The Makeup Show LA 2011

I heard about "The Makeup Show" in 2008. All the other artists I worked with would talk about it and how great it was...

At the time I was in school and working myself into the ground.

The day I quit Retail Cosmetics in 2010 I swore I was going to go the following year.
I saved up every penny I could and drained my savings.

I booked my trip.

I decided I needed to go alone.
I didn't want anyone to hold me back.
I wanted to go where ever I wanted whenever I wanted.

I was going to stay at a cheap hotel, but the old man volunteered some extra cash to let me stay at one of the conventions hotels.

I stayed at the OMNI. It wasn't worth the money. The tub was nice...
I took several extra mini shampoo's and shower caps... haha

The view out the window was cute. I had the advantage of seeing if the complimentary car was available in the AM...

The weather was a complete culture shock for me.
La was in the 80's when I left. When I arrived in LA it was low 60's

I flew in the day before the convention. I wanted a little extra time to explore the city, check out E.I. Makeup School and stalk Kat Von D.

The Makeup Show also set up a Pre-Party for all the guests who bought tickets early.
I was terrified to go to the party alone but this is what this experience was all about for me.
It took everything in me to just walk up to people in a complete different city and just introduce myself.
After a few quick glasses of wine from the open bar, I met a few cool girls. I also got to hear Maurice Stein (Creator of Cinema Secrets) speak. He was great.
I enjoyed the Pre-Party but I was starved.

After the Pre-Party, I used my Urban Spoon APP to find food in the town. It was pouring all night. I was soaked from jumping from Taxi to Taxi trying to figure things out.
I saw an average priced "restaurant" The Red wood Grill.
on Urban spoon it wasn't listed as a bar. I wanted some sort of seafood.
Little did I know ALL food is Mexican in LA...

I walked into the "The Redwood Bar and Grill"

http://www.theredwoodbar.com/site08/homewiframe.htm#
It was a Pirate Bar.

It was a really cool bar. It just wasn't what I expected.. Everything was pirate themed.. There was candles melting on skulls heads etc.

I decided to stay at the pirate bar and have dinner.
After realizing everything on the menu was Mexican, I asked the bartender to give me his favorite.. I have no idea what it was but it was delicious.


The next morning, I did my best to look all fashionable and important.

My $20 dress from Rue 21 will have to suffice...


I stupidly took my sweet time getting ready because I was nervous...
I wasn't aware of the amount of free education I was missing...

Needless to say I didn't waste anymore time. I went to as many classes & seminars as I could.

I walked into the California Market Center and saw this hanging...

I think I pissed my pants a little.

My heart was pounding when I walked in! I saw all my favorite brands (excluding MAC).. I didn't know where to start...

This is all the stuff I bought my first day...

David Hernendez for Makeup Forever, I could listen to this man talk for days.. he is so RAW and True

He tells you how it is and is a truly talented artist!

In this Seminar he was teaching all artist to utilize every product in their kit, challenge your self to use "Fake blood as blush" Crazy stuff

Really great tips

I probably learned the most from him.

Another highlight from my trip.
Ve Neil and Guests for The Makeup Show : Face Off: Inside the SyFy Reality Show

Everyday of the show Makeup Forever would do a live model Makeup.
This was incredibly interesting for me. I watched the Makeup develop throughout the day.

The Artist Florence, wanted to create half Barbie/ Half creature look.

She rocked the hell out of the Bald Cap. It was laid perfectly.

Lijha Stewart for makeup Forever had a basic Special FX class.

She taught us how to create a broken nose out of Plasto (MUFE)
She taught us how to create a burn / scaring knee..
She taught us how to create Glass in a leg as if she flew through a window

The full beat up model!

I did have a little extra time to visit my friend Scot while I was in LA. When I use to stalk CFX, Scot was always there with encouraging advice. We met at that pirate bar and chatted about the Show and future plans. I'm happy I got to see Scot.

This is a picture from a couple years ago, Scot was attempting to teach me how to create a life cast. I mostly learned about the materials. It was an all around good experience.



After The Makeup Show I had one day left to explore the city.

List of things to do:
-Appointment at E.I.
-Stalk KAT VON D
-Board plane home.

I made an appointment with Joe Barcia the Admissions Director of Elegance Intelligence School of Professional Makeup.

After he gave me the tour of the school we satin his office and talked for about an hour...
I showed him my portfolio and he proceeded to tell me that i was to advanced for his school.
Although, I loved hearing that, I guess it didn't really answer my question about if I should go back to school or not...

I really enjoyed talking with Joe, he gave me a lot of helpful advice.




After leaving E.I. I headed to Hollywood Blvd.
Trying to catch a Taxi is way more difficult then it looks...

