So...I've been feeling some type of way lately. In today's world, things tend to evolve rather quickly. Whether it be new technology or a new trend, evolution is a certainty. Speaking of trends...can we discuss the squiggly brows and lipstick? Now, listen...as an artist, I am all about creativity and avant garde. It has been and still is my dream to be an artist at the hottest fashion shows and on set of photo shoots for the most prestigious magazines and television networks. That being said, I know how important it is to think outside of the box and push those boundaries. I applaud the brow and lip trend from an editorial standpoint. However, being that I am most likely using the pavement as my runway as I go to the mall or the grocery store, I'll pass on doing a squiggly anything on my face.
Besides, I definitely appreciate structure as an artist. So much so that I find myself critiquing someone's makeup even when I don't mean to. Example: I was recently watching a movie and the camera panned to one of the characters, doing a close up of their face. My eyes immediately darted to her bold, uneven eyeshadow. I cringed on the inside. As a makeup artist, I am trained to assess my model's face and make sound decisions based upon his/her facial features, skin tone, et cetera. They are entrusting me to use my skill to enhance their natural beauty and I do my damnedest to deliver (execution of those skills is a whole other beast). Therefore, I tend to slightly obsess over making sure that elements like symmetry, saturation, color harmony, texture, and balance are all working together to ultimately create a beautiful, cohesive look. It needs to be aesthetically pleasing for both the looker and the wearer.
Now, here we are in 2017. Every time I look up, there is a new makeup trend or a makeup artist doing/using some unconventional technique or tool to seemingly one-up the last unconventional thing that surfaced in the beauty world. Some people are here for it, some people cue the eye rolls. Needless to say, I'm the eye roller. I'm sorry. Call me old fashioned, but I prefer achieving great results while using a more "conventional" method. Why make things more challenging when they don't have to be? A client once told me, "if it takes 5 minutes to put on makeup, that's four and a half minutes too long." I literally had an epiphany when she said it. Is it completely realistic? Not exactly. I knew what she meant by it, though. Hear me out. When you pull up navigation and type in your destination, you always pick the quickest route, right? At least most people do. There are so many ways we can do/apply our makeup. I'd much rather go with what I know will give me the same end result without using so much product or putting in so much work.
But, of course...I'm a makeup artist.
Do I attempt some side-eye worthy methods? Yes...when I'm not going out in public. I'll try it for the sake of remaining open minded and exposing myself to experiences/methods that could possibly be useful in my future as an artist. However, I do feel like there is a big disconnect in the industry and it's creating a sort of schism, if you will. There's the "social media artists" and the "field artists". As an artist who's out in the field more often than not, I'm beginning to see a lot of requests from clients that involve the latest technique or product that surfaced on social media. Then, I'm left explaining why this particular request may not be in the best interests of the client. I'm finding myself in situations where the validity of social media artists' opinions and recommendations aren't questioned, but mine are faced with hesitancy. Needless to say, I am left baffled because I am in real time with my client exchanging information and knowledge, so I would most likely have more accurate information pertaining to what they want and how best to achieve it. Let's be clear, most people know how to do an amazing look on themselves...but your face is not my face. I can only show you what products/techniques I love based on my own wants/needs. The beauty of being the "field artist" is that I have the opportunity to actually customize everything just for you.
I believe we have enough room for a little bit of everything in this massive industry of creativity. I like to tell people that I decided to become a makeup artist before it became a trend...but I believe that those who always draw outside of the lines are needed as well. It creates balance. As the bestselling author Heather Killough-Walden once said, "No one ever made a difference by following the rules."