Where were you born?
I was born in Tucson, AZ. Desert boy! After that I lived in Phoenix before moving to Los Angeles 15 years ago.
Where do you live now?
Still in LA, and still doing the thing!
What’s your sign?
I’m a Gemini sun. Scorpio rising. It’s a look.
When you were young, what did you want to be when you grew up?
I always wanted to do outreach work to help people within the LGBTQIA+ community. I even got a degree in it! It’s always been a passion of mine.
How did that transpose into makeup artistry?
College helped me so much with my work and life skills. My background in Women and Gender Studies has guided me to be a more understanding and patient person. It’s also helped my communication skills. All of which comes in handy with makeup artistry.
How did you get your start in makeup artistry?
Like so many, I started at MAC! I was actually hired as a weekend cashier when I was only 19. So just a few years ago…HA! Kidding, I’ll be fabulous and 40 this year. I worked at a MAC store in Scottsdale Fashion Square. I fought may way into a retail artist position in about seven months. Nothing was stopping me! I loved makeup and all the artistry that came with it, but never thought it would turn into a career. Initially it was just a college job! Who knew?
If you hadn’t gotten into makeup what do you think you’d be doing right now?
I’d definitely be doing LGBTQIA+ outreach. I have a bachelor’s degree in Women and Gender Studies, and working in that field was my plan for a long time. I’m very passionate about community outreach as well as advocacy; doing whatever it takes to expand the rights and well-being of LGBTQIA+ people, whether it’s through counseling, education, or mentorship, has always been very appealing to me.
How did you know that the makeup artist industry was where you wanted to be?
Early on in my MAC days I started to fall more and more in love with makeup and all the beautiful creativity and artistry that surrounded it. I also quickly started to realize that there was a ton of work to be done outside the retail space.
What was your first memorable work as an artist?
One of my most memorable jobs very early on was working on live shows with the 12 original cast members of Glee. The show was the biggest thing at the time, and it made me realize exactly what I wanted to do. They turned the TV show into live shows — basically like a concert. I worked with the entire cast. Talk about a pinch me moment! Two weeks later I moved to LA. Sometimes I think that that job gave me the final push to really take on makeup artistry as a full time career. The rest is history!
What are the things about working in makeup that you love?
The empowerment is truly my favorite part. It’s just not about making someone look good, it’s about making them feel good. When a client tells me that they feel amazing, or that they feel beautiful, I know that I did my job. When their confidence comes to life, that’s the real gift.
What are the things about your work that makes it the most interesting to you?
I’d have to say the people! Being surrounded by creatives is so inspiring, and I love getting to know their stories. Making something amazing happen as a team is the coolest feeling.
What are the challenges you face working as an artist? Freelance can be hard! Sometimes I wonder how I’ve been able to survive for the last 15 years as a freelance artist. The business is tricky, and not having a regular check coming in can be a lot. Ultimately, you’ve gotta want it, you’ve gotta fight for it, and, well, you’ve gotta be good at budgeting.
Was there ever a time when you thought you’d give up?
Absolutely, and they typically happen when there are bigger problems in the industry. And in the world. Strikes, pandemics…these are the kinds of things that make a person want to quit. But passion always finds its way. I absolutely love my job, and am so grateful for it. To love what you do? That’s the greatest gift.
What should someone who is looking to develop a career in makeup know before getting into the business?
One of the biggest pieces of advice I can give is that you have to fight for it. What I mean is that at first, you can’t say no. You have to take the really hard jobs, or the really low budgets. Experience is everything, and early on you have to make sacrifices. It’s quite competitive, and takes a while to establish yourself. But hard work and patience pays off!
What are some of the most important qualities that a makeup artist can have?
Being well versed in different kinds of artistry techniques, of course. Being able to adjust your skills for each person individually is so important. Patience, understanding, and good communication skills certainly help too.
What makes you a good makeup artist?
