MAKE UP ARTIST

Interview with Edmonton’s Wild Earth Artistry

by Monika Blichar

Each year, we are blessed to be able to work with a variety of artists who are so creative via our exhibitions at the Art World Expo. For our first annual Edmonton Art World Expo, the caliber of artists has not disappointed. Today I caught up with Joelle for Wild Earth Artistry who is competing in this year’s Art World Expo Body Painting Competition. She tells us about her journey as a make up artist and gives a tiny hint about her body paint entry for this Friday’s event at the Muttart!

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1-When did you start make up and body painting?

I’ve always been an artist, but after playing around with Halloween make up for a couple years, I decided to go to school for it. I’d been working in the oilfield for way too many years and I just knew that wasn’t where I saw myself working in the future. So in 2011, I attended a film, fashion and theater course in Edmonton.

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2-What is your favourite thing about being a make up artist? My favourite part about being a make up artist is seeing the transformation happen and seeing the model and clients reactions. It’s so fun to be able to dream up a creation in my head, but to see to come to life is so exciting! It’s the best feeling to see how happy your art has made someone else.

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3-Do you have a favourite brand of make up or tool that you use? I like using torn up sponges to create texture, and help with blending.

4-Can you give us a hint about your “Lady Luck” body painting entry for Art World Expo Body Painting Competition at the Muttart on March 16? The only hint I’m giving about my “Lady Luck” body paint is….. she’s going to sparkle!

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5-Where would you like to see your arts business in five years? The last 5 years I’ve let my art sit more on the back burner. My job was the focus not my passion. I’ve recently started my own business and I’m super excited to give myself more time to create the art I love. So in 5 years from now, I just hope that I’ve better myself as an artist, that I’ve created a good name for my business and that I’m still doing what I love!

6-Just for fun: If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would you go and why?

I love travelling! I’m more of an adventurer so I would love some kind of backpacking type of trip to Europe, I love history, castles and anything old. Our world is so fascinating and interesting and I just want to see it all.

To learn more about Wild Earth Artistry, visit her Facebook Page. Be sure to come to the show and check out Joelle’s entry to the body painting competition! It will be amazing no doubt!

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Monika Blichar is an Entrepreneur and Artist. She is owner of Monika’s Art Boutique-Studio & Gallery in North Vancouver and producer of Art World Expo and Painting Dreams International Art Tours. She is always pushing boundaries as an artist and creative entrepreneur. Her love of the arts has been a part of her life since childhood.

Interview with Body Painter Rouge Gear Body Art

by Monika Blichar

Body paint is an amazing art form. It’s incredible what artists can create in just a few hours and even more incredible that the medium has to be washed off within the same day. It’s a fleeting kind of art-one that can only be truly enjoyed in person just after it is created. I met Rouge Gear Body Art online and have been taken with what she has accomplished-very excited to see her work in person! I caught up to her today and asked her about her work.

1-When did you start make up and body painting?

I started in October of 2016.

2-Your instagram is very active! How do you maintain such engagement on social media?

I have been in many international collaborations and online contests, since I started Halloween 2016, the first few of which were Christmas 2016. I have also had my work shared on various feature pages, and I’ve been featured in Skinmarkz Magazine. I love connecting with other artists, and appreciate all different kinds of art, as I am actually a mixed media artist! I have made some amazing friends, and it is easy to find inspiration and beauty everywhere. Happily, I am consistently approached by other artists for friendship, and collabs, I try to be a support whenever possible. The Instagram Body Art Community is an amazing supportive place. I count myself honoured to be among some of the most talented, awesome people I have ever met, let alone be considered their friend and collaborate with them!

3-Your range of characters and make up is extensive. Do you have a favourite project or character you have created?

Yes, I get bored easily, and I love to challenge myself! I am known for my Skulls and Cat characters. My most recent favourite project was a demon transformation, from a human I divided into 4 parts. I was also required to write a story to connect all the makeup looks as well. I won second prize in this online contest, always so exciting!

4-Can you give us a hint about your “Lady Luck” body painting entry for Art World Expo Body Painting Competition at the Muttart on March 16?

I have something pretty intense planned, there will be accessories, and possibly prosthetics as well.

5-Where would you like to see your arts business in five years?

I’d like to be able to help support my family, and stay at home with my daughter! I have a secondary account for my Carvings, Jewellery and Sculptures @rougegearsurvivalart on Instagram.

6-Just for fun: If you could do make up for anyone past, present or future, who would it be?

That’s a tough one! I would love to meet so many artists, I hardly know where to begin although my favorite makeup artist is Mimi Choy, or @mimles here on Instagram. I love science fiction and fantasy so much, I would love to work with Tim Burton, or Guillermo del Toro.

To learn more about Rouge Gear Body Art visit her active Instagram account! Be sure to check out her entry into the Art World Expo Edmonton Body Painting Competition on March 16, 2018 at the Muttart Conservatory!

