 Sheryl
Leigh Ptak graduated at the top of her class from the Joe Blasco Make-up
Artist Training Center. The very next week, she landed a job on the
TV sitcom, FISH . Since then, Ms. Ptak has been steadily rising to
the top of her profession. For over 17 years, she has “painted
the faces” of Laura Dern, Rebecca DeMorney, Susan Sarandon, Mick
Jagger, Robin Williams, Jonathan Winters and dozens of other stars.
Throughout the 80’s, Sheryl designed and applied special Make-up
for all of Shelly Duvall’s cable series, FAERIE
TALE THEATRE. TALL TALES AND LEGENDS and NIGHTMARE CLASSICS. In 1989, she won the coveted Ace Award for
satirist Harry Shearer’s special. THE
MAGIC OF LIVE, on HBO. She has been Harry’s Make-up artist for ten years. She has also been nominated for a Louise Duart
special on Showtime. Sheryl was Head of Make-up for the second season
of ROSEANNE.
Next, she accepted the challenging position of Head of Make-up on IN LIVING COLOR, where she is now
in her third season. Sheryl just completed the upcoming TV Comedy
Pilot, THE EDGE,
starring Julie Brown.
| Q. |
I understand you were
a model, an actress and a working mother before you developed
a career interest in Make-up ? |
| A. |
Yes. In the sixties
in Ohio, where I grew up, people weren’t getting their Make-up done anywhere. It never occurred to me as a career option.
Even when my family moved to San Francisco and I became a model
at the age of fifteen. I always did my own Make-up . I had a natural
ability for it. After attending San Mateo Junior College, I
continued modeling and acting and also worked as a rep for a
line of cosmetics. I found the line moved a lot faster when
I did the Make-up on people at the stores. I never felt the drive
and mental stimulation as an actress and model, but I was passionate
about Make-up artistry. I love to design on a living canvas.
I needed to learn more, so I worked in a beauty salon. Also,
I did the Make-up for a photographer friend. He encouraged me
to train at the Joe Blasco School. I borrowed the money from
close friends. I worked days to pay them back and studied with
Joe at night. |
|
| Q. |
What was
it like studying with Mr. Blasco? |
| A. |
It was
a real privilege to study with the Master. I felt so positive,
so excited, so alive at his school. It touched my heart. He
cared so much about the work and drew upon real working experience.
He had a wonderful sense of humor, too. We hit it off right
away. Yet, I took my studies very seriously. I shelved everything
I had previously learned. I was a willing sponge. I was determined
to go for it 100%. Joe gave quality lectures and I took endless
notes. The best part was the hands-on experience. We had plenty
of practice time and he’d check our work. He gave us such
a wonderful, substantial education in all phases of beauty Make-up
for photography, film and tape. Real strong beauty Make-up helps
all other forms of Make-up . Then we went into extensive character
Make-up and  hair
work. A new, exciting world opened up to me. It was amazing.
He taught us how to break down a script and come to a meeting
of the minds with the director and actors. We finished with
prosthetics work.
My final project was a beautiful woman with a half lion face.
I used it for my first business card. Of course, school was
just the tip of the iceberg. You never stop learning in this
business. |
| Q. |
How well
did the Joe Blasco School prepare you for a professional career? |
| A. |
Excellent preparation
for getting into the studios. He goes way beyond the basics.
I couldn’t have made it without him. In fact, Joe hired
me to work on my first special for Shields and Yarnell. It snowballed
from there. My training was excellent preparation for the 26
episodes of “Faerie Tale Theatre,” working with fabulous
directors and actors. Each episode was based on a different
time period and illustrator, like Rackham, or Parrish. I designed
the Make-up to look like the illustrations while keeping the
celebrity actors recognizable. We did face casts, some prosthetics.
For example, a cat muzzle with a lot of fancy paint Make-up
and hair work. It was really exciting. |
|
