Despite still being in her teens, Violet Morphine has enjoyed modest success as an alternative model through her work with the likes of Gore Couture, while also making appearances in short films and as a host for Scard TV. Not content with merely appearing in front of the camera, she has also earned diplomas in make-up, both for beauty and theatrical.
Violet Morphine talks about life as a model…
How much of Violet Morphine is a fictional character that you have created in order to explore and experiment as an artist, and how much of your true self do you incorporate into your work?
“Violet Morphine might have started out as an alter ego for modelling but if that was the case (because I started going under that name at about fourteen) the lines have definitely blurred now. I do think there’s a lot of my true self in my work though. I mean physically it’s me in the photos and even if you’re playing a part for a shoot the real you is always going to be there.”
Having earned diplomas in make-up, was it your intention to work behind the scenes or did you always plan on becoming a model? How have you put your knowledge of make-up to professional use?
“I look at my make-up work as much more of a career… you can work behind the camera a lot longer than you can work in front of it (as a general rule). I only graduated the couple of make-up courses I’ve done recently so I haven’t made a whole lot of use out of the certifications yet; just make-up for brides, model portfolio building and short films, etc. It’s always good to have something to fall back on too.”
Was it specifically how to apply make-up to models that you studied or did you learn prosthetic effects and how to create fake blood for theatre?
“I learned both! I did Beauty for a year then moved on to doing a Diploma in Cinemagraphic Make-up, then a Diploma from Cinema Make-up School’s “Master Make-up” course. Both diplomas taught special effects as well as beauty, looks from different eras and airbrushing amongst other things.”
Has the world of fashion been as you had expected it to be and do you feel that models, women in particular, are treated with respect in this industry or are they merely products?
“I was quite young when I started out doing photoshoots so I don’t remember if I had any expectations and what they would have been… so I can’t really say! I think most models are treated with respect on the bigger scene. I’d say the models more likely to be treated like objects are the ones who work more in nude modelling than the kind of modelling I do.”
While your style of modelling and fashion could perhaps be best described as alternative, this is often the label attributed to the likes of Suicide Girls and Gods Girls, both of which are known for their pornographic aspects. How do you feel about this kind of modelling and do you find that you are sometimes mistaken for a Suicide Girl?
“I’ve started to get out of the alternative modelling; my newer shoots coming out are fashion-based. I think that’s just where I’ve out grown the… I’m not going to say phase, but my personal interest in fashion has started to deviate from the gothic and alternative looks. When I was about fourteen-fifteen I wanted to be in the Suicide Girls so bad! They had all the piercings and coloured hair and tattoos that I didn’t have, but now that I could apply to become one I’ve kind of lost interest. But yes, I do get asked if I’m a Suicide Girl a fair bit!”
How has your modelling influenced your own personal style? Having worked with such companies as Gore Couture, do you often wear these kinds of clothes on a regular basis and what kind of style did you have prior to becoming a model?
“My personal fashion sense is constantly changing and evolving, similar to what I said to your previous question. For years all I would wear was black and my corsets and such all the time. You couldn’t get me to go anywhere if I didn’t have caked on eyeliner and platform boots! I don’t know how you’d describe my style now! A friend of mine actually tried yesterday, all she had to say was I didn’t look like I belonged in the supermarket we were shopping in!”
You have had some acting experience over the last couple of years. What kind of projects have you worked on so far and do you think that your background as a model has helped prepare for performing in front of the camera?
“I used to do some work with a project called Scard TV, which unfortunately never really took off the ground. I’ve done a couple of short films but beyond that I haven’t really acted. Any film work I’ve done, be it Scard TV, short films, whatever, I’ve never sought it out. I’ve always been asked to do it but I don’t search for ways to be on film. Modelling helps in the way that as a model you should know your body and face, what angles work well, which ones don’t, as well as building self-confidence I think! I know I’ve become a lot surer of myself over the years I’ve been modelling.”
Do you have any other projects outside of the world of modelling and what plans do you have for 2012?
“Making/recycling clothes! I love sewing and creating things. Painting and drawing are always good too. Other than that nothing that people want or need to hear about. More personal life-related. Make-up projects are pretty high up the list for 2012!! The year started off amazing and it’s treated me well so far, so fingers crossed everything keeps going smoothly!”
Photo Credits: Dystopian Studios, Robert Varkevisser