Interview with Edmonton’s Aurora Artistry

by Monika Blichar

I have loved make up like most girls since being introduced to it in my teenage years. When we were in high school, we experimented with lots of different kinds of make up and I remember that when Halloween rolled around, it was the time of year where everyone got into make up! Since my teenage years, I have had the pleasure of witnessing some of the most talented make up artists in the country via Art World’s body painting competition. Today, I caught up with Aurora Artistry to learn more about her company! Looking so forward to seeing her entry into the first annual Art World Expo Edmonton Body Painting Competition!

1-What is Aurora Make Up Artistry?

Aurora Artistry is a Hair, Makeup and Body Art business ran by myself, Deonna Fetzko. The name stems from the Aurora Borealis, I grew up in a very small Northern Alberta town underneath the inspiring glow and that’s how I want to make people feel. Aurora aims to let your true colors dance. I provide mobile services as well as services out of my home. My goal is to make anyone who receives our services feel like a complex piece of art. No matter if it’s a glamorous editorial, a wild costume or a natural day look I hope to make every person really “feel” their look. Everyone has unique qualities and I love to accent and play those up!

2-When did you know you wanted to pursue a career in the make up industry?

I always have wanted to be a mother. When asked as a kid what I wanted to be it was always “A mom and -” So when I finally found myself ready to search for a career I knew I wanted something I could do from home, on my schedule. I was always involved in theatre and performing, would paint large dragons and vines on my face and shoulder in high school just for fun and wear it to school. One day my mom sent me a link to a makeup school and it just flew from there. I moved to Calgary 9 hours from home and got an International Certification in Makeup Artistry and my love for the beauty industry and the art scene has just developed from there.

3-What kinds of jobs or projects are your favourite?

Avante Garde, Body Paint and Runway work has to be my favourite. Though I’m very new to Body Paint. Being able to really stretch my creative muscles and put together a large project gives me a wonderful sense of satisfaction. I love to test if i can bring my hands to do what my brain is creating and playing with textiles and texture.

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4-What could you tell make up artists who are emerging in the field about business and art?

Get the schooling. Youtube and instagram are great but there are so many things as far as the science behind makeup goes that you are missing that could potentially put your clients at risk if you don’t get proper training. Also don’t sell yourself short! In my experience undercharging and giving away your work does nothing for your career besides empty your wallet. Trade for portfolio work is good, while you need to build your portfolio, don’t overdue it.

5-Can you give us any hints about your “Lady Luck” body painting entry for Art World Expo Edmonton at the Muttart on March 16?

You wont be able to keep your “eye” off of her.

6-If you could paint any historical or current person, who would it be and why?

Bob Ross. It would just be so much fun and I would love to pick his brain for paint techniques!

To learn more about Aurora Artistry visit their Facebook Page and be sure to cheer her on in the body painting competition happening on March 16 at the Muttart Conservatory in Edmonton, Alberta! We are running low on tickets, so be sure to grab yours today before we are sold out!

Interview with Body Painter Devon Burbank

by Monika Blichar

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1-When did you know you wanted to be a make up artist?

I think I realized that I wanted to be a makeup artist when I recognized that there are more options than painting on a flat canvas. I really enjoy the 3D aspect of the art form and also that it’s more socially acceptable to talk to living models rather than an intimate object.

2-Why do you love working with make up?

I like having the freedom of being creative while also simultaneously following the natural bone structure for each person’s unique characteristics. It’s much more challenging being able to walk in to something with so much artistic inventiveness, but also having to follow the rules of realism at the same time. It’s a perfect mixture of art and balance!

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3-You won at the IMATS in 2016. What was your inspiration for your character submission at that competition?

I’ve always been inspired by the Star Wars franchise and the creatures that lived in it, and though it was such a crazy random happenstance that it was chosen as the theme for that years IMATS competition, Star Wars was, ironically enough, my inspiration. That being said, when we were told to create a unique character complete with costume and a story, I immediately started to plan one around the desert planet of Jakku. I was inspired by the story line of Ray and her struggle of living alone on such a deserted bleak desert planet and wanted the thriftiness and cunning of her character to come across through my own.

4-You do make up and prosthetics. What has been your favorite character design so far?

It’s incredibly difficult choosing my favorite design, I put hours of planning and preparation in to each creature and they all hold a special place in my heart. Though I think it’s safe to say that the most entertaining character designs so far were when I turned my two best friends in to Mike and Sully from my favorite childhood film, Monsters Inc. It was a strangely satisfying feeling getting to see the animated characters that I held so close to my heart for all those years be given life and personality from the two people that now share that same spot.

5-Where do you see yourself in 5 years? Do you have any goals for your business?

