bio make up artist

200+ Best Instagram Bios For Makeup Artists 2024

If you're looking to up your Instagram game, it's imperative that you have a great Instagram bio.

Your Instagram bio is the first thing your followers will see - it should be unique and tell users exactly what you do and who you are.

We understand how difficult it can be to craft a compelling Instagram bio, which is why we curated a list of the best mobile makeup artist Instagram bios.

Additionally, we provide you with examples of the best mobile makeup artist bios on Instagram and a step-by-step guide to get you started.

Looking to generate your own bio? Check out our free Instagram bio generator here .

Creative Instagram Bios For Makeup Artists

• I have the power of giving you a flawless glow. #flawlessglow
• We can provide you with the perfect no-makeup makeup look.
• Want to have a completely new look? I am here to make your dream come true.
• I’m a make-up artist who loves to discover new trends. If you’d like to know more about make-up, skincare, or how I work, read my blog at …
• I’m an artist who prepares fashion models.
• It’s challenging for us to break into these fields.
• I can change your looks within five minutes!
• Heard the words “beautiful make-up” one too many times? I’m here to get real with you about what makes you beautiful.
• My passion for make-up drives me to create versatile looks that take your natural beauty to the next level.
• The creation of beauty is an art and we’re those performing artists.
• My #1 tip for a flawless face: wear red lipstick. 💄
• Thank you for making me look my best when I’m in front of my camera lens, but also when I’m in front of the computer screen. Here are some #MUAgoals for you to follow 👉🏻👈
• Good makeup means a good day!
• It takes a lot of patience and practice to get the right look. That’s why I love all aspects and elements of things that go into making beauty and art. I love creating looks that evoke emotions.
• Everyone is beautiful – I just enhance their beauty with my skills. #everyoneisbeautiful
• Makeup can give special effects techniques enhancing physical features.
• It’s all about the special prosthetic effects that w #physicalbeautye create.
• We usually understand how makeup works in relation to lighting and photography.
• Makeup is a window to the soul, a perfect disguise for a broken heart, a weapon against sadness, and a disguise for being yourself.
• I’m a make-up artist, a documenter of life, a storyteller. I believe in magic and possibility and can’t wait to see what tomorrow holds. #‎MakeupbyEmiliaJulián…
• Hiding all your dark circles under a high-end concealer is our go-to mantra.
• Cosmetics are my weapons to create beauty.
• Life is short – live it with a stunning look. #liveitwithastunninglook
• Freelancer makeup artists are available almost everywhere.
• I am just a girl who loves putting on makeup.
• Trust me – eyeliner mascara and lipstick will boost your confidence on another level.
• Hey guys! I’m a make-up artist specializing in glamour, editorial, and bridal. I love taking photographs of people’s favorite days! _ 📸
• We alter the appearance with the help of our expertise.
• Take care of your looks!
• Keep calm and call your favorite makeup artist.
• Makeup is fun—until it gets in your eye 🤪. . .
• My art is versatile. #artisversatile

Cute Instagram Bios For Makeup Artists

• Wake up and get started with your Makeup!
• I can mold your overall appearance.
• I see beauty in your pain. Your agony inspires me as your divine designer. 👸🏽✨ 💄🎨️👠
• My love of makeup began the first time I saw red lipstick. Today I can fully appreciate her timeless beauty and realize that I too am timeless.
• Makeup is an art, beautifies your world.
• I am the one who can enhance your beauty.
• Never be afraid of displaying the eternal beauty hidden inside you.
• Being a makeup artist forces you to step outside of your comfort zone. Step out of the box, and find yourself.
• We make our subjects look their best. #looktheirbest
• Having nice eyebrows will definitely give people a different level of enigma and confidence.
• I play with colors and make your appearance colorful.
• There isn’t a definition of perfect. ‼️ Showcasing different faces that don’t conform to some standard or traditional belief of perfection. This campaign is about individuality, diversity, and acceptance. We get to decide how we
• I can ignore time – I can make you look old or young.
• Makeup helps you feel beautiful for other people, but feeling beautiful for yourself is the most important part 💄🧡
• She is a multidisciplinary artist based in Toronto, Canada. She loves expressing herself through art and uses her creativity to capture life experiences through photographs and videos.
• The quest for perfect skin is over. Return your skin to its natural perfection with Jeju mineral powder! 🍁#slayme #slayed #slayskin
• She is a face painter who loves to make women feel good about themselves. She has been featured in publications such as InStyle, Shape, Teen Vogue, and MTV. Darby lives in New York City with her husband and three cats,
• Maybe you should start wearing makeup in order to make your inner self pretty.
• We’re the professionals to make you beautiful.
• Make-up is an art you wear on your face.
• Wake up! It’s make-up time! #wakeup
• We are increasingly in demand for weddings, fashion shoots, corporate headshot photography.
• I am an artist – your face is my canvas.
• I don’t wear makeup. I shed for the world.
• Make sure you always sparkle wherever you go.
• I’m a make-up artist who blends my talents and intuition with technique and artistry to create art on canvas as unique as the individual it beautifies.
• I play an important role because I know every technique about makeup.
• We’re in the process of making you beautiful.
• No filter when it comes to my passion for helping people look and feel their best. I’m often told my business is full of personality & I couldn’t agree more 😁 #WeAreBeauty
• I am here to make you different!
• Makeup your life.
• A makeup artist is one who uses the human face and body as a canvas.

Cool Instagram Bios For Makeup Artists

• Make sure to wear the perfect make-up.
• I work on live canvas!
• Makeup, artistry, and self-care are my passion—a career that combines all three is the definition of my dream job. #grateful
• I’m a professional with artistic skills.
• Hello! I’m a Los Angeles-based make-up artist. My work has been seen in beauty magazine editorials around the world and on countless celebrities. I’ve made up the faces of Beyoncé, Katy Perry, Gwyn.
• Makeup is an art. It’s the artist that makes it beautiful. #makeupartist
• I can make you believe that minimal makeup will make you look so beautiful.
• Make-up is all about bringing out the beautiful person hidden inside you.
• I like creating make-up looks that can work on every person. If you want to look like Meghan Markle on your big day, I’m the girl you need. If you want to look like an epic mermaid, I am your go-to make-up artist.
• Honestly, it is an art that takes up years to master. #yearstomaster
• I am a magician – I can transform into a fairy!
• I’m a freelance Makeup Artist, blogger, and social media marketer. I believe in the transformative power of make-up as a form of self-expression. I fell in love with make-up at an early age and have been practicing it religiously since then.
• How the glam squad got the perfect winged eye for my #cosmopolitanmagazine⁣⁣ #MACcosmetics
• Makeup is fun. It can also be a little frustrating. The outcome is always worth it though 😜
• Stylist, make-up artist, and woman behind the lens 👩🏼‍💻
• We can give people fantasy makeup.
• A make-up artist who loves to do brides on wedding days, bridal make-up artist
• Your lips say “Kiss me” but I can’t hear it of all the lipstick.
• I’m a make-up artist whose goal is to bring out the best in you… If you want to look super glamorous, I can do that. But if you want clean-cut natural, I can do that too. Whatever look or mood,
• Make-up is the magic that can transform you instantly.
• Keep calm and just wear dark bold lipstick. #darkboldlipstick
• Makeup should be fun. It should be colorful. It should make you smile.
• The prosthetic makeup characters are not so easy to do.
• Love to look attractive – you surely need a makeup artist for your dream.
• Make-up artistry and the dramatic performing arts have changed my life, and I am eternally grateful.
• Fashion fades makeup fades but your smile remains. Makeup Tips by me #MakeupTips #InstaBeauty #ComeOnGuys
• Beauty – beauty- and beauty!
• For us, makeup is the only fashion statement one can have.
• I use makeup as a form of self-reflection and to deconstruct and re-construct different aspects of myself.
• Makeup is fun, but you ain’t got to take my lipstick seriously 😎#makeupartistry
• We get hired to work as part of the staff of a production or a performance.
• I am proud of my profession – I can transform your entity.

