Ms Alice A.

About Me

Originally from Houston, TX, the heartland of big hair and bold makeup, Alice now happily resides smack dab in the center of New York City, the vetting ground of every American style icon.

With a bachelor's degree in fashion design in hand, Alice packed four suitcases (this was when you could still check two and carry two on with no extra fees), and made her way to Manhattan. After a stint working in the apparel design trenches, Alice realized all she really wanted to do was make a career of playing dress-up. So, she struck out to make a name for herself as an arbiter of beauty and style instead.

Now Alice can be found anywhere from leading beauty teams backstage during fashion week, to working her makeup magic on set, to sitting in on product development meetings, to art directing editorial shoots and producing ad campaigns—taking her passion for makeup artistry and her penchant for playing dress-up far beyond the average fashion and beauty enthusiast.

Contact

http://www.youtube.com/missalicean
http://www.examiner.com/makeup-in-n...
http://about.me/ms.alice

FAQ

1. Q. What is your sign? =)

A. Sun in Capricorn, Moon in Leo, Cancer Rising

2. Q. When did you know that makeup artistry was your cup of tea and why?

A. I started my life in New York as a fashion designer and I was miserable. I love fashion but the business of it, it’s a rough place. So I left my job and had a “now what” moment. That’s when I realized that what I really wanted to do for a living was play dress up. So I did.

3. Q. What do you think was your most important learning experience?

A. Being a creative person is an uphill battle. It doesn't matter what medium you have chosen-- photography, art direction, designing product it's all the same. Hence the term "struggling artist." What most people don't realize that the struggle is both on the inside and the outside. There's something really personal and really impossible to quantify about being a person whose chosen path in life involves creating. This is normal.

Also, people are going to tell you, this industry is tough and it's true. But try to remember your battle is not with others who have chosen the same medium for their art. You are not really competing with others on a personal level though it may seem that way because we are often vying for the same jobs and positions. It's hard to believe but it's true.

You're just not going to get all the jobs just like they are not going to get all the jobs. Everyone has something different to offer and that is what the client is keying in on.

So make friends with the community, we're in it together. You'll be much happier this way.


4. Q. Do you or have you ever gotten nervous before a makeup session? If so, when and why?

A. Sometimes when it’s been a little slow and I’ve been working on projects where I am not doing makeup, I feel a little rusty when I go back to it. That is always unnerving.

5. Q. What has been your most exciting makeup session?

A. Hmmm… I don’t know. It’s all exciting to me.

6. Q. What is your favorite product above and beyond any other product?

A. Primer. I love primer.

7. Q. What do you think it the hottest trend for this Spring?

A. I think those earthy red lip colors that were hot in the 90’s are going to make a comeback.

8. Q. Do you think that using less costly brands limit you as far as creativity?

A. No. It’s generally not about the product, but your technique. Once you get to a certain level of pigment saturation, and you can find products at a whole range of prices that have good pay back, it’s all kinda the same. Also, there is always the option of layering.

9 Q. If you could choose one celebrity face to paint, who would it be and why?

A. Do they have to be alive?

10. Q. If you could give one piece of advice to an up and coming makeup artist, what would it be?

A. I went to this conference recently where Billy B (one of my makeup idols) gave a keynote and he said a few things that really resonated with me, and that I feel everyone should hear:

1. Be open to what you can be. Don't cling to an outcome, open yourself up and see all the ways you can pursue your passion and still survive.

2. Do not use my success as the benchmark for your success. It's great to have role models, people to look up to and learn from but what they do does not determine what you should do or be to be great.

3. Finding validation in life is an endless goal. So don't forget to stop along the way and appreciate yourself. Don't wait for others to give it to you, take what you have earned. Or even better, don't let your work be your only validation.