In 5 years I’d like to be able to look back on all that I’ve done and be proud of what I’ve accomplished in that short amount of time. I would love to be able to work as a full time freelance makeup artist that specifies in creature design and prosthetics, but at the same time I don’t think that I could ever limit myself to just one form of makeup artistry since it’s such an amazing art form. So I guess the goal for my freelance makeup artistry business is to have as many opportunities as possible so I can enjoy the unexpected journey of where it takes me.

6-What are you looking forward to the most about competing in Art World Expo this year?

I’m looking forward the 6 hour time-span that we have for painting, usually I’m used to working with smaller durations of 1-3 hours so having that extra time will be wonderful for detail work. I’m also looking forward to seeing what the other artists bring to the table for the ‘7 Wonders of the World’ theme, each person has such a unique art style which will cause some truly incredible ideas and designs.

To learn more about Devon Burbank, have a look at her FACEBOOK PAGE or WEBSITE

Different Types of Beauty-an Interview with Katerina Taylor

By Alyssa Laube

About: In 2014, Katerina Taylor moved from Alberta to British Columbia to study Makeup Artistry and Professional Hair Styling at Blanche Macdonald. When she is not at school, Katerina is doing freelance work that includes weddings, proms, other specials events and one-on-one lessons. Although Katerina enjoys all specialties that makeup has to offer, she mainly specializes in beauty/glamour makeup.

To reach Katerina, you can email her at katerinataylormakeup@hotmail.com

What are you planning on showcasing at this year’s expo?

I have entered into the body painting competition this year and am really look forward to pushing my artistic capabilities for it’s theme: Fairy Tale. I’m still working on a foundation for the piece that I will be competing with this year.

How did you discover that you wanted to be a makeup artist?

I have always been interested in art and the ability to express oneself through different mediums! I was in my second year of university when I began my retail job at MAC Cosmetics. It was then that I really discovered what I wanted to do with myself. I was encouraged by my colleagues to apply to Blanche Macdonald for their Global Makeup Diploma program. They were previous graduates and told me that I would do well at Blanche. Sure enough, a little over a year later, I am exactly where I want to be! Going to school for Makeup Artistry only pushed me closer to becoming who I want to be. I am now a returning student to Blanche Macdonald for their Professional Hairstyling program and I’m set to graduate this program in March 2016!

How is your education at Blanche Macdonald improving you as an artist?

Going to Blanche, I had a really good support system from the career directors. They were continuously encouraging me to push myself as an artist by volunteering and recommending me to potential employers. This would include working on film sets and fashion shows, various retail opportunities, and a handful of freelance work for me to do on the side. They also featured my work on the main Blanche Macdonald websites! I would keep up with them regularly about what I was up to, and in return, they continued to support me. For that, I am truly grateful.

When you say that you specialize in “special events makeup”, what sort of special events do you mean?

A majority of the freelance work that I do is beauty/glamour makeup. I do a lot of weddings and proms, especially during the warmer seasons.

What was your job with MAC Cosmetics like, and how did it change you?

I was hired with MAC Cosmetics when I had very little makeup artistry experience, so it was very intimidating at first. It was hard for me to feel confident about what I was expected to do, but over time, it became easier for me to really enjoy all aspects of my work. I had a great MAC family; We all got along well and always had fun on counter. Also, because a good portion of our job was to be in trend with the newest makeup fads, we were always asked to be creative. It was a really good start for me – pushing myself artistically like that and thinking outside of my comfort bubble. Eventually, my colleagues saw my passion and encouraged me to pursue school, which led me to attend Blanche! So, in hindsight, I owe my success to MAC Cosmetics for welcoming me into their family and showing me a side of myself that wanted to be noticed.

What do you feel is most important to succeed in the makeup industry?

I believe that the key to succeeding in the makeup industry is networking. Whether you specialize in beauty, fashion, television/film, special effects, or even prosthetics, you need to know how to market yourself. This is absolutely the most important way to succeed, but it requires a lot of work on your part. You must commit to spending hours updating and keeping your information and portfolio up-to-date.

Why do you love being a makeup artist?

If we’re talking about my freelance-beauty work, what I enjoy most is the ability to make people feel beautiful. People of all types come to me for help and advice or just to feel fabulous, and I give them what they are looking for! Despite what a lot of people assume about makeup artists, I am 100% comfortable in my own skin and love when others are too! I am not here to say that makeup is absolutely the way to go or recommend that for you; I’m here to make you feel beautiful. Doing that is very difficult because I’m working against a person’s insecurities, but I wouldn’t trade it for any other profession. Their joy and happiness when I am finished with my work makes it completely worth it.

What are your goals for the future?

My plans include being an educator for what I do and continuing to strive for excellence. I don’t want to limit myself to one specialty, but rather to be as versatile as I can be. I want to be paid to travel the world and showcase my art and eventually, I would like to have my own makeup/hair studio.

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