Most people discover liquid latex and grey face paint after watching too many zombie movies, but Winnipeg-based artist John Izzard started with the makeup.

“I started out kind of naive about the whole thing. Horror movies used to freak me out. I didn’t want to walk away with a bad feeling after watching something,” Izzard says.

After being asked to do spooky makeup for a middle school production five years ago, he started to appreciate the artistry behind the undead. 

“I started watching The Walking Dead as research, and I saw them as walking pieces of art, which I think is so cool,” Izzard says.

No stranger to theatrics, Izzard has had a hand in creating backdrops for many local productions, transforming a simple brick wall to ancient Greece. 

“I love theatre,” he says. “I’ll go and spend my money in the summertime at the Fringe Festival, and I end up taking a lot of people who’ve never been before. I say ‘You’re going to Fringe, and I’ll buy your ticket.’”

Though Izzard is a self-taught artist, his make-up has attracted attention from some notable players in the zombie scene after a few short years. CJ Hutchinson of Das Zombie Productions became a fan after the two met at Comic Con.

“I thought I was getting pretty darn good at that point, and I went just to check it out,” Izzard says.

Shortly thereafter, Izzard was invited to do makeup on zombie enthusiasts at conventions. 

“There are a lot of people who love to get work done. I was far more into the public eye than I was used to, but it was a pretty cool experience.”

Izzard will be holding a Zombie Making Basics workshop at Cre8ery (125 Adelaide St.) on March 15 from 1 to 5 pm. People from all walks of life are welcome at Izzard’s workshop, where students will have the opportunity to try out techniques on live models (either a friend or a hired subject for an extra fee of $50). 

“Someone was asking me if I’d be ok with a 14 year-old taking the class, and I am very open to anyone who wants to learn, grow and take it seriously,” the artist says.

Though Izzard has become very good at his craft, he says that everybody needs to start somewhere.

“The first few attempts I made were terrible,” Izzard says. “I look at them and go ‘Oh my, how did I show these in public?’ 

“I’m not expecting anybody to be perfect at it the first time, but I can show them what to shoot for to create a professional looking zombie.”

Published in Volume 68, Number 22 of The Uniter (March 5, 2014)