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| Tammi Marks-McDonald |
Q: You've been in the industry for 20 years. How have you seen it change the most? Do you think it's for better or worse?
McDonald: “There have been so many changes. I think the internet has
had one of the biggest influences in so many areas of our industry. 20 years
ago there weren't makeup schools around to learn from. We had to study what we
saw being produced and learn from each other and doing. While that is still the
same today in many ways, the internet allows more education to reach more
people worldwide. So influences are now broader than they ever were before. It
also allows misinformation to spread as well and we see trends developing based
off of stage makeup, makeup comedy videos, etc.and I think we need to be aware
that what we hear isn't always correct. The internet also has allowed us
as artists to share our work more easily with the birth of online magazines.
Even the fashion industry is changing, evolving to fashion film and online
fashion catalogues and fewer big production fashion shows. Is it better or
worse? I don't know. It's different. Art is progressive and ever evolving. As
artists, the successful ones will continue to learn, grow and evolve as well.”
Q: Makeup artistry is now a pretty desirable
career, but it wasn't always seen that way. Many want to understand how to
break in and make a big impact. What's your advice for anyone starting out?
McDonald: “My first advice is to learn. Research who has mentored top
artists in the industry, ones in the style you prefer. Study them. Get in front
of them when you can. My mentor, Donna Mee, has been one of my greatest
influences on my makeup skills and belief in myself. I've also been lucky to
learn from Val Garland through my time with Mastered.
Secondly, practice practice practice. One way to do that is to work at
a counter. Doing different faces all day long is a great way to learn on the
job. Every face is different and has different needs, color and placement needs
as well. Don't be afraid to mess up. It's a given, but that's how we learn. If
creative shoots are your thing, create your own briefs.
Reach out to artists to assist. Every artist has developed their own
systems over time. Learning different techniques and adapting them to your own
style and process is another way to grow and network.
Today, the industry is often moving in teams. That means developing
connections with hair stylists, photographers and stylists are an important
networking tools. These relationships often lead to referrals for jobs. Your
relationships can carry further than any other tool you may have.
As you progress in your craft, you will begin to learn who you are as
an artist, where your strengths are and what type of art you love to create.
Develop your own style. Val Garland told us "you are an artist, not a
makeup artist".
Q: What has been your biggest challenge as a
makeup artist and how did you overcome it?
McDonald: “I think in owning your own business there are always
challenges. As a woman in the industry, it's learning to balance family and
career. I am finally at a point when my children are older and I can spend more
time traveling and concentrating on my career. There have been different
challenges throughout the years. Whether it be trying to create a consistent
money flow, to finding the right people to work with the the same drive, same
quality work and same work ethic, to developing a portfolio that represents
your brand, to getting yourself known...the list goes on. You must chose this
career because you love it. This isn't for the weak hearted. You will have to
push through rejection, criticism, doubters, praying you get the jobs to pay
your bills, lots and lots of time investment, money investment... you are your
business. “
Q: What fuels you to this day? How do you keep
yourself motivated and inspired?
McDonald: “I think consistent action keeps me most motivated. Creating
regularly, whether it's paid work or projects I create for myself. Keep
creating. Inspiration can come from any where... A building, a color, a fabric,
a face, a book, a place, a character you create, other artists. Be open to all
the beauty around you. And don't be afraid to experiment. I see so many artists
asking "how did you do that?" What I want to know is how would you do
it?
Q: You have a knack for nurturing other artists.
It can be seen as an industry where there isn't room for all of us. Why do you
feel this is important?
McDonald: Thank you. I find this to be a huge compliment. I was taught ‘We
rise together.’ Teach others as you go up the ladder, take them with you, and
by giving you will receive back ten-fold. I do this in all areas of my life. We
are only here for a short time. Our legacy lives on. And so I think it is so
important to share what you know. If I have 2 things and you have 2 things,
together we have 4. We learn from each other. And no matter how long you are in
this industry or this world, there are always new things to learn. I also
believe in praising people to success. Yes, we need to be corrected to learn,
but don't be afraid to truly compliment each other's successes. Your
competition is really yourself. There are millions of people in this world who
need makeup. So I honestly do not believe you can't get work. It's a matter of
knowing your market, going where the people are, and maybe not doing exactly
what you want to do all the time, but doing what you don't some of the time so
you can do what you love too.
I also feel like developing a network of artists,
allow us to refer jobs to other people, is beneficial to everyone. I've been
able to place other artists on jobs that I was unable to do myself. That shows
my effort and professionalism to that client and it creates a bond with that
artist that maybe they will recommend me in the future. I've been told many
times I should be an agent. Who knows? Maybe in the future. In the meantime,
I'm happy to share.”
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| Photographed by Dondee Quincena |
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| Photographed by David Nguyen |
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| Photographed by Alice Healy |
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