Liking the look of it

SALISBURY — Excited children waited for makeup artist Tyler Green and the Scoville Memorial Library’s Kendra Percy to pull the winning name Saturday morning, Feb. 24.

The prize was a professional makeover, from small child to Oompa Loompa.

The Feb. 24 event was the culmination of a “Willy Wonka” contest, with Charlotte “Charlie” Garippo, 4, of North Canaan as the big winner.

All the children received an Oompa Loompa makeup kit to take home, so if you spot an unusually orange child in the next week or so, now you know why.

Young Charlie was very focused and disciplined in Green’s makeup chair.

Apart from a tickling sensation caused by the air brush causing a momentary scrinching up of the face, she sat stock still as Green worked his magic.

After about 15 minutes, and the deployment of a wig of a particularly virulent shade of green, the transformation was complete.

Green, who lives in Litchfield, runs the Tyler Green FX studio and school in Winsted. Devotees of the SyFy channel will remember him from the network’s “Face Off” program.

He kept up a steady stream of light banter and jokes to keep Charlie at ease.

“This is ‘Oompa Loompa Orange,’” he announced grandly as he started.

“Actually, there’s no such thing. I made it up. Mixed it this morning.”

Tyler Green (left) air brushed the lucky winner with “Oompa Loompa Orange” on Feb. 24.Patrick L. Sullivan