Expert at work: Tegan Taylor has been pioneering a brave new world with a hybrid of science and art that was put to use in the Hollywood movie Avatar, for which she was the head make-uTegan Taylorp artist. Hence, experiment and creativity can give you an edge
Make-up involves more than just giving someone lush lips, smouldering eyes, or rosy cheeks. It is not even limited to concealing a pimple here or a blemish there. It requires sharp skill and techniques to, for example, turn a young man into a svelte granny or
even an extra-terrestrial being. A special breed of magicians with small brushes for wands, make-up artists are adept at highlighting the best of your features, concealing flaws, giving makeovers and even working out complete turnarounds in one’s personality. Learning this art requires time, practice and creativity. Make-up artists generally beautify the face of a model for a runway show, a bride for a wedding or an actor for a stage production or a film. The job requires a thorough understanding of face types, colour and make-up techniques. Although one can do a make-up course after school, it is better to finish college and then do a course. Once you finish the course, you should assist an experienced make-up artist and look for an internship. Keep an eye out for runway shows or small events to showcase your work. A make-up artist makes good money after building his/her reputation, but one has to keep the competition in mind. You should keep updating your skills by attending international seminars and sharpening techniques.
Clockwork
10.30am: Reach salon
11am: Start work
1pm: Lunch
2pm - 5pm: Meetings and workshops
5.30pm: Bridal make-ups
The payoff
A beginner in the field can get Rs. 5000 per assignment, which would include working on two-three looks for a model (for a magazine or an ad shoot). This goes up to Rs. 50,000 per assignment and after that maybe even Rs. 20,000 per person
Skills/TRAITS
* A creative bent of mind
* Steady hands
* Love for experimenting and playing with colours
* Interest in skin texture and facial structure
* Familiarity with basic make-up concepts
Getting there
After Class 10 or 12 or graduation, join a good make-up school and do a course in personal make-up. Go for a course in advanced make-up after that. Make a portfolio and visit salons and well-known make-up artists who are looking for apprentices. Work on as many faces as you can to gain experience
Institutes and URLs
* Blossom Kochhar Aesthetic And Spa Academy, Nehru Place, New Delhi
* Ambika Pillai
www.ambikapillai.com
* VLCC Institute of Beauty & Nutrition
www.vlccinstitute.com
* Make-Up Designory (MUD) Los Angeles, New York, Ljubljana, Slovenia
www.makeupschool.com
* Naina Arora, New Delhi
nainaarora.com
Pros and cons
* Scope for creativity
* No repetition or monotony
* Meeting and networking with a lot of interesting people
* Good money
* Lots of travel
* Physically tiring. You may have to do back-to-back assignments
* Working on models with tantrums and demanding customers
* There may be lean periods when you have no assignments
It’s all about making your client happy. I don’t let anyone leave my salon without looking and feeling beautiful -- Naina Arora, a Delhi-based make-up artist