Unique Instagram Bios For Makeup Artists

• Make-up is an art form that I use to celebrate the unique beauty of every person who sits in front of me.‭ ‬
• It doesn’t mean you have to live in your make-up, but it doesn’t hurt to look freakin’ good while you’re living it up. ✨💄
• The word ugliness doesn’t exist in my profession.
• Passionate about indie-loving, story-telling, and talc 😘
• You will cherish your wedding pictures – I made you look stunning that day!
• Think beautiful – look beautiful!
• Makeup is my art, it’s how I express myself, it’s what makes me happy. It’s how I live my life.
• She was trained as a make-up artist before establishing herself in the digital world. She teaches thousands how to use make-up on Instagram, giving tutorials daily.
• I’m a makeup artist and I like to eat sushi and drink red wine.
• Hard to believe by just putting on lipstick, someone’s appearance can be transformed. 💄👄
• We create a beautiful bridal makeup look. #thecreationofbeauty
• Keep calm and just put on makeup wherever you go! #putonmakeup
• All you need is coffee, contour, and confidence!
• Make-up isn’t only for girls. It is for everyone out there!
• Make-up is a passion that I share with the world – if you’ve ever been considering it, let me be the one to show you why!
• We change the look entirely, to make a person look like a certain character.
• Don’t hesitate to try a new look!
• Makeup artistry is about imagining that special person behind the makeup. I like to evoke not only faces but also character, personality, and desires.
• The alteration is in most cases done to conceal the flaws of a person, and highlight the positives. #concealtheflawsofaperson
• Beauty is truth, truth beauty ~For I have seen the true light, and it is stunning.
• I’m a make-up artist living in Los Angeles. I love helping people through my artistry and listening to them as they tell me the stories of their lives.
• Physical beauty is my niche of expertise.
• Bold and beautiful – That’s what I can create. #whaticancreate
• Makeup defines love for me. Be it minimal or a heavy bridal look.
• The make-up artist loves facing each day with a smile and a fresh face.
• Make sure to hide your dark circles wherever you go!
• Hygiene is the first thing about make-up – I never compromise on that.
• We went through years of hard work and patience to excel in this.
• Beauty is not about perfection, and it’s about acceptance—my art and my path.
• I can create a dreamy look for you. #createadreamylook
• Behind every girl, there’s a great big world of colors and possibilities just waiting to be explored.
• You do need make-up to look natural.
• We can make you look the most beautiful ever.
• A make-up artist who loves to create on others what she wishes were possible on herself (since I wouldn’t say I like make-up).

Funny Instagram Bios For Makeup Artists

• Highlighting, contouring, strobing, and everything in between. Media inquiries: [email protected]
• I have been a make-up artist for years. I have worked with top models, photographer and done television shows #ImInThisBusinessForever #ExperienceIsEverything #DontBeFake.
• Stunning look is not difficult to create – you just need the right makeup artist for it.
• Fall is my favorite season to wear makeup. What about you? #Makeup
• We can even create a horror makeup look.
• Professional make-up artist. We specialize in bridal, natural glamour, glamour, editorial, fantasy make-up artistry. For bookings, please get in touch with me via email or telephone.
• Hi, I’m an artist by day, make-up junkie by night. Follow along for make-up inspiration and sneak peeks of the newest trends. 🙂✨
• We give more sophisticated applications such as color balance, contour, highlighter.
• I’m a freelance make-up artist, specifically for special events, fashion, and headshots. Please tag me in your pics & follow me to see what I’ve been working on 👻
• I don’t want to brag, but I’ve never met a mascara I didn’t like. #NoBadMascara #BECCAExcited
• Makeup is often regarded as one of the most creative and lucrative businesses.
• Makeup is the ultimate form of self-expression. It’s the final touch to every look, just before I take my photo 🖼
• A little bit of makeup goes a long way, but with the right application, no makeup can go further. -Bobbi Brown
• Make-up artistry has healing power for everyone. No matter what you feel like, if your best friend died, if your boyfriend just dumped you, whatever it is that brought you to the make-up artist will go away after she does her magic. I
• Makeup is all about making up a fantastic look.
• Makeup is my therapy, but the art on your face is my masterpiece.」#morphebrushes
• Let your beauty shine through your words… Follow your heart… Be your own person.
• Creating a vampire look also needs expertise in the application of makeup.
• Want to doll up? Try my skills!
• I can make you believe that makeup exhibits metaphysical characteristics.
• Make-up artists with their skilled brushes, offer us a shortcut to that perfect look.
• The beauty of a woman is not in a facial mode but the true beauty in a woman is reflected in her soul. – Audrey Hepburn
• I am privileged to be the make-up artist for the international pop sensation Madonna. Join me as I furnish my beautiful wisdom to you!
• My work is to make you look stunning. #makeyoulookstunning
• Our makeup artist will work with you individually to create a look that makes you feel and look your best.
• Your bridal makeup is in our hands.
• Make-up is my passion.
• Excelled in hiding or smoothing out flaws, using cosmetic products. #smoothingoutflaws
• I’m the type of person who will only wear lipstick on special occasions. (Like if I can apply it with my back to the mirror or without accidentally smudging it all over my face.)
• I’m not here to make you pretty, I’m here to make you iconic. 💁🏼
• A beautiful woman is one who knows that she is beautiful. – Sophia Loren

Freelance Makeup Artist Bio Ideas

• Experienced freelance makeup artist for bridal and special event looks.
• Freelance makeup artist who believes in the transformative power of makeup, and loves helping you feel confident and beautiful.
• Staying current on the latest makeup techniques and products is a top priority for me.
• My signature style is natural, radiant makeup that enhances your natural beauty.
• Whether using traditional methods or airbrush techniques, I am skilled in creating flawless makeup looks.
• Experienced freelance makeup artist! I have worked on various editorial, film, and television projects.
• The best freelance makeup artist always aims to bring out your best features and create a flawless look.
• I am proficient in working with various skin tones and facial structures and strive to make every client feel comfortable and confident.
• I am committed to using only high-quality, cruelty-free products in my work.
• Convenience is key, so I offer on-location services for weddings and other events.
• Vintage and retro looks are a specialty of mine.
• From photoshoots to events, I love creating bold, artistic makeup looks.
• I offer makeup lessons and tutorials to help my clients learn new techniques and feel more confident in their skills.
• Glamorous, red carpet-worthy looks are my forte.
• For busy professionals, I can create natural, everyday makeup looks that are quick and easy to maintain.
• I have experience working with bridal parties of all sizes and can accommodate any requests.
• Enhancing the natural beauty of mature clients is a passion of mine.
• Whether it’s prom or another formal event, I can create a stunning makeup look to match your occasion.
• I have experience working on fashion shows and other runway events.
• I am skilled in creating long-lasting looks that withstand hot and humid conditions.
• I offer makeup services for professional headshots and photoshoots to help you look your best.
• I am experienced in creating looks for various cultural and traditional events.
• Boudoir photoshoots are another area of expertise for me.
• I love creating romantic, soft looks for bridal portraits.
• Bold, editorial makeup looks for print and online media are one of my specialties.
• For quinceañeras and other milestone celebrations, I can create a stunning makeup look to match the occasion.
• Subtle, natural makeup looks are perfect for professional women.
• I also offer makeup services for engagements and a couple of photoshoots.
• Music videos and live performances are a few projects I have worked on.
• For evening events, I can create a dramatic, smoky-eye look.
• Bachelorette parties and other pre-wedding events are another area where I can help.
• Natural, radiant looks are perfect for bridal showers and engagement parties.
• For festivals and concerts, I love creating bold, colorful makeup looks.
• High school proms and homecomings are just a few of the events I have worked on.
• Vintage-inspired looks are a specialty of mine, perfect for retro-themed events.
• Makeup services for photo booth events and parties.
• For destination weddings, natural, beachy makeup looks are a must.
• Avant-garde makeup looks are perfect for art exhibitions and gallery openings.
• Halloween parties and costume events are another area where I can help
• I am skilled in creating romantic, fairy tale-inspired makeup looks for fantasy-themed events.
• Classic, Old Hollywood glamour looks are another area of expertise for me.
• Holiday parties and seasonal events are just a few of the occasions where I can help you look your best.
• For fashion-forward events, I love creating bold, graphic makeup looks.
• Outdoor events and photo shoots call for natural, dewy makeup looks, and that’s one of my specialties. -Baby showers and other milestone celebrations are another area where I can help.
• For drag performances and events, I can create dramatic, bold makeup looks.
• Fitness and wellness events are just a few of the occasions where I can create natural, glowing makeup looks.
• Business conferences and professional events are another area where I can help you look your best.
• For pride events and parades, I love creating bold, colorful makeup looks.
• Subtle, natural makeup looks are perfect for film and television auditions.

Learn more about starting a mobile makeup artist :

Where to start?

-> How much does it cost to start a mobile makeup artist? -> Pros and cons of a mobile makeup artist

Need inspiration?

-> Other mobile makeup artist success stories -> Examples of established mobile makeup artist -> Marketing ideas for a mobile makeup artist

Other resources

4-Step Guide: How To Create The Perfect Instagram Bio For Your Business

Instagram gives you 150 characters to tell your followers what your business is about.

This is where you are given the opportunity to summarize your company, engage your audience, and leave a great first impression.

We will break down the qualities and aspects of Later's Instagram bio, as a template for you to use.

Step 1: Highlight Exactly What You Do

Your Instagram bio should be a place where you tell your readers exactly who you are.

This should be brief, clear, and to the point. Explain what makes you unique and what you can do for your audience.

In the Later example, they do this in two different ways:

• In their profile name, they showcase their company name with a clear description of what they do
• They provide even more explanation and boost their brand up, saying they are the #1 marketing platform for Instagram

Step 2: Pitch Your Service [And Use Relevant Keywords]

While it's important to explain what type of company you are, it's also critical to pitch your product or service.

When creating a website, this is often the first thing people see on your site to really understand what you are offering and what makes you stand out from the rest.

Later does this using one line on their bio, and 8 relevant keywords:

Step 3: Provide A Clear Call To Action

Your call to action should be something you are encouraging your audience to do.

This could be in the form of a recent promotion you are offering, a link to a specific article you want eyes on, or just a way for users to get directed to your website.

In any case, you should always provide the user with easy access to whatever it is you'd like them to do. You can do this by providing a direct, embedded link on your bio.

For the Later example, they encourage users to check out their blog where they showcase tips and guides. This is a common strategy that brands use to get more traffic to their blog, and eventually, turn leads into customers.

Step 4: Use Emojis

Lastly, emojis are a great way to break up any text-heavy sections in your Instagram bio.

Be sure to use emojis that are relevant to your brand or to highlight the items you are discussing in your bio.

Later adds emojis to draw the readers eyes to certain aspects of their bio, such as what they do and their call to action:

• How Much Does It Cost To Become A Mobile Makeup Artist? (In 2024) 1 of 5
• 48 Marketing Ideas For A Mobile Makeup Artist (2024) 2 of 5
• 47 Pros & Cons Of Starting A Mobile Makeup Artist (2024) 3 of 5
• 5 Mobile Makeup Artist Success Stories [2024] 4 of 5
• 42 Trending Mobile Makeup Artist Businesses [2024] 5 of 5

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10 Examples of artist bios: How to write a super artist bio

Examples of artist bios often include key elements like the artist's name, area of expertise, career milestones, personal interests, and contact info. They're tailored to engage the audience while reflecting the artist's unique voice and journey.

Ever find yourself staring at a blank screen, wondering how to condense your artistic journey into a few paragraphs?

Trust me, you're not alone.

An artist bio isn't just a list of facts; it's a narrative that invites people into your creative world.

So, why is it so crucial?

Well, it's your handshake with the audience, a way to say, “Hey, this is me, and this is my art.”

Stick around as we go into the how-tos and examples of artist bios that make a lasting impression.

On this page

Key Takeaways

• Define your artistic identity clearly : Your bio is your opportunity to introduce not just your art, but who you are as an artist. It should include your medium, inspiration, and artistic goals. This clarity helps in aligning your business plan with your art, ensuring your marketing strategies and portfolio resonate with your artistic vision.
• Use your unique voice : Inject your personality into your bio to make it stand out. Whether your tone is serious, whimsical, or quirky, ensure it reflects the uniqueness of your art. This authenticity makes your bio more engaging and memorable, inviting your audience into your creative world.
• Update regularly : As your artistic journey evolves, so should your bio. Regular updates reflecting new milestones, exhibitions, or shifts in your artistic focus keep your audience informed and engaged. This dynamic approach ensures your bio remains relevant and an accurate reflection of your current artistic identity.

Defining Yourself as an Artist in Your Bio Informs Your Business Plan

There is an interesting interplay between your artist bio and your business plan.

You see, your artist bio isn't just a narrative; it's a declaration of your artistic identity . It's where you lay out your style, your inspirations, your goals—essentially, it's where you define who you are as an artist.

And guess what?

When you're clear about your artistic identity in your bio, it becomes easier to map out a business plan that truly aligns with your art and your aspirations.

Your bio can help you identify your target audience, decide on the right marketing strategies, and even guide you in creating a portfolio that resonates with your artistic vision.

The Artist Bio vs. The Artist Statement: What's the Difference?

The artist bio and the artist statement—two essential pieces of writing, yet each serves a distinct purpose in the world of art.

Your artist bio is like the opening scene of a film; it sets the stage and introduces the characters. It's a narrative that tells the story of you—the artist. It covers your journey, your influences, your achievements, and even a bit of your personality. It's a comprehensive look at who you are, aimed at engaging the audience and making them want to know more about you and, by extension, your art.

Now, the artist statement, that's a different beast altogether.

Think of it as a spotlight that shines exclusively on a specific body of work. It's your chance to delve deep into your artistic process, the themes you explore, and the techniques you employ.

While your bio might say, “I'm a painter inspired by nature,” your artist statement would elaborate on how the colors of autumn leaves influence your palette, or how the texture of tree bark finds its way into your brush strokes. It's more focused, more immediate, and speaks directly to the art that's right in front of the viewer.

So, while your bio draws people into your world, your artist statement guides them through a specific landscape within that world.

Writing the Perfect Artist Bio

Your artistic title: what's your medium.

First things first, let's get clear on what you do.

Are you a painter, a digital artist, or maybe a sculptor?

Your title sets the stage, so make it clear and precise.

Your Home Base: Where's Your Creative Den?

Your location can say a lot about you and your art.

Whether you're soaking up the urban vibes of a bustling city or drawing inspiration from a tranquil countryside, let people know where you're coming from—literally.

Your Milestones: What's Your Artistic Journey?

Here's where you can brag a little. Got any exhibitions, awards, or significant projects under your belt? This is the time to shine a spotlight on them.

A Dash of You: What Makes You Tick?

Throw in some personal tidbits to make your bio relatable. Are you a coffee addict, a night owl, or maybe a hiking enthusiast? These little details can make you more memorable.

Stay Connected: How Can We Reach You?

Don't forget to include ways people can connect with you. Your website, social media handles, and other contact information should be easily accessible.

Tips for Improving Your Artist Bio

Crafting an artist bio is like painting a self-portrait with words. It's a small canvas, but it can make a big impact.

Here are some tips that'll help you brush up your bio and make it a masterpiece.

Understand the Audience

First off, know who you're talking to.

Are you aiming for gallery curators, potential clients, or a broader audience on social media?

Tailoring your tone and content based on your audience can make your bio resonate more effectively.

For instance, if your primary audience is other artists, you might want to delve into the nitty-gritty of your techniques.

Use Your Unique Voice

Your art is unique, and so are you.

Let your personality shine through your writing. Whether you're quirky, serious, or whimsical, your voice should be consistent with the art you create.

This adds a layer of authenticity and makes your bio more engaging.

Consider Length Requirements

How long should it be?

Well, it depends on where your bio will be published.

If it's for a gallery submission, they might have specific word limits.

On your own website, you have more freedom.

But remember, a bio is like a good sketch—detailed enough to be interesting, but not so much that it becomes a full-blown painting.

Additional Artist Bio Tips

• Avoid Jargon : Unless your audience is well-versed in art terminology, keep it simple. You want to invite people into your world, not alienate them.
• Be Honest, Be You : Authenticity shines brighter than any embellishment. Your bio should be a true reflection of who you are as an artist.
• Proofreading is Your Friend : Before publishing, make sure to proofread your bio. A typo can be a small thing that takes away from the overall picture. Maybe even get a second pair of eyes to look it over.
• Update, Update, Update : Your art evolves, and so should your bio. Every time there's a significant change in your artistic journey, take a moment to update your bio.

Examples of Artist Bios

Example 1: the landscape painter.

Sarah Green – Your Friendly Neighborhood Landscape Painter

I'm Sarah Green, and I'm carving my path as a landscape painter right here in the heart of Maplewood. I'm honing my skills at Maplewood Community College's Fine Arts program and have had the joy of showcasing my work at local art fairs.

My art is a love letter to Mother Nature, capturing her in her most tranquil moments.

When I'm not with my easel and paints, you'll find me trekking through local trails or lending a hand at our community animal shelter. Nature and critters aren't just my muse; they're my world.

Curious to see my work or just want to chat? Swing by my website or give me a follow on Instagram. Let's connect!

Example 2: The Fine Art Photographer

Tim Lee – Capturing the Urban Jungle Through My Lens

I'm Tim Lee, a budding fine art photographer rooted in the vibrant city of Chicago. I've taken some killer online courses and even had my work grace the walls of a local café.

My lens is drawn to the raw energy of city life—graffiti, faces, and all the little things that make our urban world tick.

When I'm not behind the camera, you'll catch me sipping on some artisanal coffee or cruising the streets on my skateboard. The city isn't just my canvas; it's my playground.

Want to reach out? You can find me and my work on my website or get a daily dose of my urban adventures on Twitter.

Example 3: The Abstract Painter

Emily Patel – Diving Into the Emotional Depths of Abstract Art

Hello, beautiful people! I'm Emily Patel, an up-and-coming abstract painter soaking up the sun in San Diego. I'm a self-taught artist, and I'm just beginning to dip my toes into the colorful world of abstract painting.

My art is a journey through emotions, guided by a symphony of colors and textures.

When I'm not lost in my art, I find peace in yoga and inspiration in poetry—both of which seep into my work.

Want to connect or explore my art? Feel free to visit my brand-new website or follow my artistic journey on Facebook.

Example 4: The Sculptor Finding Beauty in the Mundane

Mark Thompson – Sculpting Everyday Objects into Art

I'm Mark Thompson, a sculptor based in the artsy town of Asheville. I've studied at the Asheville School of Art and have been featured in several local exhibitions.

My sculptures turn everyday objects into something extraordinary, challenging how we view the world around us.

When I'm not sculpting, I'm usually found at flea markets hunting for my next inspiration or playing the guitar.

Interested in my work? Visit my website or follow me on Pinterest for my latest creations.

Example 5: The Digital Artist with a Social Message

Lisa Kim – Digital Art for Social Change

I'm Lisa Kim, a digital artist operating out of New York City. I've completed a digital art course from NYU and my art often appears in online social campaigns.

My digital canvases are platforms for social justice, aiming to provoke thought and inspire change.

Outside of art, I'm an avid reader and a volunteer at a local food bank.

Feel free to check out my portfolio online or connect with me on LinkedIn.

Example 6: The Watercolor Artist Inspired by Travel

Carlos Rivera – Painting the World One Brushstroke at a Time

I'm Carlos Rivera, a watercolor artist who finds inspiration from my travels. I've studied art in Spain and have exhibited my work in various European cities.

My art is a passport to different cultures, capturing the essence of places I've visited.

When I'm not painting, I'm planning my next adventure or cooking up some international cuisine.

You can find my work and travel stories on my blog or follow me on Instagram.

Example 7: The Mixed Media Artist

Angela White – Mixing Media, Mixing Messages

I'm Angela White, a mixed media artist based in San Francisco. I've taken workshops from renowned artists and have participated in group shows.

My art blends materials and messages, creating a unique narrative in each piece.

In my free time, I enjoy hiking and have a soft spot for vintage fashion.

To see my latest projects or to get in touch, visit my website or find me on Etsy.

Example 8: The Portrait Artist with a Twist

Jake O'Brien – Portraits That Tell a Story

Hey folks! I'm Jake O'Brien, a portrait artist from Boston. I've studied at the Boston School of Fine Arts and my work has been featured in several local galleries.

My portraits aren't just faces; they're stories waiting to be told.

When I'm not painting, I'm usually found at jazz clubs or writing short stories.

Curious about my work? Check out my portfolio on my website or follow me on Tumblr.

Example 9: The Environmental Artist

Fiona Chen – Art for Earth's Sake

I'm Fiona Chen, an environmental artist based in Vancouver. I've collaborated with environmental organizations and have had my installations displayed at eco-festivals.

My art is a call to action, aiming to raise awareness about environmental issues.

Outside of my art, I'm an active member of local environmental groups and a weekend gardener.

To learn more or to collaborate, visit my website or connect with me on LinkedIn.

Example 10: The Ceramic Artist

Raj Kaur – Crafting Stories in Clay

I'm Raj Kaur, a ceramic artist from London. I've trained under master potters and have my own studio where I teach pottery classes.

My ceramics are more than objects; they're vessels of stories and traditions.

When I'm not at the wheel, I enjoy cooking and exploring local art scenes.

Interested? You can find my pieces and upcoming classes on my website or follow me on Pinterest.

FAQs and Additional Tips for Your Artist Bio

Crafting an artist bio isn't just about listing facts; it's about telling a story, your story .

Here are some frequently asked questions and additional tips that can help you make your bio not just informative but also engaging and reflective of your unique artistic voice.

How Can You Infuse Your Unique Artistic Voice Into Your Bio?

Your bio should be as unique as your art.

Use descriptive language that reflects your artistic style. If your art is whimsical and colorful, let that show in your choice of words. If it's dark and moody, your bio can reflect that tone.

Your bio should feel like an extension of your art, offering a textual snapshot of what you bring to the canvas, the sculpture, or the lens.

What Aspects of Your Artistic Journey Are Most Compelling and Should Be Highlighted?

Think about the milestones and experiences that have shaped you as an artist.

Did a particular event or person inspire you to take up art?

Have you won awards or participated in exhibitions?

Maybe you've traveled to unique places for your art?

These are the stories that make you interesting and relatable. Include them to give a fuller picture of who you are.

How Can Your Bio Serve as a Tool for Audience Engagement and Even Advocacy for Causes You Care About?

Your bio isn't just a CV; it's a platform.

If you're passionate about certain causes, like environmental conservation or social justice, your bio is a space to advocate for these issues. Mention projects or artworks that reflect these causes.

It not only shows that you stand for something but also attracts like-minded individuals who may become supporters of both your art and your cause.

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‘I became myself again’: makeup guru Bobbi Brown on a lifetime perfecting the natural look

Bobbi Brown has built a billion-dollar beauty brand… because she wants women to look as if they aren’t wearing makeup. She opens up to Funmi Fetto about misogyny, family ties – and ditching her executive high heels

I n 1991, as a riposte to red lipstick, Bobbi Brown, a then 30-something makeup artist, launched her eponymous brand with a handful of nude lipsticks. It marked the world’s introduction to the no-makeup makeup look, the antithesis of the more-is-more aesthetic that reigned in women’s makeup bags long after the 80s had made its exit.

As a jobbing makeup artist, she initially sold it directly to friends and clients and then, fortuitously, met a buyer from Bergdorf Goodman in New York, where it officially launched. Brown expected to sell 100 lipsticks a month. The new brand sold 100 a day. It outperformed all the establishment beauty brands in the store and very quickly other retailers, such as Neiman Marcus , asked to stock the brand across the country. “I wanted women to look like they weren’t really wearing makeup,” Brown said.

Four years later, Estée Lauder Companies (owner of Estée Lauder, Jo Malone London, MAC Cosmetics, Clinique and more) came calling. Brown sold her company (for a reported $75m), stayed on as the captain of the now global Bobbi Brown ship, steering it towards becoming a billion-dollar company. And then, in 2016, she walked away. No one saw it coming.

“Burnt,” is how she describes how she felt at the time. “I was done. I thought, ‘I’ve done it, I’ve succeeded, I’ve built a billion-dollar brand, I’m done with beauty.’” Fashion and beauty history is filled with designers and founders who have put their names on a label, only for them to then have to give up them up when they sell to a conglomerate. Typically, the designer themselves disappears, never to be seen again.

But not Brown. Weeks in, she realised she was not quite done. There were a number of false starts, including a short-lived supplements line (“I thought I was going to be this natural wellness guru. It didn’t happen,” she deadpans) and a futile attempt to go back to being a freelance makeup artist (“No agent wanted to represent me,” she says with a shrug.) But then she hit the jackpot – again. In October 2020, on the day her 25-year noncompete with Estée Lauder Companies ended, Brown launched Jones Road Beauty , a modern line of makeup that champions a clean minimalism.

“My philosophy with beauty,” she explains, “is about confidence and just loving what’s on your face, whether they are lines or whatever. Just go with it, it’s easier.” The brand, like its predecessor, is also fully inclusive, because, Brown says emphatically, “It’s very important to have makeup for everyone’s skin.” The timing of her launch was bold. The world was in the midst of a pandemic and, globally, makeup sales were significantly down.

And yet Jones Road tapped into the zeitgeist of what women – from TikTokers to Boomers – actually wanted. “It’s common sense,” Brown shrugs. She won’t divulge figures: “We’ve been completely profitable since day one,” is all she will say. But if the rumoured global daily sales (seven figures and counting) are anything to go by, Bobbi Brown is well on her way to creating another billion-dollar brand.

Born in 1957 to middle-class parents in the Chicago suburbs, Brown describes her mother as “beautiful and very glamorous”, but credits Ali MacGraw in Love Story for helping her see there was “another type of beauty”. She studied theatrical makeup at Emerson College in Boston and, after graduating in 1979, moved to New York. She contacted a makeup-artist agency and began working in the fashion industry. Eventually, she landed covers on American Vogue and Elle and grew a reputation for a minimal, nextdoor-girl aesthetic that would go on to make Brown a very rich woman, which is why the New York Times dubbed her “The Mogul Next Door.”

This no-makeup makeup look (critiqued over the years for, among other things, hiding the labour that goes into meeting Eurocentric beauty standards), involves wearing quite a lot of makeup in order to look as though you have just stepped out of a yoga class – young, fit and wealthy. This oxymoronic fashion evolved alongside Brown’s success, its most recent iteration being “clean” beauty, or the “five-minute face” – a minimalist beauty aesthetic that promises to make users look like themselves but better.

Brown’s self-assurance is light years away from the intense, fraught, blazer-and-heels woman I first met at a Bobbi Brown launch in 2015. Today, she is sitting legs folded yoga style on a banquette in Claridges, she is dressed in a low-key black sweater and jeans – and is wearing no makeup. She is diminutive – “I’m like 5ft nothing” – but on that day, she seemed towering and a little terrifying. “Yeah,” she chuckles, “there was a lot going on back then. I always had PR people staring at me; I always had marketing people around. Yes, I was in charge, but…” she adds pointedly, “I was constantly fighting for what I wanted. When I left the brand, I took off my heels and became myself again.” Leaving and being herself again meant, at 63 and in a business still rife with misogyny and ageism, Brown had to start again. “No,” she says, correcting me, “I didn’t have to start again, I chose to start again.” And rather than being intimidated by the prospect, she considered it an opportunity to do things differently. “I love a clean slate. You get to get rid of everything and think: ‘What would I do now?’”

What she has done is build a new company that is in complete contrast to her last one. No one in her team has a background in beauty. Unlike most corporate company structures, they have no CEO or COO. “We tried it, it didn’t work, we got rid of them.” Her top team is largely a family affair. There’s herself (“I have no title. I don’t need a title”); her husband, Stephen Plofker, a property entrepreneur; her son, Cody Plofker, who is the chief marketing officer; and her daughter-in-law, Payal Patel Plofker, who is the brand and marketing director. (“I actually can’t wait to go home and see my 13-month-old granddaughter,” says Brown, adding with a chuckle, “she is the child of the people who work for me, so I have an extra reason not to piss them off.”)

She and her husband live three minutes from the office and the rest of the family are also in the vicinity.

Mixing family with business seems to work well. Brown was the makeup artist for both her daughters-in-law on their wedding days. She has described it as more terrifying than being asked to do Michelle Obama’s makeup, because “I really wanted to please them.”

A self-confessed anglophile, Brown cites Soho Farmhouse in Oxfordshire, Grays Antiques Market and Anya Hindmarch’s café in London as some of her favourite haunts, and she recently joined the British Beauty Council as an ambassador. “I love the British aesthetic.” She even chose the name Jones Road, she says, because: “It sounded like a bespoke British brand that they asked me to reinvent and make more modern.”

Brown herself is a mix of modern and old-fashioned pragmatism. “Even early on in my career,” she recalls, “I would tell people how to put on makeup while trying to get their kids to school. I’d tell them to just stick to a couple of things, do them in the car at stop lights…”

Many at her namesake brand, reveals Brown, considered her everyday approach too “mumsy” or parochial. “Once, someone very high up at the old company sat me down and said: ‘I think you should buy a pied-à-terre in New York City. This way you can invite editors round and they can think you are a city girl.’ Someone else said that because I’m so small, I needed something that would make people notice me when I walked in, like a hat with a feather. Then I was told I should dress ‘cool’, so someone took me shopping for leather pants [trousers]”.

Brown can’t help the wry laugh that escapes her at the absurdity of it all. “You know, I tried all these things on, all the things you had to do to be a fancy business person, and none of it made any sense to me. Finally, I was like, ‘I think the editors liked me because we talked about normal stuff – like our kids and how tired we were.’”

While she says she loves New York, she doesn’t see herself as a “New York person” and continues to live in Montclair, New Jersey, where she moved in the late 80s with her husband.

Her authenticity, at a time when social media’s perfection is slowly beginning to lose its gloss, could explain her popularity on TikTok. When, in 2022, Meredith Duxbury , a beauty influencer known for her full-coverage makeup looks, gave Jones Road’s What The Foundation, a poor review, Brown lightheartedly parodied the influencer’s video. It went viral, resulting in a huge spike in sales. She is self-deprecating about being a social-media hit. “The joke is that afterwards I see I’ve got my hair sticking out and I’m covered in dog hair and dust. I’m like, ‘Guys, you have to tell me!’” But her fans still seem to just get it.

Brown has no plans to sell Jones Road in other stores beyond London’s Liberty, despite batting away numerous requests. Her unequivocal stance provides an insight into her success as an entrepreneur. She exudes warmth, but her eye contact is serious and unwavering; her tone direct and her vision clear. “I only launch a product when I see a need,” she says. She jokes that there is “no real strategy”, but clearly there is. Sales, she says, have “tripled” in the past year and while the company growth invariably means increased expenses, she caveats, “We do not waste money.”

And perhaps this is a clue to her success. Even her own sartorial stance has a thrifty approach – albeit a relative one. “I just like really normal things.” To my raised eyebrow she laughs and adds, “OK, yes I do like Celine [fashion designer Phoebe Philo era]. They are the things in my wardrobe I will never give away. But I’ll team it with my Uniqlo jeans.” Her penchant for Philo’s Celine – an effortless, pared-down luxe (“It would be my dream to do the makeup for her next campaign”) set the tone for the Jones Road aesthetic.

In the week we met, Philo’s highly anticipated namesake collection launched, marking her return to the industry after helming a brand that was hugely successful under her direction and walking away from it at the height of its success. Sound familiar? “I was waiting with bated breath to see what she would return with, because,” says Brown, “I love a good comeback story.”

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Creative & Unique Instagram Makeup Artist Bio Ideas

Table of Contents

Instagram is more than a platform for sharing snapshots. Businesses use the platform to promote their brand and build stronger customer relationships.

As a makeup artist, you can use this powerhouse social media platform to showcase your artistic skills and build your fan base. In addition to eye-catching visual and captivating content, you need an intriguing makeup artist bio for Instagram .

The Instagram bio is one of the most accessible and fast-paced places to get potential customers’ attention. They might not know about your business yet and now is your chance to give them a mini-profile on your miniature world of Instagram.

Ensure to include a few things that will excite and intrigue them and provide them with something to click on. This guide lists some creative Instagram makeup artist bios, including tips for writing the perfect bio.

Why Is Instagram Bio Important?

The Instagram bio is an area on your profile where you can leave a lasting impression on your followers. Put some thought into writing the perfect bio to encourage your followers to stay engaged with your posts .

You want to keep the tone light and friendly while also reflecting your skills and experience. Asides from this, you should use your bio to highlight a CTA (call to action) that encourages your followers to take action. This could be urging them to check your website or book you.

While a bio on Instagram may not seem like much, it is a crucial feature that can change the way your Instagram page looks. And also, how future followers interact with your page.

This is especially important if you want to look professional or stand out among the competition. The goals of your bio should be clear and harmonious.

Tips for Writing the Perfect Instagram Bio

What makes a makeup artist bio the perfect one? The ideal makeup artist’s bio is well-written and genuine. It tells who you are and what you do. Let’s look at some expert tips for writing the perfect bio.

1. Optimize Your Business Name On Instagram

Your Instagram bio should include a business name with a searchable keyword. This increases the chances of your page appearing higher in the Instagram search. For example, you might want to use your name, your city, and the term ‘Makeup Artist’ to help people find you easily.

2. State your expertise

Putting out your business name isn’t enough. Optimize your Instagram bio to tell people about your artistry. Creatively speak about your craft and showcase your expertise. You should state what you specialize in, e.g., weddings and events, and include any standard terms for your artistry or style.

3. Include contact information

By including your contact information on your bio, you ease the communication process, making it easy for your potential customers to reach you! You’ll want to include your phone number or even your email. For instance, you can write something like: “For bookings and inquiries, email [email protected].”

4. Include Links In Your Bio

Your Instagram bio is where you can share clickable links. You can include the link to your website, YouTube channel, or other social media platforms in your bio. This helps drive traffic to your other platforms and build your audience there.

5. Use Your Branded Hashtags

Don’t ignore the power of branded hashtags if you want to get more Instagram traffic. Branded hashtags are unique tags for your brand, such as your name, work, campaigns.

With these hashtags, your audience can access your profile and posts and learn about your services. Including branded hashtags on your Instagram bio can boost your engagement.

6. Add CTA buttons

If you’re using the Instagram business profile, you can use the CTA tools in your bio to encourage your audience to take instant action. You can add the “Visit Website,” “Shop Now,” “Email Us,” or “Contact Us” CTA depending on your business goals.

Creative Makeup Artist Bio for Instagram

The Instagram bio is essential because it allows you to set the foundation for your brand. It is the first thing people see about you, so make it good!

Add a statement that shows your expertise and artistry to help people know exactly what you’re all about. Below are some creative Instagram bio ideas for a makeup artist.

Instagram Bio For Lash Artist

• Say hi to eyelashes and a big farewell to mascara.
• Gorgeous eyelashes that make your complexion better.
• A blink is more than a thousand utterances.
• Lashes that define your beauty.
• Beauty with a sprinkle of lashes.
• Let your eyes do the talking.
• Flawless lashes on a flawed lady.
• Lashes that unleash your inner beauty.
• Let your eyes tell the story.
• Longer and darker lashes for gorgeous ladies.
• Blink and let souls sink.
• Lashes that bring life to your eyes.
• Let the world ‘wow’ on your lashes.

Unique Makeup Artist Bio for Instagram

• The making of beauty is art, and we’re the performing artists.
• I have the power to give you that flawless glow.
• Rule no 1 for a flawless face: Wear red lipstick.
• I love colors and make your look colorful.
• Stay calm and call on your top-notch makeup artist.
• I am an artist – your face is my canvas.
• Nice eyebrows = Enigma and Confidence.
• I enhance beauty with my magical skills.
• Making you sparkle wherever you go.

Instagram, when effectively utilized, can be a crucial part of your social media marketing strategy . With unique visuals displaying your work and a captivating bio telling your audience what you do, you can build a solid online presence.

It’s just as important to add a personal touch to your Instagram bio as to create an eye-catching look with your makeup. The information you provide in your bio and the way you present yourself online are what people will use to gauge your professionalism.

Abir Ghenaiet

Abir is a data analyst and researcher. Among her interests are artificial intelligence, machine learning, and natural language processing. As a humanitarian and educator, she actively supports women in tech and promotes diversity.

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The 245 BEST Artist Bios for Instagram (2024 List)

Welcome to my complete guide to the best artist bios for Instagram.

What makes this guide different than the rest? I didn’t just use Chat-GPT to create random names and then call it a day. A real human being wrote this after researching. I know, crazy.

It’s hard enough being a starving artist. But now you have to write 150 characters to describe yourself? Life is tough.

The perfect artist Instagram bio should:

• State who you are and what you do
• Say a little about yourself
• Have one clickable link
• Give people a reason to follow you ( or give you their business)

In this guide, we’re going to give you 245 awesome Instagram artist bios to use for inspiration. It’s going to make your life way easier. It could even help you make money on Instagram if you use your account right.

The team here has scoured the most popular art IG pages to figure out what they did right, and how you can copy what they’ve done.

I’ve even divided them up into helpful categories based on different categories, so you can quickly find one that vibes with your style.

Ready? Let’s go.

What Are the Best Artist Bios for Instagram?

If you’re in a rush, just choose one of my 25 top picks. These bios are based on the top pages and should help get your message across AND help improve engagement.

The Top 25 Best Instagram Bios for Artists

• Hi, my name is [Name], and I love to inspire with custom [product] and [product]
• Welcome to my art realm | I’m busy eating rainbows
• I’m [Name] | I use brush and colors to create pretty things
• Illustrator | Author | Painter | Based in [City]
• Artist | Thinker | Daydream believer
• Finding the Sacred in Art & Life 
• Showing the world that you can follow your dreams…and paint them
• Self-taught artist | I believe art makes fashion better
• My art reflects society, my mind, and my heart
• Coloring your life and mine
• Hello, I’m [name] | I hope you feel something too
• Making the world a better place through art
• Artist by nature. Art is my life, and my life is art
• Born to express, not to impress
• I am an artist | This is my account | The things I make are here
• Doing my best to share inspiration
• Drawing and painting are my escape
• Every child is an artist. The problem is staying one as you grow up
• Creativity takes courage
• I just make art. You decide if it’s good or bad…
• Art is a collaboration between nature and the artist. The less I do, the better
• Society must set the artist free to follow their beating heart
• I believe art is art. That’s it
• My art is a revolt against my fate
• I can’t discuss my art in the same way an animal can’t discuss its biology
• Good art is like a good friend: It keeps me company

Artist Business Instagram Bios

Running an art business? Then you absolutely have to nail your bio. If not, you’ll lose customers. These bios will convey your message and help improve your chances of landing more work:

• Certified [Job] with [years of experience] | DM for inquiries
• An artist in [city] | I make [product], [product], and [product]
• Subscribe to my channel for weekly art inspiration and updates
• Daily tips on drawing, painting, and graphic design
• Professional photographer in [city] | Headshots | Wedding photos | More
• DM me for artwork inquiries & collaborations
• 100% handmade postcards available at this link
• Artist | As seen on [account] and [account]
• An artist helping other artists find more clients
• The artist behind [business name] and [art Instagram account]
• Artist | Winner of [award] in [year]
• Making money is art
• A good business is the best art
• Good art is hard work | I take my time
• Teaching children to find their own artistic style
• I didn’t always dream of being an art teacher, but here I am
• Get your FREE Intro to Art course here
• Creating beauty out of nothing since [year]
• The world revolves around art, and I can prove it
• Only the pros know how to do art right, don’t be fooled by AI
• Dall-e and MidJourney got nothing on me

Creative Artist Instagram Bios

Are you a creative type? If you want to show off more of your creative vibe rather than go for the kill, these are the bios for you:

• Painting happy little accidents
• Painting is poetry that is seen, not felt
• Creating art that washes away the dust of everyday life
• Art is my joy and torment
• I say things with colors and shapes that I can’t say with words
• My art is not about what I see. It’s about what others see
• Art is contagious. I’m here to pass it on
• I don’t dream of perfection. I know I can never reach it
• I don’t think. Thinking is the enemy of creativity
• My job is to dream things that never were daily
• There is nothing more inspiring than a blank canvas and an open mind
• Art is mankind’s way of polishing the world
• I’m an artist here to disturb the peace
• To be an artist, you must fear something
• Art is the true Tree of Life
• The cruder the art, the more it imitates life
• Drawing art full of pictures you never expected to see
• Painfully resisting that irresistible urge to paint
• Every science intersects with art
• There are no errors in art, only in the observer

Instagram Bio for Artist Girl

There are more women artists with IG accounts than ever before. If you want to stick out from the masses, you need a bio that lets your personality shine through and doesn’t just sound like the rest. Here are some of the best ideas we could find:

• I’m a passionate girl who’s willing to take risks
• Piercing the mundane to find the marvelous
• An enthusiastic girl | My art represents how I feel
• I allow myself to make mistakes and I know which ones to keep
• The honey of the human soul
• Write | Draw | Build | Play | Be you
• Art is my key to daily happiness
• I only feel at home with my canvas
• My art is an expression of love
• Constantly searching for self-enlightenment through coffee
• The more I draw, the more I realize Bob Ross was right: There are only happy accidents
• Abstract art is a pure adventure into the heart of a girl
• I don’t paint in the mornings. My muse isn’t awake until after my coffee break
• I’m more of an entertainer rather than an artist
• Love of nature and love of art go hand in hand. In fact, they are the same
• Artist | Free spirit | Wanderer
• I use art to lift up my identity and that of others
• All women should study art at a young age
• Nourishing my free life through my artwork
• Forget self-doubt. I just ignore it. When I hear that voice, I say “Time to paint”

Instagram Bio for Artist Boy

Guys, have you noticed that most IG bios sound exactly the same? If you want to really make an impact and grow a brand, you’ve got to use a bio that shows your strength as well as your passion for art:

• On a mission to share my inspiration with the world
• If a man does not create, he does nothing
• I aim for the greatest mastery of myself
• I dream of painting, and I paint in my dreams
• I’m a pro at the rules, and I break them like an artist
• I believe that all men must create art in some way
• I don’t create because I want to, I create because I must
• Outspoken | Rebel | Artist | Thinker
• My goal is to make the world uncomfortable
• Painting until I faint
• Fighting through every creative block is my goal in life
• Art is a process. It’s never finished
• I never use up my creativity. The more I use, the more I get
• Routine kills creative thought. Every man must have an outlet
• When I shut my eyes, I can finally see
• My art does not portray. It evokes
• Why say it in words when I can just paint?
• Don’t think about art. Just do
• I don’t know where my motivation comes from or how I manage to maintain it
• Conceiving every piece of art with a fire in my soul
• I don’t see things as they are. No good artist does
• Forget the rules. That’s not how good art is born

Instagram Bio for Self-Taught Artist

If art school wasn’t your thing, I totally get it. School wasn’t my thing either. In my experience, people have a certain amount of respect for self-taught people, so you should wear that as a badge of honor:

• I never follow trends. I just paint
• Art school is for artists who are scared to go it alone
• Self-taught painter, drawer, and graphic designer
• Adding a unique self-taught touch to everything I do
• The beauty of being self-taught is you can’t find my style anywhere
• Creating beautiful artwork, one self-taught lesson at a time
• I’m not self-taught, I’m self-certified
• Education can make you a living. Being self-taught can make you a fortune
• Self-taught and proud. Education fills your mind with the opinions of others
• Of course, I’m self-taught. You didn’t finger paint when you were a kid, too?
• I never invent anything, I only discover
• I dip my brush into my own soul before I paint
• I started teaching myself art as a way to run away without leaving
• I have more ideas than time
• Painting is my way of keeping a diary
• When words are unclear, I focus on photographs
• Nothing cures the soul but the senses
• I ask questions. I don’t answer them
• My art is not for everybody, and that’s why I’ve always forged my own path
• Creating art is my way of sticking it to the system
• Art is my salvation through imagination

Funny Art Instagram Bios

Laughter is one of the best ways to improve engagement on Instagram. If you inject some humor into your artist Instagram bio, people will see that you are really human and not just using AI to write your bio:

• People call me an artist. I think I just splash colors on a canvas
• Every day I wake up I think “How can I make bad mistakes today?”
• My mom said being an artist would never pay the bills…she was right
• My art teacher said I would never amount to much. At least she was right about something
• “Be an artist”, they said. “It’s noble”, they said…
• An artist who’s proud of not having a real job
• Not sure why people pay for my art, but thank you!
• I am a starving artist, but at least I stay skinny…
• Inspired by natural beauty…and cafe lattes
• Artists aren’t paid for their labor, they’re paid for…well…nothing, I guess
• Earth without art is just “eh”
• The three laws of art are: create, create, create again
• If you run out of blue, just use red
• I’m an artist because I can’t tolerate reality
• My art isn’t about pretty things. My art is about real life
• I never stop until I’m proud, which is rare
• You use an iPad. I use an Etch-A-Sketch. We are not the same
• Art is contagious. Pass it on
• I look like I’m listening to you. But in my mind, I’m drawing
• Some call it imagination. I call it anxiety

Instagram Bios for a Sketch Artist

I have 0 artistic ability, so if you can sketch a beautiful picture, I envy you. Here are some of the best bios we could come up with to show off your skills and your temperament: 

• An artist who gets it right on the first attempt
• I draw art without an eraser
• Art is only art when it is free
• Every artist was at first an amateur
• Sketching is everything
• A sketch artist who never looks at her watch
• I love all kinds of art, so long as it’s sketching
• Every morning I wake up looking forward to losing myself completely
• Sketching is my form of dancing
• No matter where I am, sketching takes me somewhere else
• All about that Etch-A-Sketch life
• I peaked in 3rd-grade art class
• Sketch artist life: It’s worse than you think
• Currently living on a bridge drawing sketches of tourists
• If my art career fails, I could always join the circus
• Don’t get angry at me. I just draw what I see
• My apartment isn’t a closet. It’s a “small studio”
• Why doesn’t anyone ask me to “draw me like your French girls”
• I have a retirement plan: sitting in my garden sketching
• There’s not much difference between a sketch artist and an architect – other than the tax bracket

Cool Artist Instagram Bios

A cool Instagram artist bio will show the world that you really love art and everything you do. If you live to make art, these bios are for you:

• Art expresses what humanity cannot
• Drawing is your heart making music
• All I want to do is paint without being bothered
• There is no purpose in art other than the purpose we give it
• Art is emotion in color
• Art is the ultimate form of self-expression
• An artist’s world is limitless
• The most valuable thing about art is that it cannot be explained
• An artist cannot fail, because there is no goal
• In art, I find myself and lose myself at the same time
• Today’s plan: paint, paint, and paint again
• There’s no such thing as perfect, only…well…perfect
• Seek | Strive | Be in it with all your heart
• Time doesn’t change things. We change things
• As an artist, I am a channel for things that others can’t see
• Living each day by deepening the mystery
• You cannot execute anything with the hand that the heart does not feel
• I live to make my unknown known
• Everything I create in my heart moves others
• I paint not to make a living, but to occupy myself
• Say less | Create more

Unique Art Instagram Bios

In a world where everyone uses the exact same bio formulas, having a unique bio will show that you’re authentic and willing to connect. Here are our top 20 picks:

• Art is not a mirror. It’s a hammer that shapes the world
• Art is my way of not being overwhelmed by reality
• My urge to create balances my urge to destroy
• I make something out of nothing…and I sell it
• What force is more potent than art?
• I make art. I just don’t call it that
• I paint artworks and force my way into their secrets
• The first mistake of the artist is to take themselves too seriously
• Art isn’t about making money. It’s about making your soul grow
• Art gives the lifeless life
• There is no retirement in art, for everything you create lives forever
• I never finish anything. My projects are merely abandoned
• I live to send light into the darkness
• Art is not a lie. It is ideas that make us see the truth
• Greatness comes from a series of small things put together
• Painting is easy when you don’t know how, but very difficult if you do
• My strokes are like speech. I don’t even think about doing it
• I do art to avoid the evil of being idle
• As an artist, I wish you could take me as I am
• Art is conducive to happiness

Instagram Bio Ideas for 3D Artists

Technology has revolutionized the art world…and for the better. 3D artists are responsible for some of the most amazing artwork and special effects in history, so don’t be shy and show it to the world:

• Creating art in three dimensions | DM for inquiries
• Why have 3 when you can have 2?
• 3D artist | Animator | Creator
• Busy making space in places most can’t imagine
• Check out my 3D art YouTube channel!
• My imagination creates 3D characters and brings them to life
• I draw dreams in 3D
• 3D artist specializing in digital prints for [business niche]
• Three-dimension art with a professional touch
• Why stop at brushes and pencils, when you can be limitless in 3D?
• Every animation has beauty, but only a few can truly see it
• The greater you are, the greater you doubt
• I’m here to live out loud
• I create with a keyboard, not with my hands
• [name] | You’ve probably seen my work in [publication]
• There is nothing abstract about 3D art. You always start with something
• The best thing about digital art is you never run out of ideas or possibilities
• Cheers to freedom. Cheers to art
• A good software is my sanctuary
• There is no right way. Only your way

Makeup Artists

If it weren’t for makeup artists, nobody would watch movies or TV. If your passion is making other people look beautiful and confident, show that in your bio!:

• Professional makeup and lash artist in [city]
• Beginner makeup artist | Looking for models to practice with
• I make people as beautiful on the outside as they are on the inside
• Making women feel good in their skin
• If you’re going to be two-faced, make sure one of them is pretty
• No amount of makeup can mask an ugly heart
• I like playing with makeup and clothes
• I can change your whole attitude just by changing your lipstick
• You’re beautiful without makeup, but a little bit couldn’t hurt
• Good makeup is the first step towards having a good day
• No one is a supermodel to her makeup artist
• There’s no limit to how awesome lipstick can be when you get it right
• Never underestimate the importance of hydrating every day
• As a makeup artist, I feel like a dentist. Nobody wants to come see me when they need it
• I’m basically a glorified face painter
• You learn more about yourself the more you put makeup on other people
• I don’t wear too much makeup, I swear…why are you looking at me like that?
• I’ve been a makeup artist since I was 12 when I started putting makeup on my sister’s face
• Makeup isn’t everything, but it does make you look better on TV
• I’ll never ask if your eyebrows are real. I promise

5-Step Guide to Creating a Great Instagram Bio for an Artist (With Examples)

Look, it’s hard enough to get work as an artist. No need to make it any harder.

