Meet Alayna Morales | SFX Makeup Artist and Body Painter

We had the good fortune of connecting with Alayna Morales and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Alayna, what led you to pursuing a creative path professionally?
Art is just a giant playground and it is ever growing and evolving. There is always something to learn in art and I truly believe that it has saved me in many ways. I chose art as a way to express my thoughts and life experiences. All throughout middle and high school I used art as a tool to communicate with everyone. It was my own language of speaking and using paint to create emotion. When I turned 19 I remember thinking, “If I can create art on a page why wouldn’t I try using this to create work on faces.” I began body painting and constantly learning to create bigger and better works. The body just so happened to be a larger canvas to play on to show not only fun and vibrant works of art, but also express your mind. The world of art has introduced me to so many different people and it is so rewarding to be able to speak with so many different creative people in this world.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
My art is a mixture of body painting, special effects makeup, and also glam makeup. My creative brain isn’t always horror, like most would think, it’s a mixture of psychedelic funky art and also a little dark and twisty. I think what sets me apart from other artists is that I like to blend those two individual ideas and create something out of it.

I started doing makeup as a hobby because it brought me joy, but I never thought I would have accomplished some of the makeup jobs I have done. I started by doing makeup for friends for their events and parties and eventually came out of my shell and showcased some of my works at conventions. I met Joe and Shelley Dawson at Days Of The Dead convention in Atlanta and they asked me to do a photo shoot with them. This photoshoot was truly the beginning of my creative journey. They helped me get seen by many people, including the haunted house I work at now, Nightmare’s Gate. The haunted house was definitely a learning experience as well. I was able to take more time to increase my skillset and learn from tons of artists. It brought me to many different places like B movies, short films, music videos, and other makeup jobs for people. In the future I aim to grow my skillset and venture into mask making and scenic design.

I am most proud of being able to do the cover of two books, The Road To Terror and Midnight Rider. These books were such a HUGE opportunity for me as I am a very huge book nerd. Never in a million years did I ever think I would have my art on a book. I am also proud of myself for being brave and joining the haunt industry. Becoming one of the icon characters at my haunted house that showcased my makeup has been absolutely bonkers to me. I was always the shy and nerdy kid trapped in a sketchbook in the back of class, and seeing my face on our haunt or on any of the merch is so surreal to me. You don’t realize your strengths and abilities sometimes, so being able to have so many people believe in you to do these things makes my dark soul proud.

Growing as an artist is not always easy to be honest. There are a lot of moments where you question yourself on if this is the right path or if the work you are doing is good enough or weird enough. In my personal opinion, as an artist you have to let go of your own insecurities and be brave enough to share your work with others. Not everyone will love what you do, because art is subjective, but that’s the beauty of it. Every creative individual is weird and amazing in their own way. In this field the most valuable piece of advice I can give is, you should never feel like you are done learning or have all of the knowledge of your skill…keep being a student and practice what you love.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Little Five Points is probably one of the most interesting and eclectic places to visit around here. Between the people, clothes, music, and art around it is truly an experience. The day would start at Junkman’s Daughter and Psycho Sisters so you can get your rustic wear and funky ensemble for the day. Follow that up with some Vortex so you can grab, my absolute favorite, Mac-N-Cheesy-Changa and a giant burger. The drinks are also top tier and very strong. Highly recommend starting your day off with a skull crusher or one of their craft mules. Maybe follow up your day with a fun piercing at Kolo or check out Criminal Records. Ponce City Market is also a fun day time foodie experience with a nice rooftop bar to go up to for a great night out.
The Red Phone Booth in Atlanta is a hidden gem to take your friends to. You have to be dressed up and also have to get the code to get in for the evening. This is a really cool prohibition experience with lots of craft cocktails and a cigar bar. It’s a very sexy place to visit.
Catching a show at the Masquerade is also on the top of my list. There are so many bands and artists that go to the Masquerade. Definitely one of my favorite venues.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I have so many people in this world to thank for supporting me in my journey. For obvious reasons, I would like to thank my parents. They didn’t give up on their weird kid and I am forever grateful that they stuck around to see my dream flourish into what it has become today. Nightmare’s Gate Haunted House is another group I would love to praise. Craig and Ben took a chance in adding me on to their makeup team 5 years ago and helped me build my craft and provided me with guidance and advice throughout my time there. Nightmare’s Gate is truly a home away from home and I will forever be indebted to my dear friends there. Charles Campbell is another huge supporter of my work. Charles and I met at a horror convention while he was selling his books there. Later on throughout our friendship, Charles chose me to do the cover of one of his books. Charles has helped me put a name out there for myself and gave me the privilege to help his own thoughts come to life on 2 of his books. D.E.A.N is another good friend of mine that I would like to give thanks to. D.E.A.N believed enough in a stranger on the internet to create makeup looks for his horror films and a few of his music videos. You are all my heroes and I will always thank you for the constant love and support. You all truly inspire me and I would not be where I am today without you all.

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Facebook: Alayna Marie

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