Creating a Clown at Mehron

Spending a day at the New York Headquarters of Mehron, the first name in Clown Makeup, Emmy Award winning Photographer Richard Esposito captured the creation of the clown. Mehron Brand Support and Product Specialist Reyhan Piatt used Mehron Clown Makeup and her Makeup Skills to turn three everyday people into Clowns. She used Mehron exclusive Clown White to turn Cathy Mascis into a traditional White Face Clown, her niece Melissa Piatt had a base of Mehron Clown Pink applied to become an Auguste Clown, and her son, Deniz Piatt became a Hobo Clown for the day with selections from the Mehron Clown Makeup Collection. Under the watchful eye of Mehron President Marin Melik and captured by a behind the scenes camera of Mehron Marketing Director, Stephanie Ferreira, the offices of Mehron journeyed back to the beginning and was host to a day of Clowns.

First a Clown needs shoes

Then a Colorful Costume.

Of Course a Clown needs Mehron Clown Makeup

A Clown needs a Face created with Mehron Clown Makeup

Some Clowns pluck a nose from the
ProKNOWS™ Clown Noses Tree at the Mehron Office

In the end Mehron Clown Makeup can turn anyone into a beautiful Clown.

Bring Back the CLOWNS

Clowns hard at work in the offices of Mehron Makeup

To reintroduce the world to the amazing world of Mehron Clown Makeup, Photographer Richard Esposito spent the day at Mehron Headquarters in New York for a day of Photographing the Clowns. Makeup Artist Reyhan Piatt, who also happens to work at Mehron Headquarters as a Brand Support and Product Specialist turned Cathy Mascis into a White Face Clown beginning with the world renowned Mehron Clown White and capping it off with colors from the Mehron Clown Makeup Collection. Proving that anyone can be turned into a clown, Reyhan Piatt enlisted her son, Deniz Piatt to be a Hobo Clown with Mehron Clown Makeup, and her niece Melissa Piatt had the honors of being an Auguste Clown.

Mehron Makeup has been turning people into Clowns since 1927 starting with the formulation of the brightest, cleanest, whitest Clown White Makeup on earth. Originally made by hand by the Founder of Mehron, Mehron Clown White continues to be an important product in the ever growing Makeup Collections of the Mehron Brand that must meet exacting standards set forth by Mehron Melik in 1927. The recently held photo shoot at the offices of Mehron in New York is an assessment to the continued commitment by Mehron to produce the Professional Clown Makeup that Clowns around the world can count on for true vibrant colors that can turn any person into a a professional looking clown.

The commitment to producing the best clown makeup on earth and carrying on the traditional established over eighty years ago is always on the mind of Martin Melik, President of Mehron and son of the Founder Mehron Melik who demanded excellence in all his Makeup Products. Although Martin does not hand formulate Mehron Clown Makeup like his Father, he is a hands on President who is always checking the quality of both the ingredients used and the finished product of all Mehron Makeup.

In 2010, Mehron Makeup finds itself on the cusp of becoming the most sought after Beauty Makeup and Fashion Makeup with introductions of innovative Makeup Products that have starred on the Runways of the world's most renowned Fashion Shows. Although Mehron is conquering new frontiers in Beauty Makeup, Fashion Makeup, and Extreme Beauty Makeup, every Mehron Makeup product line which includes Clown Makeup, Theatrical Makeup, Character Makeup, Face Painting Makeup and Body Painting Makeup still receive the utmost attention to detail from everyone in the Company, continuing to fulfill the dream of the man who started it all by hand in a New York City Loft off Broadway over eight decades ago.

The Season of the Clown

Spring Showers, Spring Flowers and Spring Clowns all are signs of the season of rebirth. The Clown has been a fixture since antiquity. From the Greek Tragicomedies to Shakespeare, the Court Jester, the Mime, and the Circus Clowns, the Clown has been a fixture throughout civilization. The Clown presents social commentary, makes fun of life's situations and has been making people smile for centuries.

