Artist Spotlight with Alison Raffaele

What is coming next for your line?
October 2nd marks the beginning of our 10th Anniversary Year, so to
celebrate we have 4 new eco-friendly products in development...A Pressed
Mineral Powder, a Luminizer, a Mascara and a new, improved version of our
Inner Glow. I'm hoping to launch them by 4th quarter '09/1st quarter '10.

Why do makeup artists love your line?
I think the reason why Alison Raffaele products are so popular with pro
artists is three-fold...1)they do the job quickly and easily, 2)they last
throughout the day with minimal touch-ups and 3)they are vegan/eco-friendly,
which is what a lot of talent is requesting these days.

What does "community" mean to you?
A heck of a lot! Makeup is a tough business all around, so it really
helps to have friends to turn to that understand what you are going through,
whether it is for support or good advice. No doubt there is a special place
in Makeup Artist Heaven for Michael and James for creating the Powder Group
Community for us :-)

Alison Raffaele will be speaking at The Artist Summit. For more information and to purchase tickets for The Artist Summit please visit www.theartistsummit.com

Artist Spolight with Jill Glaser Maltezos

What three traits does a great makeup artist needs to have:

Quite simply, the "three "A's"-

1. Ability-It goes without saying that a great makeup artist needs to possess amazing skills, technique, and that great creative eye, together with a thirst for ongoing education and a thirst for knowledge that is never satisfied.

2. Availability- The makeup artist must be flexible to the needs of the project, even if it interferes (which is almost always does) with personal plans. The artist can expect to work long days/ weekends, forgoing other activities in order to make the project come to fruition.

3. Affability-You can be the greatest artist, with the most flexible schedule, but if you are difficult to work with and not supportive of and pleasant with the crew and talent, you will not be welcome in this "small" industry. Everyone wants to work with an artist who brings life and humor to the job, making the creative process even more fun for everyone!

How did I know that I wanted to be a makeup artist-

In short, I never had that lightbulb, "Oprah" moment-As I said on my website video, being a true makeup artist is something that you just feel compelled to do; you don't need to question it, you don't know why-you just have do it. Others may ponder their life decisions-I have no idea why, but I found myself in a situation which I fortunately pursued, with no specific plan, that led me to my journey to become a professional makeup artist. While I knew that I didn't want to continue practicing law, I didn't really have any idea what I wanted to do and was not even thinking of switching careers. In short, I was living and enjoying each day, one day at a time. Several years ago, I was asked whether I wanted to help out with my daughter's school play. The "mommy committee" assigned me to makeup, just because no one else wanted to do it; from that moment forward, my entire life changed. I discovered that I had an untapped, untrained gift. I just assumed that everyone knew how to age a face! I was so surprised; I had to find out what was going on with me! Why did I suddenly become so obsessed with the art of makeup?! My friends and family thought I was just going through some kind of crisis! Why would a successful corporate attorney even entertain the idea of exploring makeup artistry?! While I still did not even think about makeup artistry as a profession, I immediately, and instinctively, enrolled in and attended a makeup artistry program, then offered at Columbia College in Chicago. I even took one of the courses twice, just to get more out of one excellent instructor. Without any further thought, I started freelancing, barely supporting myself; the only law I was practicing then related to setting up my business as a freelance media makeup artist. Although money was tight, I didn't really focus on the present; I had the confidence to know that, whatever happened, I would be fine. I just concentrated on what needed to be done to pursue a successful career in the industry. I focused (and continue to focus) on becoming a better artist, building a portfolio, and advertising. I am so fortunate that now I am able to pursue my passion and work as a freelance media makeup artist. I am so proud to be in this creative industry; I love to be included in our community and am blessed to be able to mentor others so that, they too, can pursue their passion in makeup artistry.

Is there a project that I am especially proud of

I am beyond proud of the state-certified, MAC approved school that I founded three years ago, Make Up First® School of Makeup Artistry! When Columbia College closed its program, approximately five years ago, there was a void in our city that needed to be filled. I started with two students, and have now trained over four hundred students who come, not only from Chicago, but from all over the Midwest. We even train students from countries all over the world who come to Chicago specifically to attend the School. It is a surreal experience for me! The School offers a broad, art-based, hands-on training program with the best instructors, all currently working in their respective fields. We offer a balance of course work in, among other things, Beauty as well as Theatrical Makeup. We are always expanding our workshops, special events, and welcome special guest artists from both NYC and LA, which events and workshops are always open to the public.

www.makeupfirstschool.com Check out the Student Portfolio Page and share my pride!

