I knew from a very early age that the Indian-approved-careers were not for me. Although I was good with numbers I could never have been an accountant and a fascination in anatomy and biology did not mean a career in medicine, just as no interest in defending the man-made laws of our society ended all hopes of law school.
My interests as a child were in novels where my imagination ran wild and created fictitious worlds and films and TV characters that became part of that world. What do I want to be when I grow up? was answered by dreams of becoming an artist! But I quickly realised I was not skilled at bringing a blank canvas to life – not in an inspiring way anyway!
So it was my love of languages that started the creative path to my makeup career. Sounds strange I know, but it was while I was living in Spain when makeup artistry was suggested to me as a career; by a friend I met there… And the seed was sown…
After graduating from London College of Fashion I was equipped with the skills to get painting faces and the enthusiasm and awe to jump into the fashion world – brush first!
My first job as a makeup and hair artist for The Big Issue 10th Anniversary commercial was a shock to my naivety as a new artist. I was in charge of making up 2 lead roles and smoothing over a cast of 20 extras. The work was long and demanding, required me to multi-task in 10 places at once; be assertive in between takes yet professional and calm throughout! Completely ill prepared I saw this as my on-the-job training and I left filled with exhilaration to have found where I belonged and a list of things I needed to improve for the next time.
Since then I have focussed my passion into developing my skills as an artist. Growing up I never described myself as creative, I thought that word was confined to being a painter, sculptor or poet. Now I know they were just not the mediums to express my creativity.
My career as a Makeup Artist requires me to have a business mind, be ordered and meticulous but needs me to be in love with colour and form and free in my expression of it. My blank canvas now is any face that ignites me to create a story through my design - images that I hope are as ascetically appealing and mindfully intriguing to others as they are to me.