After a long cold winter, Spring Festivals, Fairs, Carnivals and Community Events welcome the spring season with Cotton Candy, Carmel Apples and The Clowns. Clowns come in all different shapes, sizes, colors, and costumes, the common thread being their ability to leave a trail of laughter. As the function of the Clown has changed throughout the years so too did the costuming and look of the clown. The Court Jester relied on a colorful costume to distinguish himself in the King's Court. Throughout the evolution of the Clown, Makeup became an important part of the Clown's appearance.

The Clown began wearing Makeup to represent not to hide his identity but rather to represent everyone's identity. The White Face Clown begins with White Face Clown Makeup to neutralize himself, so that he represents everyman. Various Clown incarnations have been developed throughout the years, there is the Hobo Clown, The Everyman Clown, the Zany Clown, and the Lonely Clown, all of whom count on quality Makeup to effectively play their role.

For over eighty years, Mehron Clown White Makeup continues to be the Professional White Face Makeup that clowns begin with when they start to apply their Makeup. Mehron Clown White Makeup was originally developed as a hand made formulation by the Founder Mehron Melik and continues to this day to be produced with that same exacting standard that he set as he formulated his Clown White by hand. Mehron Clown Makeup was the Makeup that the Greatest Show on Earth chose to be the Official Makeup of their Clown College. When the Greatest Show on Earth would pay their yearly visit to New York City, the current President of Mehron Makeup, Martin Melik would be dispatched by his Father to hand deliver Mehron Clown Makeup to the Clown's Dressing Room before each performance.

If you are going to be a Clown this Spring for any Springtime Event, the choice of Clown Makeup is clear, trust the Clown Makeup that the Professional Clowns of the Greatest Show on Earth choose for their Performances, Mehron Clown Makeup. Mehron Clown Makeup begins with Clown White but continues through a Collection of Colorful Clown Face Makeup and accessories that the Professional Clowns of the world have used for over eighty years. Mehron Clown Makeup is available throughout the world at Authorized Mehron Makeup Retailers.

The Clowns

Clowns are noted in historical records throughout the history of civilization. The art of clowning has taken on many forms throughout history. Some clowns actually affected political policy as they played the role of court jester to Rulers and Kings. Because they were seen as amusing buffoons, Jesters and Clowns were often allowed more freedom of speech than others and were in many cultures the only ones who were able to criticize an authoritarian despot. Jesters and Clowns would often speak out criticizing political policy and influencing the Rulers and Kings to reverse course. By using buffoonery and sarcasm, Jester or Clown would make decrees and laws appear stupid, planting the seeds of change in the mind of the Dictator or King.

The look of the Jester and Clown changed with the times, by the Sixteenth Century the White Face Clown is already noted in historical records. The look European White Face Clown evolved into an almost sophisticated appearance with well tailored "Jester" clothing. William Shakespeare was aware of the importance of the Clown, using the Clown character to speak the lines that would be political suicide if spoken by any other character, similar to the Comedians of today that can criticize politicians and political decisions without any uproar and repercussions

As freedom of political criticism became more available to everyone the clown continued to evolve in other ways. The Circus Clown became the Clown of laughter and fun, enhancing the Makeup, exaggerating the costumes and using over sized and silly props to keep their audience smiling. Clowns were used for warming up an impatient audience, to keep an audience involved while sets and equipment were rearranged and to attract people to an event.

The Modern Clown, is categorized into specific Clown Types, The White Face Clown, The Auguste Clown, The Hobo or Tramp Clown are three of the most common Clown Characters. The White Face Clown today begins with Clown White, then adds eye coloring, most a red nose and cheek coloring. The White Face Clown usually wears over-sized colorful clothing, and extra large shoes adding to the silliness of the character. White Face Clowns like Bozo The Clown wear a tailored costume which gives him his identity.