Jill Glaser Maltezos will be speaking at The Artist Summit Chicago Oct 10-12th. For more information and to purchase tickets for The Artist Summit please visit www.theartistsummit.com

9 Questions with Daven Mayeda

How have you kept your career growing in a challenging economy? Saying yes to everything, even the small jobs. You never know what opportunities and people you can meet on set. I think once you start declining jobs, especially out of laziness, you prevent yourself from growing and evolving as an artist and a businessman. Being able to have a skill in time of a difficult economy is great, it allows you to have the freedom to barter

What three traits does a great makeup artist need to have? Psychology- Being alert and in tune to the surrounding energies. Logic- The ability to make the right decisions and choices about a look or application. Passion- Without passion in a career, its just a job.

Is there a project you have worked on that you are especially proud of? Definitely all of the early projects of my career. The student "experiments', early photo shoots, failed fashion tests and botched creations of a passionate amateur. I think these things really make you grow in your career. They push you to your limits. They make you sweat, second guess yourself, and make you work harder the next time.

What are you working on today? Most advertising, fashion, private clients, educating through the Powder Group, giving workshops at The New York and Los Angeles Makeup Shows and Artist Summits.

How did you get started in makeup? I was an adventurous goth kid ironically, after the obsession with black eye liner, red eyeshadow, and blaring heavy metal music, I found myself searching for a creative outlet. I went to hair school and picked up a makeup brush with a completely different mindset. It has been a love affair ever since.

What is the biggest mistake a makeup artist can make? Forgetting all of the people that have helped their careers. That is definitely a travesty in this industry. We are so quick to forget all of the other people that gave us our breaks, our big client referrals, and most of all, the people that truly had faith in our abilities.

How did you know that you wanted to be a makeup artist? When I found myself waking up and going to sleep designing looks I knew it was right.

What does “community” mean to you? Community is everything to me. Your mentors, assistants, colleges and friends in the industry all keep each other "sane" in this crazy world. Community to me is the pulse of the industry, and the energy that keeps the forward interia of motivation going.

Can you tell us about a change you have made in your career? Attempting to carry less makeup, ::laughs:: my kit is pretty hefty still, and its a constant battle to try and condense. Businesswise, I am trying to concentrate my focus of where I want to go in my career, as opposed to being so spread out all of the industry.

Daven Mayeda is a celebrity makeup artist. He will be speaking at The Artist Summit Miami Oct 3-5th, and The Artist Summit Chicago Oct 10-12th. For more information and to purchase tickets for The Artist Summit please visit www.theartistsummit.com

Artist Spotlight with Michael DeVellis

How can a makeup artist keep their career growing in a challenging economy? The last year has been a big challenge for everyone in every industry. I think that the only real way to ensure your own career growth - or even sustaining your current level of success in an economy like the one we are faces with is to commit yourself to some basic ideas in how you work: First, introduce new techniques, products, services or types of work that you offer. Next, develop stronger relationships and grow the community of peers and clients that we build around us. Also, make the commitment to work harder than you ever have before. We need to work twice as hard to maintain the level of work that we have been maintaining, and even harder to move forward. Finally, commit to investing financially back into your career. You need to spend some of that hard-to-come-by cash on keeping the momentum going. Develop a strong promotional plan to create a broader visibility for you and your work. Improve your website, work an industry event, create stronger images to represent your work and get them out there for potential clients to see.

What is the biggest mistake a makeup artist can make? To stop learning. There is nothing that puts a hold on a career like standing still, and doing the same thing over and over again, while others around you are moving forward, and strengthening and growing their craft and their career.

Is there a project you have worked on that you are especially proud of? I think that without question that would be creating On Makeup Magazine. It provides me a personal level of creativity that I have never felt before and allows me to provide an opportunity to so many creatively brilliant artists, writers and photographers. There is very little that is more satisfying than hearing that On Makeup Magazine has inspired someone, given someone a new way of thinking about their work or that they were moved to work harder at their craft - by what we publish.

Michael DeVellis is the Executive Director of The Powder Group, and the Creative Director and Editor of On Makeup Magazine. He will be speaking at The Artist Summit Miami Oct 3-5th, and The Artist Summit Chicago Oct 10-12th. For more information and to purchase tickets for The Artist Summit please visit www.theartistsummit.com

9 Questions with Nathan Johnson

-How long have you been doing makeup? I had my first job 17 years ago. It’s scary to be able to say I have been doing anything for that long! Woah. My first make-up job was an accident and after that one, they kept on coming. I never thought make-up would be my career, so I guess it was an accident that changed the course of my entire adult life.

-What are three of your must-have products? Cover FX Foundations, Eve Pearl Magic Salmon Concealers and Beauty Society Lip Glistens

-What are the last projects you worked on? I just finished a music video for Juliet Shatkin. She is a 16 year old with a stunning voice. Expect a lot from her. This past week, I was fortunate to work with a bevy of Broadway babes including Bebe Neuwerth, Audra McDonald, Betty Buckley, Andrea McArdle , Stephanie J. Block and Kelli O’Hara. They are amazing ladies and phenomenal talents. Today, I just wrapped 4 videos for Teen.com/TV. They will be up and running at the end of august.

