Makeup 101

Did you go to school for Makeup?

I didn't attend school for my profession. Working, attending workshops, reading books and studying magazines became my school. I learned my craft as I went and I was always making sure I was around people who inspired me and people I could learn from. I went to FIDM, Fashion College where I studied Visual Communications. I learned the theories of color and design, which helped me as an artist. I also learned how to market a creative business, plan events, wardrobe style and various other skills that helped me along my way as a freelance makeup artist and business owner. I put myself through college while working as a Hair & Makeup Artist. I continue to soak up all the knowledge I can, I continue to push my self, my creativity and my courage. I recommend if you're a Makeup Artist to make sure you're attending Trade shows! Here are a few NOT to miss...

IMATS. www.imats.net International Makeup Artist Trade Show. I was totally inspired by my time at the trade show in Pasadena and ran into some ol' favorites including Dany Sanz of Makeup Forever, Sharon Gault aka Mama Makeup, and met some new inspirational artists including the incredible, Rae Morris and the Creator of IMATS and The Makeup Artist Magazine himself, Michael Key.

The Makeup Show: www.TheMakeupShow.com which starts TODAY (May 15 &16th) in NYC! I so wish I can be there for this spectacular display of talent!! Some of the gurus I'd love to see if I were in the Big Apple this weekend would be... Billy B (whom I had the pleasure of running into while at the MAC store at The Grove in LA!), Charlie Green, Patti Dubroff, Reggie Wells, Sam Fine and other stars!

Enjoy Life. Live Beautifully. Keep Creating. And don't be afraid to Play with Makeup!

An interview...

I had the honor of being asked to be interviewed for a Senior Project. I love to share my story and passion with young artists! Here are a few of my answers (1 of 11 questions), thought I'd also share it with you!

1. What made me become a makeup artist: a Dream and an opportunity, with a lot of dedication, passion and courage! I grew up dancing, so makeup application was a natural part of every performance or concert. As young as I can remember I loved playing dress up and doing makeup. I practiced on my sisters and friends, and at 16 I went and applied for a job at Glamour Shots. It was working there for 2 years that I was able to get my hands on faces of all ages, all ethnicities, all colors. I gained a tremendous amount of experience and love for my craft during those 2 years! At age 18, I met and started working with a celebrity Photographer, who I ended up working with for the next 10 years! I became a makeup artist, because I followed my dream and just NEVER STOPPED doing it, I NEVER GAVE UP!!

Red My Lips....

So here is a quick teaser from a Beauty shoot I did last night with photographer: Jojo Serina. We didn't even begin this shot until after 1 am, when we were done with our photo shoot for CLOTH Hawaii.

I grabbed my Makeup Forever Pigment Palette and painted on red cream color all over my eyelids (more pics to come soon, I promise!) and with the same color, all over my lips. I finished with a cherry color lip gloss and voila! Here is what we did in the wee hours of the morning.

Don't these shiny, candy-apple red pumps look delicious enough to eat?

Makeup / Model: Jessica Hoffman

I heart NY, let me count the ways...

Ahh, New York. I'm so looking forward to seeing you again. To feel the wind take my hair as I zip through the city in a crazy cab, to sense the sun on my shoulders as I stroll through Central Park, to hear the sound of stilettos make their way across cobble stone roads of the Meat Packing district, and of course to ooh and ahh over the latest and greatest fashion, beauty and architecture that can only be captured in the Big Apple.

I can't wait to work and schlep around my hair and makeup kit to fabulous sets and studios. To meet glamourous and driven artists, to paint the prettiest faces and to enjoy the chicest shows and runways. I've been so incredibly inspired attending the past two September Fashion Weeks in NY, I absolutely crave being backstage, interviewing models and celebs on inner beauty, and I heart being on the hair and makeup teams of the most talented artists in the world.

Why wouldn't I want to go back to New York? This time, for a bit longer, perhaps? As I plan my fall return to the City that never sleeps, I came across this gem on Vogue Diaries and thought it would be appropriate to share it with all of you.

Until I return, I at least have Vogue.com to melt my heart.

I heart NY.

Inspired! Day 3 & 4

(1/3/11) 3. Admiring the Work of Others: I caught this moment while I was backstage at the Zac Posen show in NY during Mercedes Benz Fashion Week. The look was created by Global Makeup Artist, Charlotte Willer for Maybelline Cosmetics. I had an opportunity to interview her after the show. One of my favorite things she said regarding the idea of beauty was, "it's imperfection that people love." She also said she had a blast creating this look for Zac! I had a blast taking pictures of her work. (check out her nails too)

(1/4/11) 4. Makeup as Art. Coloring outside the lines makes me smile. I delight in creating makeup that you wouldn't necessarily wear on a day to day basis, but something you would photograph and hang up in your room. I'm inspired by the Arts and Craft Store, examining the colorful items that catch my eye and envisioning how I can use it as makeup or in the hair. Here's a look I produced, along with the help of my sister Maria Blaich who keyed the hair.

11 Things in 11 Days that inspire me.

Happy New Year Beauties!

1/1/11... it just sooounds so new and fresh. I love being able to swipe the slate clean, don't you? And when better to do so, literally and figuratively, than Jan 1st. And this year is special. It's the genesis of a decade. It's an invitation to imagine a clean palette. It's an invitation to create.

For Artists, creativity is everything. This year... embrace the artist within your own heart.

11 things in 11 days that inspire me as an artist (in random order):

(1/1/11) 1. My Makeup Kit. I get inspired all over again when I clean out my kit and especially when I add to it. I recommend every makeup artist or enthusiast to attend the IMATS (Int'l Makeup Artist Trade Show) It is the makeup artist's equivalent to Disneyland for a child! Here is an image from my makeup kit and my assistant's kit at a shoot in Kitchen Studios in New York. This was a colorful shoot for 3 models, so my kit was a bit more grandiose than usual.

(1/2/11) 2. Bare Naked Faces. We're all so unique and so intricately detailed in our design. Each face is unlike the other. I love looking at women's faces, either made up or not. There's a beauty about a bare face that intrigues me... and it's very inspiring. It's so vital as a woman to renew our minds on a daily basis and be confident in the fact that you are unique. You don't look like any other person, so stop trying. Do not compare yourselves to others. Period. I love that our Creator was so brilliant, he never duplicated a design! Be original. Be proud of being who you are... no one else can do it quite like you.

Perfect Gift to light up your life...

...and it's only $15! It's seriously a must have for any woman on the go. This peppermint infused, light up lip gloss comes in 3 delicious shades including a champagne, a pink and a bronze. Not only does it look good it feels, well... delicious! But my fave feature of all is the light in the wand and mirror on the side of the package! No more braille re application in the middle of your GNO. This is a perfect companion for all that mistletoe you'll be standing under... 

xoxo

Contact me to purchase your light up lip gloss! And if you want it by Christmas to add to a stocking, don't wait too long. 

Enjoy and Merry Kissmas!