Makeup Training, Makeup Products, Makeup Tips Part 1

Nov 2, 2011

Angel M.

Jo-Jo interviews Make-up Artist Angel Michele
Jo-Jo – So we’re just going to dive right into this interview. For selfish reason, I want to start by picking your brain. What are a couple makeup tips and trick you can offer me?
Angel Michele – Oh boy, uh…look for SPF in your skincare and not in your makeup, blot your face with free toilet seat covers, buff liquid and powder foundations for a seamless airbrushed look, buy mascara based on the wand not the name, fill in full brows with pencils and sparse brows with powder, avoid buying products without trying them first, dry skin looks best with luminous foundations, oily skin benefit best from silicone free primers…uh…those are some quick things I can think of off the top of my head.
Jo-Jo – You’ve been a Make-up Artist for a little over twelve years. You’ve worked in retail, taught at New York makeup training institutes, worked runway and fashion shows, editorial shoots, video’s, you teach makeup workshops, is it safe to say you’ve done it all?
Angel Michele – Oh god, I hope not. If I’ve done it all that’ll leave nothing else to do and I enjoy exploring new fields of makeup artistry.
Jo-Jo – Is there something specific you haven’t done that you’d love to do?
Angel Michele – You know, it hard to say because I kind of go through my life and career in retrospect. For example, I didn’t know how much I would love teaching makeup artistry until I was offered the opportunity to do it. I remember wanting – so much – to be the regional manager of one of my favorite cosmetics lines until I was offered to be a part of the national make-up artist team and then that became the best thing ever. Whenever I’m teaching – whether through one of my workshops or for an institute or even brand training – I always encourage my students not to limit their potential by even their imagination. There is so much to be done in this field and I try to teach them to think outside the box because there is no telling where this profession can take you.
Jo-Jo – So, when you host your workshops do you find that students have very narrow goals that they want to achieve?
Angel Michele – (Laughs) Most of them want to be MAC make-up artist. They all see the artist at MAC having so much fun, dressing in their hip attire and blasting the coolest music from their counter. They seem to be having – definitely – more fun than the sterile artist at Clinique. And I love this, but I hate it just as much.
Jo-Jo – What do you mean?
Angel Michele – I love that something attracted them to take an interest in this career. I hate that they see it as a life time goal instead of a stepping stone. There is nothing wrong with working at MAC…it’s where I started, hell, it’s were Sam Fine started. But, it should be viewed as a start. No real artist should strive to spend the rest of their life there.
Jo-Jo – Do you think it essential to go through formal training to become a make-up artist?
Angel Michele – Yes and no. In any creative field you can’t be taught creativity – you either have it or you don’t. Most aspiring make-up artist don’t go through training to learn how to apply blush they go to learn how to break into the field. People often ask me how to become a make-up artist and I tell them to call themselves a make-up artist. It’s really that easy. Breaking into the field is what requires the most training and sadly most training institutes charge an arm and a leg but still don’t cover the business aspects of the career. After I went to school it took me a good five years to no longer be a starving artist. And that’s huge, many people go to school to become a MUA but then don’t pursue it because they feel it’s not a lucrative career…which is sadly not true but you have to know what you’re doing.
Jo-Jo – Do you feel that your workshops offer aspiring make-up artist those tools they need to be successful?
Angel Michele – Honestly, I try my best, but with time limits most often many of my workshops leaves that critical element out. I have a 48hr workshop that’s like my baby. It covers everything from the skills to business training, to how to find gigs, to business etiquette, to living your life as a tax deduction. At the end of the week the students have a started portfolio and a full starter kit. I think I cover everything in this workshop. Sadly, with my schedule and students’ schedule, it’s hard for me to offer this workshop as often as I’d like.
Jo-Jo – Many people are skipping formal training all together and getting the information they need via youtube. How do you feel about YouTube’s influence on makeup artistry?