-Why do you love being a makeup artist? I have the opportunity to make women’s dreams come true and I can do it all in flip flops.

-In one word, what inspires you? living.

-What makes you a good makeup artist? I am an exceptional listener and I give my clients exactly what they ask for.

-What was your first major job as an artist? Ice T. I was so nervous, but he was awesome; just an all round great man.

-How would you describe your style of makeup? Romantic, elegant and natural.

-If you could do one person’s makeup who you haven’t yet done who would it be? Cyndi Lauper. She makes my heart and my creativity sing. But, gosh, I would be so nervous!

Nathan Johnson is a celebrity makeup artist and beauty columnist. To learn more about Nathan, visit www.nathansbeauty.com

9 Questions with Elke Von Freudenberg

-How long have you been doing makeup? Since 1985 or so...I started doing makeup when I was still in high school.

-What are three of your must-have products? Face Atelier's foundations are a must.. makes skin look absolutely perfect, Alison Raffaele's invisible powder, (yes, it really is invisible) and Smashbox's Primer.

-What's the last project you worked on? It was a beauty editorial for a magazine.

-Why do you love being a makeup artist? I love the idea of trying to create something perfect. It's a moment in time that's captured on film for all time, and I love trying to make that moment as perfect and as beautiful as possible.

-In one word, what inspires you? Beauty. Anything that is beautiful inspires me. A sunset, a rose, a person.

-What makes you a good makeup artist? I think my insane attention to detail and the ability to see the whole picture. Knowing that the shot is not about me and that my makeup is just a small part of it. If my part fits into the puzzle, then the whole shot works.

-What was your first job as an artist? I think it was a headshot for an actress from All My Children. I also think I was terrified, if I remember correctly.

-How would you describe your style of makeup? Perfect beauty. My style is definitely not natural or crazy. Just beauty as perfect as I can get it.

-If you could do one person's makeup who you haven't yet done who would it be? Probably Linda Evangelista because her face inspired me so much when I was starting out doing makeup. I would be curious as to what makeup look I would do on her...

Elke Von Freudenberg is a Celebrity Eyebrow Specialist and Makeup Artist. She is also the founder of The Beauty Blog Network and the editor of her own beauty blog.

9 Questions with David Klasfeld

How long have you been doing makeup?
I’m going on my 15th year in the industry.

What are three of your must-have products?
1. Ben Nye Neutral Set Powder – completely translucent and works on absolutely everybody from the lightest to the darkest skintone. 2. Cetaphil Moisturizer – a perfect, basic, non-reactive pre-makeup moisturizer. 3. OCC Skin Airbrush Foundation – honestly, not just because I created it but because I really do believe it gives the perfect approximation of beautiful, real looking skin. The few times a year that I have to do hand-applied makeup, I really do feel hobbled without it.

What’s the last project you worked on?
Assisting my friend and fellow artist Katie Pellegrino on Diego Binetti’s gorgeous Fall/Winter collection. I think it’s so important for new artists to know that you never get to a stage of your career when you’re “beyond” assisting or testing. It’s a learning process in a truly collaborative industry that you never outgrow.

Why do you love being a makeup artist?
Very simply because I love, and will forever be fascinated by, color and texture and how they can have such an impact on someone’s appearance.

In one word, what inspires you?
Currently I’m obsessed with Anime and Japanese Pop Culture. It has such a strong aesthetic that’s all about sharp contrasts. Our most recent ad campaign for Lip Tar was inspired by Takashi Murakami’s color palette, and how he juxtaposes vivid colors against a dark and sometimes drab background. Once again, Katie Pellegrino was the artist for the campaign and her interpretation of this was spot-on.

What makes you a good makeup artist?
The fact that I don’t go into a job with an agenda. I understand my role as one part of a creative process, and always concern myself more with how I adapt the makeup to best suit the finished product.

What was your first job as an artist?
One of the first jobs I was able to secure in my freelance career was literally drag makeup by candlelight for a fashion show for a now-major designer. By candlelight because Production blew a fuse in the room we were working in and couldn’t get the power back on without potentially risking that the lights in the house wouldn’t work for the show. Once you’ve jumped that kind of hurdle, you never complain about your accommodations backstage.

How would you describe your style of makeup?
I would hope to have it described as progressive. I don’t believe in ‘corrective’ makeup, at least the kind that’s meant to simply homogenize away the differences in people’s features. I love to create the kind of look that’s worn by a confident woman or man who wears makeup because they love it, not because they feel they have to wear it.

If you could do one person’s makeup who you haven’t yet done who would it be?
Too hard to pick. Definitely a comedian. Roseanne, Sandra Bernhard, Margaret Cho or Sarah Silverman. Just give an excuse to hang around with one of those four.

David Klasfeld is the CEO and Creative Director of New York based professional makeup line, Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics.