Buzz
Creating the iconic look of Jack Skellington from Tim Burton's 1993 film, The Nightmare Before Christmas, is an enjoyable and straightforward task. With the appropriate materials, you can easily replicate the appearance from scratch.
Steps
Constructing a Pinstriped Tuxedo Jacket and Pants
Secure a solid black, long-sleeved t-shirt onto a large foam board. The board can be mounted on the wall or placed on a table, ensuring it's a flat and stable surface.
- Flatten the shirt completely with the front side facing upwards.
- Use sewing pins to secure the sleeves, neck area, and bottom of the shirt to the board. This will maintain the shirt's flatness while painting.
Define the lapel area to mimic a tuxedo jacket appearance. Begin outlining from the base of the neck down to the center of the shirt, forming an oval shape.
- Fill in the oval area with white fabric paint using a broad brush to resemble Jack Skellington's white shirt beneath the jacket.
- Alternatively, cut along the outlined oval using fabric shears, then wear a white t-shirt underneath your costume for a similar effect.
Outline from the shoulder edges to the central point on the shirt. By now, you should have the semblance of a white shirt with jacket lapels on both sides. This should form an inner 'U' shape and an outer 'U' shape meeting at the shirt's midpoint.
Add thin pinstripes along the arms and down the shirt's center. Utilize a fine paintbrush with white fabric paint, starting from the shoulder ends and painting 6-8 straight, vertical lines down each sleeve.
- Employ a ruler to maintain straight lines while painting.
- On the lapel, paint horizontal lines from the shoulder tops to the jacket center, approximately ½ inch apart.
Sketch vertical lines along the jacket's body. These lines should extend to the shirt's bottom, originating from the left underarm. Use white fabric paint, a small brush, and a ruler to ensure straight lines, spaced approximately ½ inch apart.
- Start painting the pinstripes from the outer edge of the lapel downwards as you progress towards the shirt's bottom.
- Repeat the process for the right side, creating around 8 lines per side.
Draw a straight horizontal line across the shirt's midsection. Employ a small paintbrush and white fabric paint to create a line from the shirt's left side to the right.
- In the jacket's center, directly below the lapel's bottom, use white fabric paint to draw a small circle, replicating Jack's tuxedo jacket button.
- Allow all paint to dry completely.
Secure your solid black cotton or polyester pants to a large foam board. Use sewing pins to attach the waist and bottom of the pants to the board, ensuring they stay flat and steady during painting.
- Paint small vertical lines from the left hip to the bottom of the left leg, spacing them approximately 1 inch apart. Use a ruler for straight lines and repeat the process from the waistband to the crotch area, both on the front and back sides. Each leg should have around 8 lines.
Crafting the Bat Bow Tie
Sketch a bat shape on black construction paper using a white colored pencil. Make the bat's head about 3 inches wide with pointed ears. You can use the paper itself as the bat's head or opt for black felt by cutting around the drawn shape.
- Outline the eyes with the white pencil and fill them either with the pencil or whiteout.
Trace 3 large wingtips on black construction paper per side (6 in total). Each tip should extend about 8 inches outward with pointed ends, reaching 2-3 inches past each shoulder.
- Cut along the outlines to create the wings. You can use these paper wings or opt for more realistic ones with black felt, cutting according to the stencil you've made.
- Draw small horizontal lines within each wingtip using white paint or whiteout, aiming for at least 2-3 lines from the tip to the center.
Attach the bat to the costume's neck area using two silver safety pins. Position one pin on each side of the bat's face or one at the top and another at the bottom.
- Leave the wings unpinned, extending about 2-3 inches beyond the shoulders.
- It's best to pin the bow tie after donning the suit.
Makeup Application and Skull Design
Outline the eyes with a circular shape. Start beneath the eyebrows and trace around the eyes, stopping before reaching the nose bridge to replicate Jack Skellington's sunken black eyes.
- Apply black makeup over the eyebrows, covering the eyelids and under-eye area.
Draw a ½-inch thick line on the left cheek. Use black liquid eyeliner or lipstick to draw a straight line from the earlobe to the corner of the mouth.
- Add vertical stitches along the line, then repeat on the right side for Jack Skellington's stitched mouth.
- Apply black lipstick to the lips and create stitched effects above and below the lips.
Apply white powder makeup to the face and skin. Cover the ears, skull base, neck, and blend around the stitched areas.
- Ensure the stitches remain visible by dabbing around and inside them with the white powder.
Wear a plain white or flesh-colored latex cap to mimic the bald white skull. Ensure a snug fit with minimal wrinkles.
- Use gel or bobby pins to flatten hair for a smooth cap base. White latex caps are available online and in costume stores.
- Dab the cap edges with white or flesh-colored powder for blending.
Useful Tips
- You can opt to apply white makeup on your hands or wear skeleton gloves to enhance the skeleton look.
- Wearing black platform shoes can make you appear taller if needed.
- Alternatively, slick your hair back into a ponytail or bun and apply baby powder generously for a white hair effect.
Important Warnings
- When using baby powder on your hair, take care to avoid getting it in your eyes. Enlist assistance if needed and cover yourself with a large towel to prevent powder from spreading.
- A white turtleneck can be worn underneath instead of painting the shirt white and applying makeup to the neck area.
- Consider using a plain white latex swim cap as an alternative, though it may not blend as seamlessly with makeup.
Essential Supplies
- A sturdy foam board or surface to securely hold clothing in place and prevent slipping
- A solid black t-shirt and black cotton or polyester pants
- Sewing pins for fastening
- Small safety pins
- A small paintbrush
- A wide paintbrush
- White fabric paint
- Black construction paper and/or black felt
- Scissors or fabric shears
- A white or flesh-colored latex cap or plain white swimming cap
- White colored pencils or whiteout
- Black liquid eyeliner or eyeliner pencil
- Black lipstick
- Halloween makeup kit
- White powder makeup
- Baby powder
