Can You be a Makeup Artist if You Can't Draw?

Mar 14, 2012

bethany m.

Hello everyone!
I love makeup so much and would love to make it a bigger part of my life. However, I can't draw a straight line. Is it even possible for me to do makeup if I can't draw, professionally.

Mar 14, 2012

Elenna L.

Hey Bethany! I think it's very important for a makeup artist to have good drawing skills. Some people were born with it, but some people learn. If it's something you're very passionate about, you could definitely learn! xoxo

Mar 14, 2012

April C.

I can barely draw a straight line too...I doodle a lot but would not be able to draw someones portrait or create painting masterpiece. I am currently in makeup school and to be honest knowing how to draw does not effect your makeup skills sure it might help in certain things but no you dont need to know how to draw.

Makeup is a different kind of art and the face is your canvass, do you see any straight lines on your face? No, so dont worry about not being able to draw a straight line. With proper schooling and a lot of practice being able to draw won't even matter!

I hope this helps :) 

Mar 14, 2012

Rikki P.

I'm willing to bet you my entire bank account that a bunch of people that do makeup cannot and do not draw professionally, hahah.

Mar 15, 2012

Bec L.

Definitely not. I can't draw for shiz and I'm studying makeup - everything I've done so far as turned out fine.

Mar 15, 2012

Molly B.

I am not into drawing or painting or anything like that and I'm a make up artist. I went to make up school & it has nothing to do with it whatsoever. The only time you use a pencil is to do eyeliner or lip liner, otherwise your using brushes, sponges, fingers to do the work. (:

Mar 15, 2012

Audrey A.

I would say yes, but it certainly wouldn't hurt and a lot of basic art skills and elements transfer over to makeup. I wouldn't say makeup has nothing to do with other mediums of art. A lot of what I've learned in art classes and my own experiences painting I've used while doing makeup. :)

Mar 15, 2012

Lauren M.

I've thought about this a lot, because I can't draw but I work as an MUA, drawing helps with stuff like body painting or maybe some high fashion or a avand garde looks, it doesn't matter when it comes to your average make up or bridal or anything like that, one think I have found is people who can draw aren't necessarily great at just normal looks so it works both ways ! But here is the think...... Practice makes perfect when it comes a make up so if you have a passion for it and a creative mind don't worry about not being able to draw ! You can be as sucessful as you dream if you want it bad enough don't let not being able to draw a straight line ! Don't listen to people saying you can't! Go for it x

Mar 15, 2012

Lauren C.

I sure as crap can't draw and I'm a pretty successful makeup artist...

Mar 15, 2012

Ashley G.

I'm a makeup artist and I am not the best artist... I can draw a fairly straight line, but that's about it. 

Mar 16, 2012

bethany m.

Thank you guys so much for all the responses! You all have made me feel so much better and have so much more confidence!

Mar 18, 2012

Andrea F.

I'm not a good drawer at all. You don't. If you're good at makeup and practice a lot.. you can do perfect eyeliner wings without being able to draw an elephant. You know?? One aspect of technical art that IS important for makeup artists, I'd say, is color theory! VERY important! 

Mar 18, 2012

Courtney A.

of course you can!! although I will say that I think it depends a little on what type of makeup art you want to be in. Often times if you look at very editorial/ high fashion sorts of makeup there is a lot of design to it. But normal sort of makeup drawing skills not required haha

Mar 18, 2012

Christine R.

I'm not a draw-er in any way shape or form. I mean I can draw a picture but I'm not amazing by any means. I think I'm doing alright in the makeup area without that skill. But I'm sure when it comes to doing certain things it is helpful.

Mar 19, 2012

Vanessa P.

I'm not a professional, but I have been practicing for a few years, I feel like makeup artistry is just that, an art. So I don't think it's necessary to know how to draw a straight line, you just need to find what you are really good at when it comes down to makeup. And once you figure out what it is you are especially good at keep practicing and you will do just fine :)
Good luck with everything!

Mar 19, 2012

Amanda J.

I want to do special effects, and not being able to draw scares the crap out of me. But I love carving, and that is like, essential. As long as you know what you want your end product to be, and how you're going to get there, I think it's fine. Like, take (and this is fashion not makeup) Mondo from Project Runway for instance. He can't draw worth crap (like me), yet he turns out something incredible that wins him challenges like a madwoman!!! I'm sure it helps, but I don't think it's necessary. 

Mar 21, 2012

Evagelia S.

not that I'm a professional, but I like to think that I'm pretty good at doing makeup both on myself and others...and I can't draw worth a damn. I think a fundamental knowledge of artsy things (like which colors go together etc) is important but makeup skills are really different from drawing on paper. For what its worth, I'm also a very crafty person (I love knitting, crocheting and DIY projects)