No Better Heaven Than You.

Her Craft

A P R I L • 2 8 T H

A I R I O A N N A•

Wiping the sweat from my brow, I sweeped the makeup brush under her eyes, another brush clenched tightly in between my teeth as I worked.

Oh yeah.

I got the job. This shit was stressful and had to be fast paced. Thankfully my Professor recruited five other girls, and two guys from my class. Out of 45 people , we were the students she saw as most fit. I was just honored I was her first and initial pick out of the bunch. People may do what you do, but only you can create a craft like your own. No one else can do that, so I learned to never allow someone else doing the same thing as you? Stop you from doing it, because for all you know? You may do it better and people may gravitate more towards you, your work and your vibe.

Skills technically aren't everything, sometimes people want someone with a good skill set and communication skills as well.

I always make it a point to engage and speak with my clients. Even if it's briefly, because everyone may not want to talk or be in the mood to. These people were more than Circus acts, they did nation wide music and dance festivals. I was even doing body paint, something I've never done but I did my best and they were loving the outcomes. I didn't immediately realize it, but the title for the type of make up I did was titled

Illusion Makeup,
&
Fantasy Makeup.

Damn right because this shit was definitely a fantasy for me.

"Okay all done, have Julia spray you down with setting spray and go stand in front of the fan." Smiling and thanking me, she rushed off while I did the same to go take a water and bathroom break. Quickly doing so I stretched, fixed my clothes and hair before slipping back out into the hustle of the day. Everyone was a crazed mess rushing to get dressed, get hair, nails or makeup. Next time I'd be getting Nique hip to the game, so she could profit on her hair skills.

Maybe even Kianna to.

"Hey, nice to meet you." Shaking hands with yet another dancer, I slipped gloves on making sure to cleanse them with hand sanitizer before grabbing a new set of brushes. I was given disposable ones and other disposable makeup tools. I didn't have time to sterilize and clean every time someone new came into my chair, so it was only logical they did it this way.

"Alright people!!' Show starts at 10:30, and it's 5:50! Let's kick it into high gear! We have to be ready by 9:30!" Feeling the pressure press on, I took a deep breath as I zoomed through over 12 clients. To me certain areas of my technique became muddled and rushed, but then again I was a perfectionist when it came to my craft. When 7pm rolled around, I found myself finished with everything and only doing touch ups or assisting the other makeup artists in finishing. I'm sure they weren't to thrilled about having someone else in there space, but I followed there format and used there vision as a guide to do my best to stay on what there client and they themselves envisioned.

It wasn't easy by far.

They didn't have anything sketched for me to look at, and some of there clients were frustrated from sitting so long. But they'd have to understand they signed up for this and that these looks were not a cake walk. They'd take time. The more difficult looks had to be done first, some even being done while hair and nails multitasked working around us. I mean literally arms stretched here, backs bent and legs trembling from squatting. It wasn't all that pleasant but to see all of the looks complied together? I felt proud to be tired, sweaty and hungry as shit by the end of it all. My clothes and nails were a mess of makeup and body paint but I didn't even care. I did something amazing today.