Artistry first. At least I hope so! But I’m also a good listener. I don’t have an ego about what I do, so I’m always going to find common ground with my client so that everyone is happy. I like to create with my clients, not just all on my own. It’s so much more fun that way. I learn from my clients all the time!
How do you continue to grow as an artist? I’m always willing to learn and grow. I love seeing other artist do education. It’s one of my favorite things! It’s inspiring and motiving and I love getting different perspectives.
Do you have a signature style?
I’d have to say a smokey eye. That seems to be one of the biggest compliments that I get. And I’m not mad about that! All those years at MAC certainly paid off in the smokey eye department.
How has social media affected your career or work?
I love how social media has expanded the artistry world. You can learn so much online, and connect with people in a way that you never could before. It’s a great way to show your work as well. On the other hand, it’s increased competition, and has artists comparing themselves to others. That can be hard for anyone. Regardless of your following, it’s important to always be an individual. You are not your following!
What type of work do you find most satisfying?
Honestly, I love it all, as long as I’m having fun and am with clients that I love. I’ve said it once and I’ll say it again…having fun at work is the greatest gift. I do love a fabulous red carpet moment. And also love doing education, it’s definitely a passion of mine. I’ve done it for years and absolutely love it!
Do you have a project that you are especially proud of?
It’s more the people I’ve worked with and how they’ve shaped my life and career. I’ve been so fortunate to work with so many incredible people! I’ve worked with Tia Mowry for over 11 years. Sister, Sister for life! She’s literally the best. We always have fun and we always turn out some serious looks. I’ve gotten to work with everyone from Jane Fonda to Zoe Saldana to Selma Blair. It’s always exciting!
Do you ever get stuck creatively?
I think we all get stuck from time to time, but I’m so lucky to have clients that are always down to mix it up. They trust me and let me do my thing, which is always fun!
What project did you have the most fun working on?
Challenging and fun can definitely go hand in hand for me. I’ve done a few movies and shows with clients, and while they’re challenging, they’re also fun to work on. With those projects, seeing the finished product is the best! I’ve done a couple Lifetime movies with Tia Mowry. The hours are long, of course. And I had to learn about the importance of continuity, which was pretty new to me. Once you establish a look, you’ve gotta do it exactly the same way if you revisit that scene in a different day, which happens a lot. As long as you’re organized though, it all works out. Seeing the end result and everything come to together is such a treat. The crew, the cast, all of it.
What would your clients say is best about working with you? T
rust. Artistry. Personality. Being a good artist and knowing your way around your client’s face is one thing. But in an uncertain world, having a team around you that you trust personally AND professionally is so important. I think that’s what they’d say. Also I’m fun and funny, in my mind at least.
Is there someone you have always wanted to work on who you haven’t had the chance to do yet?
This is a great question! I feel like every artist has a Wishlist. But to be honest, I’m grateful for every client, every step of the way. What comes is meant for me, and that’s the truth. If you really want me to throw out some names…Julianne Moore always comes to mind. She’s so cool! Also Mandy Moore, forever girl crush. And Yvonne Strahovski! She’s everything.
What inspires you?
There are so many! Of course Kevyn Aucoin. His books were my literal religion. Flipping through them reignites my passion, to this day. I’m proud and blessed to be friends with so many beautiful artists. Ernesto Casillas, Anthony Nguyen, Lilly Keyes. I am literally obsessed with all of them. It’s artists like these that blow my mind ever y time. They make their own rules, and kill it every single time.
What’s next for you?
What’s next, huh? For starters, I want to maintain the stability that I’ve established. I want to keep doing what I’m doing and continue to grow with the amazing clients that I have. Finding your tribe in this business is everything. The people that you trust and that trust you. But what else is next? Hmmmm well I do have some irons in the fire, but they’re top secret as of now. More to come, of course!
Words Michael DeVellis
Photos Courtesy of Anton Khachaturian
Anton Por trait Aaron Farrier @aaronfarrier
