| Holiday party season is here, and it’s time to rev up your makeup for evenings of glamour, fun and adventure. But, take heed of the camera’s flash. A few party seasons ago, a friend of mine went for the sexy shimmer look. She pulled it off flawlessly. However, when the party pictures were developed, her beautiful shine transformed her into the Bride of Frankenstein!
Tara Anand, founder and director of Artists Within School of Makeup (AW), notes that flash and television are not forgiving with makeup, so if you are not camera shy, make sure you use the right products.
"Some makeup has too much mica or titanium dioxide, which reflects the light of the flash," says the makeup guru. "You need more coverage with your foundation and a little more cheek colour when thinking about photography."
To help others avoid horrifying makeup accidents (think wedding photo disaster), Anand decided to share her tricks-of-the-trade by opening her own school.
AW is the first accredited makeup school in Calgary to prepare aspiring artists for a successful career in fashion makeup artistry, as well as to educate those who simply want to learn how to improve their own image.
Anand has been a master of makeup artistry for the past 16 years, and wanted to be the first to fill a much-needed niche in Calgary. "I opened the school because there was nothing like it here," she explains. "Before, people had to go to Toronto, or Vancouver for training, which gets really expensive to relocate for just a few months."
Anand trained in England, and steadily developed a stellar resumé that includes being a national artist for Laura Mercier, and doing numerous photo editorials for fashion publications such as In Style, Marie Claire and Flare, as well as television commercials and music videos for performers such as Sarah Harmer.
AW’s mandate is to provide future artists with necessary makeup training, experience and confidence to excel in the industry. "There are local cosmetology schools that offer shorter courses and cover the basics of makeup. But myself and the other teachers spent time on coming up with a program that covers what artists really need to know," says Anand, noting that AW receives calls from clients for both graduates and current students, providing the latter with valuable work experience while studying.
"It’s exciting for me to see the transformation of the students," Anand says. "When they first come in, some can’t even cleanse a face, but after eight weeks they are doing incredible photo shoots."
However, the eight weeks are not easy. Anand and her colleagues demand excellence from their students, and will not pass anyone who is merely OK. "Nobody receives their diploma unless they are up to par. We have failed a couple of people or given them a chance to make up their passing grade," she says, explaining that doing a major photo shoot for a client does not allow room for being merely adequate – the makeup has to be perfect. For students to graduate, their work has to be professional. "AW is not about just receiving the money and churning out makeup artists," she says. "After all, it is also my reputation that goes with these students."
AW’s in-depth eight-week course also offers instruction in the business side of the industry. "We cover everything, including professionalism and ethics," says Anand. "I’ve come across some makeup artists that are good, but unethical, which reflects poorly on their credibility."
Anand’s professional success is reflected in the success of her school and its graduates. "We’ve received great response from clients on the grads we have sent out for jobs, which results in great word-of-mouth locally and nationally," she says. AW grads have received work from various local magazines, retailers, TV stations, ad agencies, fashion events and modelling agency Mode Models. "One of our graduates also received publication in Chatelaine, and all of this has happened in only one year," Anand says. "Because we are so strict with their training, our grads are much better than some of the existing artists," claims Anand.
"I’m actually surprised where we are within one year," she adds, noting that AW is her very first business venture and she was initially clueless as to how to start one up. "Had I known what I was getting myself into, I probably would have thought twice," says Anand, laughing as she reflects on her first year of swift success. "But I’m so glad I (opened the school). The first year was the hardest, but we are getting to a good place."
For a successful holiday look, Anand suggests going the glamour route, "creating a smoky eye and strong colour on the lips – might be a bit much for people day to day, but definitely key for evening." |
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