
Pixologic Zbrush

What knowledge areas are important for a Makeup Artists, Theatrical and Performance?

Beyond skills and tools, employers value candidates with deep knowledge in these areas. Consider highlighting relevant coursework, certifications, or experience:

Customer and Personal ServiceEnglish LanguageFine ArtsDesignCommunications and MediaAdministration and ManagementPsychologySales and MarketingEducation and TrainingChemistry

How do I write a great Makeup Artists, Theatrical and Performance resume?

Creating an effective Makeup Artists, Theatrical and Performance resume requires focusing on what employers in the Personal Care sector value most.

Use relevant keywords

ATS systems scan for specific terms. Include these keywords naturally throughout your resume:

SpeakingFacebookAdobe PhotoshopActive ListeningCritical ThinkingIntuit QuickBooksMicrosoft OutlookReading Comprehension

Quantify your impact

When describing how you "clean supplies such as makeup brushes", include metrics like percentages, team sizes, budgets, or project scope to demonstrate real results.

Showcase technical proficiency

Highlight hands-on experience with Adobe Photoshop, Facebook, Intuit QuickBooks and any customer and personal service certifications that validate your expertise.

Match the experience level

For Makeup Artists, Theatrical and Performance roles, employers typically expect usually requires trade school, apprenticeship, or 2-year degree. Highlight matching qualifications prominently at the top of your resume.

Example bullet points

Here are some strong bullet points you could adapt for your Makeup Artists, Theatrical and Performance resume:

  • Directed the makeup department for a major theatrical production, applying critical thinking to design a cohesive look for a 50-person cast that enhanced the director’s vision
  • Led a team of 10 artists through 200+ performances, utilizing coordination and active listening to maintain perfect character continuity and achieve a 98% client satisfaction rate
  • Spearheaded the strategic adoption of Autodesk Maya for pre-visualizing complex prosthetics, reducing application time by 25% and streamlining the department budget in QuickBooks

How to use AI to improve your Makeup Artists, Theatrical and Performance resume

AI tools like ChatGPT can be incredibly helpful when crafting your Makeup Artists, Theatrical and Performance resume. They can help you brainstorm achievements, rephrase bullet points for impact, identify missing keywords, and tailor your content to specific job descriptions.

However, AI is not perfect. Always proofread the output carefully. AI can sometimes make factual errors, use generic language, or miss the nuances of your specific experience. Think of AI as a helpful assistant, not a replacement for your own judgment.

AI Resume Prompt

Prompt

You are a senior recruiter with 15+ years of experience in technical hiring and resume optimization. You have reviewed thousands of resumes for Makeup Artists, Theatrical and Performance positions and know exactly what hiring managers and ATS systems look for.

Your task:
Analyze my resume for a Makeup Artists, Theatrical and Performance position and provide concrete, actionable feedback to maximize my chances.

Job description:
[paste the job description here]

Provide feedback on the following:

  1. Match analysis: Which requirements from the job description ARE and ARE NOT reflected in my resume?
  2. Quantification: Which bullet points lack concrete numbers/metrics? Provide examples of how I can rewrite them.
  3. Keywords: Which technical terms from the job description (such as Adobe Photoshop, Facebook, Intuit QuickBooks, etc.) are missing or could be more prominent?
  4. Impact statements: Rewrite my 3 weakest bullet points using the STAR format (Situation, Task, Action, Result)
  5. ATS optimization: What adjustments will increase my score in Applicant Tracking Systems?
  6. Priorities: Give me a top-5 of changes that will make the biggest difference, ranked by impact.

Be direct and critical - I want honest feedback, not compliments.

Why use Mokaru instead? At Mokaru, we have invested extensive research into our AI prompts and continuously update them based on recruiter feedback and ATS testing. Our AI resume builder handles the complexity for you: optimizing for ATS systems, matching job descriptions, and ensuring professional formatting, so you can focus on landing interviews.

Makeup Artist Resume Example

Looking for a Makeup Artist resume instead? The skills and experience are very similar to a Makeup Artists, Theatrical and Performance. Here is an example you can use as inspiration:

KIMBERLY BROOKS

Makeup Artist
kimberly.brooks@email.com • +1 (555) 123-4567 • San Francisco, CA

Summary

Theatrical Makeup Artist with 5+ years specializing in live performance, having applied makeup for 200+ performers across regional theaters and touring productions. Collaborates with directors to execute character designs, utilizing Adobe Photoshop for concept art and QuickBooks for freelance budgeting.

Skills

Technical: Adobe Photoshop, Facebook, Intuit QuickBooks, Microsoft Outlook, Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Office software
Professional: Speaking, Reading Comprehension, Active Listening, Critical Thinking, Judgment and Decision Making

Experience

SpectraStage Productions
2022 - Present
Lead Theatrical Makeup Artist
  • Directed the makeup department for a major theatrical production, applying critical thinking to design a cohesive look for a 50-person cast that enhanced the director’s vision
  • Led a team of 10 artists through 200+ performances, utilizing coordination and active listening to maintain perfect character continuity and achieve a 98% client satisfaction rate
  • Spearheaded the strategic adoption of Autodesk Maya for pre-visualizing complex prosthetics, reducing application time by 25% and streamlining the department budget in QuickBooks
IllusionFX Studios
2019 - 2022
Senior Performance Makeup Artist
  • Owned the prosthetic design and application for a lead character using Autodesk Mudbox, collaborating with the SFX team to ensure seamless integration under challenging stage lighting
  • Managed the makeup continuity for a 6-month tour, monitoring supplies and leveraging Microsoft Excel to track inventory, which cut material costs by 15%
  • Analyzed scripts to create detailed character breakdowns in Microsoft Outlook, facilitating clear communication with the costume and lighting departments for a unified production aesthetic
Aura Artistic Ensemble
2016 - 2019
Assistant Theatrical Makeup Artist
  • Supported senior artists by meticulously cleaning and maintaining over 200 makeup brushes and kits daily, ensuring a sterile and efficient workspace for the entire team
  • Precisely duplicated lead character makeup for 8 understudies using reference photos edited in Adobe Photoshop, guaranteeing show consistency across all performances
  • Actively learned advanced aging techniques by assisting with applications, contributing to the successful makeup effects for a supporting cast of 20 actors

Education

State University
2013 - 2015
Associate Degree

Certifications

  • CIDESCO International Beauty Therapy Diploma
  • Adobe Certified Expert (ACE) in Photoshop
  • International Make-Up Association (IMA) Professional Certificate

Build Your Makeup Artist Resume

Create a professional, ATS-optimized resume tailored for Makeup Artist positions in minutes.

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