HEATHER O'DONNELL
Special Effects Makeup Artist
ABOUT ME
My passion for special effects began with watching creature features and horror movies as a kid. Something about the magic of convincing an audience to believe in something that isn't real has always appealed to me. I have professionally worked as a fabricator and carpenter since 2014 and currently freelance as a special effects makeup artist for films. After receiving a BFA in theatre from Texas Wesleyan University I attended the Tom Savini Special Make-up Effects Program at Douglas Education Center where I received an Associates degree in Specialized Business. In addition to creating practical effects I also focus much of my efforts on conceptualizing and creating original creature designs that I then execute using a combination of sculpting, molding, casting, and painting skills to make those characters come to life. My goal in every piece of art I produce is to create something that feels real to the world it belongs in.
PROFESSIONAL SKILLS
SPECIAL EFFECTS MAKEUP
Foam-latex, Pros-aide transfer, silicone appliance creation, application, and painting. Effects and gags. Hair laying, punching, and ventilating. Cosmetic and theatrical makeup.
ANIMATRONICS AND PUPPETRY
Acrylic eye fabrication & denture/teeth fabrication. Animatronic experience with servos and cable controlled mechanisms.
MOLD MAKING AND CASTING
Life casting. Mold making in stone, fiberglass and silicone. Casting in fiberglass, resin, 2-part plastic, silicone, latex, polyfoam.
SCULPTING
Creature design and maquette sculpting. Sculpting of display busts, masks, appliances, wounds and body parts using Chavant, WED Clay, Monster Clay and Sculpey. Digital Sculpting using Z-Brush.
PROP FABRICATION
Wax repair, wood work, metal work, foam, fiber glass, mold making, fabric and sewing, baking/fake food, glass work, vacuform, assorted paper props and book binding.
SCENIC DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION
Scenic design using hand drafting, AutoCAD, rendering, and painting. Scenic painting and construction using a variety of hand and power tools. Basic welding and metal work.
THEATRICAL TECHNICIAN
Costume design/modifications, sewing by hand and machine. Knowledge of sound and lighting equipment.
COMPUTER SKILLS
Word, Excell, PowerPoint, Photoshop, Z-Brush, AutoCAD, Audacity, ETC EOS software.
MY CV
Past Experience
THE SEVENTH DAY (FILM), SPECIAL EFFECTS INTERN DALLAS, TX
March 2020
Worked with team of special effects artists to apply prosthetics.
RIPLEY'S BELIEVE IT OR NOT MUSEUM, WAX FIGURE REPAIR ARTIST GRAND PRARIE, TX
May 2018 - February 2019
Work part time as needed to repair and touch up damages to wax figures in Louis Tussaud's Palace of Wax.
HIGH NOON CREATIONS, FABRICATOR MESQUITE, TX
June 2018 - September 2018
Worked in shop casting, trimming, patching, painting, and molding masks, armor, and horns using a variety of materials including polyurethane, plastic, and resin.
The Gluttony of 1952 (SHORT FILM), SPECIAL EFFECTS MAKEUP ARTIST AUSTIN/SAN ANTONIO, TX
April 2018
Applied corrective makeup, tattoo cover ups and special effects including bullet wounds and blood effects.
ON THE ARM (FILM), SPECIAL EFFECTS CREW PITTSBURGH, PA
June – July 2017
Worked as team of two to create pros-aide wound transfers and slit throat appliances to be applied on set.
ERICK ROWAN WWE PROMOTIONAL VIDEO, SPECIAL EFFECTS CREW PITTSBURGH, PA
May 2017
Worked on a team to mold negative in fiberglass and run foam for animatronic mask.
CASA MAÑANA, PROPS ARTISAN FT. WORTH, TX
May 2015 – June 2016
Worked with Props Master in constructing, fabricating, and painting props for eight shows over two seasons. Also served on run crew, load in, and strike crew for various shows.
THE SECRET CHAMBERS FT. WORTH, TX
May 2015 – November 2015
Constructed scenery for Escape room and ran the scenarios, leading customers through challenges to overcome.
THEATRE WESLEYAN SCENE SHOP,
SCENE SHOP ASSISTANT FT. WORTH, TX
August 2014 – May 2015
Worked on a team constructing and painting scenery and furniture for a four show season. Lead multiple strike crews in taking down set and assisted in renovating the theatrical space.
CONTACT
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