I arrived at Kat Von D's shop... I toured her wonderland gallery and enjoyed the art. I even bought a signed copy of her new book...
Unfortunately, while I flew across the country to see her she was in Texas...

I found the Kat Von D Wonderland Gallery :)


I ran around the building and climbed the fence and got a shot of the mural in the back of the shop...

I know I'm pathetic...



The Makeup Show was one of the best weekends of my life. I am so happy I went, I learned so much and I will continue to go every year.




Hope you enjoyed my detailed trip.

LK

Staring at the Sun

This time last year I was living with 2 of the most influential people of my life.. They taught me how to appreciate life in different ways... They had an old tub in their back yard they use to fill up and plug during the summer when is was hot.. At first I laughed, then I tried it. I spent hours in this tub staring at the sky. It was great.

The Arnolds Black Swan

I think anyone who saw the movie Black Swan who had an ounce of creativity in them was inspired after watching.

After reading the article in the newspaper about how "amazing" the makeup in the movie was I had to see for myself...


I originally wanted to do a shoot that was extremely dark and scary with special fx etc..

I haven't gotten to do it yet ..Summer 2011....

Jessi Arnold called me with a different take on the movie. She wanted to recreate the idea of Black Swan in a more artistic,blissful and whimsical way.

Model Abigail Grace Helm, who has been a dancer for years, was perfect for the part.

Ali designed a beautiful silk black dress for the shoot.

This shoot yet again, I couldn't stay for...

Austin Arnold made a video called "Transcend Impulse" showing the hard work of his sisters and the greatness of the shoot.


This video touched me...

Its perfect. Ive watched it several times it doesn't get old.

Transcend impulse from austin arnold on Vimeo.

Phoenix Rose rocked hair as always!

Everyone did a great job go team!

The Arnolds

Jessi Arnold: Amazing Photographer
Ali Arnold: Amazing Clothing Designer
Austin Arnold: Amazing Videographer


WHHHATTTT?!

genetics...

I've known Jessi for a bit she is one very driven photographer. She is hungry to learn and try new things. I love that about her.

Jessi invited me to do makeup for a huge shoot for all of Ali's wedding dress designs.

I ended up doing all the makeup on the front porch of Ali's house it was super quick and fun. Teri and I rode up to BR from Nola for the first half of the shoot. Then I had to rush back to Nola for work that afternoon.

Eric Vosburg, an incredible young and talent MUA took over the other half of the shoot and rocked it!


Ali challenged me with a different style of makeup that I am use to. I enjoyed the challenge and I cant wait to work together again.

This is a behind the Scenes shot I caught of Teri.



These are some of the Ali Beasly Designs.

Enjoy.






Thanks to Jessi Arnold, Ali Arnold, Phoenix Rose, Biba Isla, Eric and all the amazing models yall were so much fun! We couldn't have done it without you!

Sitting by the Mary Statue with Mari....

I have known Mari Doan for years. We started high school together in 2003. We both use to sit by the Mari statue in the morning starring at cars and talking about love and life.
Mari has always been beautiful inside and out. We soon found each other in the same industry.
Little did I know that when we lost touch Mari developed a creative eye for photography.

After a couple of years of not seeing each other we met up for a shoot.
We worked with Model Megan Martinez, who is drop dead gorgeous! Lashes for days ill say!

The pictures are beautiful!

Way to go team!

Peter Nguyen Photography

I had admired Peter Nguyen's talents for a while. His shots are beautiful.
Model Teri Wyble was modeling for him and asked if I would do the makeup. I had work else where the day of the shoot so unfortunately I didn't have the pleasure of meeting Peter.
Teri showed me pictures of makeup she wanted for the shoot. They were very Marilyn Monroe style. The eyeliner was slightly difficult to get right. However, in the end Teri was flawless and so were the pictures!


This is a shot I took on my Iphone before Teri Left for the shoot.



These are the amazing Pictures by Peter Nguyen Photography

John Overton and Sarah Bagget

This past January I had the pleasure of shooting with John Overton a.k.a Wind and Spirit Photography. I also got to meet Sarah Baggett, she was our model for the shoot. Sarah and I instantly clicked she was a crack up. I enjoyed our shoot together.

When I arrived at Johns apartment, John had a shy friend standing behind him. Naturally, I jumped up and introduced myself and met Sung Chu. John explained to me that Sung is a friend and fellow photographer and he would be shooting Sarah as well.

John wanted a really "High Fashion" look on Sarah.



This Shot is by John Overton. http://www.windandspiritphoto.com/
We slicked back her hair and did a smokey wing outside of her eyes.

It was a lot of fun and both John and Sung got some great pictures!




These two were shot by Sung Chu Photography. facebook.com/sung.chiu