The Auguste Clown portrays the country bumpkin or every man, simple, inquisitive and always finding perplexity in situations. The Auguste Clown uses Pink Clown Face Makeup rather than White Clown Face Makeup to emulate the complexion of the everyday man. Auguste Clowns vary in their Makeup use, some use a full range of Clown Makeup Colors while others only accent the eyes.

The Hobo Clown or Tramp Clown is the clown that evokes sympathy. Seen as a down on his luck character, the Hobo Clown makes light of the situations acting naive and invoking an empathic feeling from the audience.

All types of Clowns and Clown Makeup can still be experienced at the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey^®Circus. The Clowns of Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey^® Circus have favored Mehron Clown Makeup for decades, so much so, that when Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey^®started their Clown College, Mehron Makeup was called upon to develop a special palette of Clown Makeup for their students.

In 1927, when Mehron Makeup was founded, the Circus came to town by Train or Wagon, today over eight decades later the Circus still comes to town, just not by horse drawn wagon, but they still use Mehron Clown Makeup just as they have for over eight decades.

From the Big Tent to the Fashion Tent

Long before the white canvas tents of New York City's Bryant Park Fashion Week Tents, Mehron Makeup starred in tents of a different sort. Mehron White Clown Face was the Clown Makeup of choice for the performers of the Greatest show on Earth as it traveled from town to town. In the early decades of the 1900's Clowns used more makeup than just about anyone, and they used it day after day as they performed twice a day under the Big Tent. The Clowns of the traveling circus used Mehron Clown Makeup because it provided true vivid colors that lasted through their long days. Through twice daily performances, lunch and downtime, the Clowns knew that once they applied their Makeup in the morning, they were ready for an entire day of bringing smiles to the crowds who packed the Big Tent.

As the Entertainment Industry changed over the decades there was a constant, Mehron Makeup. Taking a clue from the Clowns, the Performers on the stages of Vaudeville, Burlesque, Theater, Opera, Ballet, Silent Films, Talking Pictures, Television, Music Videos and Fashion Models all came to learn that the Makeup of choice for a clean, consistent, safe application was Mehron. Throughout the decades Mehron Makeup continued to offer the Makeup needed by the Entertainment Industry. From the basic white makeup used by clowns and mimes, to the intricate colors that are now prevalent in Body Painting Makeup and Face Painting Makeup, Mehron Makeup continued to research, develop, formulate and perfect the makeup that kept pace with the evolving entertainment industry.

In the early days of film, when monster movies were in vogue, Mehron Makeup was on the cusp of the birth of what would become, Character Makeup. As the monsters of the screen turned into the sirens of Hollywood's Glamorous Era, Mehron Makeup was there to enhance the beauty of starlets and stars. The Golden Age of Hollywood saw epic productions that skyrocketed the profession of Makeup Artist to a recognized craft. These Makeup Artists, who were the pioneers of a Profession, knew that the first name in makeup, Mehron, could be counted on for any assignment.

In the early 1900's Mehron Makeup was appearing under the canvas of the Circus Tents, now, in the early 2000's Mehron Makeup is once again appearing under tents, the tents that house New York Fashion Week. Although Mehron Makeup continues to produce the Clown White Makeup that clowns have counted on for eight decades, it now stars under the tents that showcase New York Fashion Week. The even, consistent color of Mehron Makeup now highlights the beauty of Fashion Models who walk the runways of one of the world's most important Fashion Events, the New York Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week. Wherever there is a need for Makeup, Mehron Makeup will be there to lead the way with Makeup that is produced with selected ingredients, perfected pigmentation, even coverage and detailed elegance. Performance Makeup Artists have known for over eighty years to look to Mehron Makeup for a quality makeup produced in the USA for the products they needed for their performers. Now in 2010, Beauty Makeup Artists are realizing that the makeup that is adorning the faces and bodies of the models of Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week is the Makeup they need for their clients. Mehron Fashion Makeup, like all Mehron Makeup, is not just for Professionals, Mehron Makeup is available to everyone through a Mehron Authorized Retailer.