A great Instagram bio is one of the most effective ways to grow your Instagram account, sway a client’s opinion, and get business. In fact, your Instagram bio could easily make the difference between gaining more influence – and work – and losing out to others.

Your artist bio should state exactly what you do, what you stand for, and why you make art. It should also provide a way for customers to contact you as well as a REASON for them to do so.

This is where most artists get it wrong…and you can get it right.

We’re going to take some examples from some of the platform’s most famous artists and break them down piece by piece. Just emulate them with your own little twist, and you’ll be ahead of the game.

Let’s get to it:

Step 1: Put Your Best Foot Forward

Source: Shantell_Martin

Your Instagram bio should immediately hook visitors and wow them with your past experience. This is one of the best ways to gain followers and potential customers.

Shantell does this to perfection by flexing her past achievements. This is similar to how authors lead with things like “New York Times Bestselling Author”. 

Shantell shows off her museum exhibits and all of her past positions at major universities. I don’t expect you to have this level of credentials, but anything you’ve got like a teaching position or awards will do.

Step 2: Sprinkle in a Bit of humor

Source: @JR

Humor is one of the best ways to improve signups. Use it.

People love connecting with authentic human beings, and prefer when professionals and influencers don’t take themselves too seriously. JR does it perfectly here by poking a little fun at himself.

If you can get people laughing in your Instagram bio, you’ve got a way better chance of getting more followers ( and more business) .

Step 3: State Exactly What You Do

Source: Edoaratresoldiofficial

The artist of absent matter…

Edoardo Tresoldi is a well-known artist whose bio states exactly what he does ( and who he is) . 

This lets visitors know immediately what to expect from you. It’s also a bit like step #1 in that it shows your best achievements right off the bat.

The perfect Instagram bio should let a potential customer know that they are in the right place. Now, anyone who lands on this Instagram page knows that Edoardo is the type of artist they’d like to work with.

For you, you could put something like “headshot photographer”, “impressionist painter”, or even “graphic designer for Fortune 500 companies”. Whatever it is you do, add it to your art Instagram bio.

Step 4: Add links to Your Website

Source: Caistudio

Add links to the bottom of your Instagram artist bio showing people where to find you and what you have to offer.

You could even post multiple links inside of that link that point to other important websites. For example, Caistudio adds a little +1 next to the link denoting that there’s another link in there. That link points to their TED Talks. 

This adds even more panache to his name and instills more trust in the visitor.

At the very least, add some links to other pages you own, your university, projects you’ve worked on, or causes you support.

Step 5: Add an Offer or a CTA

Source: Juliaspowellart

If you’re offering products or services, it’s important to let people know what they’re getting and how they’re getting it.

Julia S. Powell has a great Instagram bio because she lets people know what she does AND what she offers. Then, she adds a clear call to action with details. 

She tells people to DM or email her, then tells them that she ships worldwide. This not only nudges people to contact her but it explains why they should.

This is textbook online business. Good job, Julia.

You absolutely must have a compelling Instagram bio if you want to increase followers and earn potential business.

You only get 150 characters to grab someone’s attention and turn them into a follower.

Your Instagram bio must:

• State what you do
• Tell a bit about you
• Show people what you offer
• Give them a reason to follow or contact you

I hope you found the perfect Instagram bio in this massive list. And if you didn’t, you now have seen some great artist bio examples and our process for creating a bio.

The next step for you is to learn 15 ways to grow your Instagram page . Once your bio is set, the sky is the limit.

Which Instagram bio did you choose? Let us know. 

Good luck!  

Editorial Process:

Our reviews are made by a team of experts before being written and come from real-world experience. Read our editorial process here .

Some of the links in this article may be affiliate links, which can provide compensation to us at no cost to you if you decide to purchase a paid plan. These are products we’ve personally used and stand behind. This site is not intended to provide financial advice. You can read our affiliate disclosure in our privacy policy .

Adam Enfroy

We test and review software products based on an independent, multi-point methodology. If you use our links to purchase something, we earn a commission. Read our editorial process and disclosures .

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The Makeup Artist at Ground Zero of Internet Beauty Culture

By Rachel Syme

In 1953, Marilyn Monroe asked her longtime makeup artist Allan Snyder to sneak into the hospital where she was briefly admitted after filming “Gentlemen Prefer Blondes,” so that he could powder her nose. According to Snyder, Monroe also asked that he do the same after her death, and gave him an engraved money clip to remind him to get to her while she was “still warm.” In 1962, Snyder touched up Monroe’s visage for her funeral, and served as one of her pallbearers. Not long ago, Mario Dedivanovic, who has spent twelve years painting the face of the reality-TV mogul Kim Kardashian West , and who considers Snyder a spiritual mentor, texted me an article from a women’s magazine revealing Snyder’s “eight beauty secrets.” He noted that Snyder had used Vaseline as a highlighter—Dedivanovic does, too, though he prefers another emollient jelly, Elizabeth Arden’s Eight Hour Cream, which is the color and consistency of linden honey. Snyder was known to dust the tip of Monroe’s nose with blush in order to give it the impression of being more snubbed; Dedivanovic often engineers a similar trompe l’oeil on West’s nose, applying dark powder onto either side—part of the process known as contouring—to make it appear narrower. “Omg the similarities are uncanny,” Dedivanovic wrote. “I often wonder what it was like. I can imagine actually what it was like.”

West, who has a hundred and eighty-six million Instagram followers (only five people, including West’s half sister Kylie Jenner, have more), has inspired countless women to sport the “soft glam” look that Dedivanovic first gave her in 2008: airbrushed skin, sculpted cheekbones, peachy-pink blush, a “bronzy eye,” long false eyelashes, and dewy highlighter, all “baked”—an industry term for setting with loose powder—to a matte finish, like the shell of a cage-free egg. Dedivanovic’s method is a twist on a practice that dates back to the Elizabethan era, and that was later adopted by the drag community. Contouring was ideal for black-and-white film, a medium of light and shadow, and was used in early Hollywood by makeup artists such as the Polish beautician Max Factor (né Maksymilian Faktorowicz). It also proved, a century later, to look great on Instagram. West started using the app to post selfies in 2012, and her signature look seemed to replicate spontaneously on the site: countless mini-Kims with pouty nude lips (dubbed, with no small amount of snickering misogyny, “duck face”), beige on every surface, and hair pulled back into a bun so severe that it doubled as an eye lift.

In 2015, contouring was a “priority category” at Sephora, which began to sell a wide variety of contouring “palettes,” featuring powders and creams in tones from vanilla to espresso bean. Some kits came with instructions: paint stripes of dark color on features you want to recede (jowls, hairline, chin) and light color where you want to draw focus (cheekbones, the bridge of the nose, the philtrum), then furiously blend. The backlash came swiftly. The legendary makeup artist Bobbi Brown said in an interview in 2015, “When I see contouring on people’s faces, it looks like dirt.” That year, Pati Dubroff, a makeup artist for Charlize Theron and Dakota Johnson who now works for Chanel, posted a picture on Instagram of a contoured face in progress, which was striped like the skin of a lionfish, and wrote, “i would NEVER SUFFOCATE THE SKIN or create a MASK LIKE CREATURE like this.”

The Kardashian family face continued to flood the visual field. (With the exception of Kendall Jenner , a high-fashion model, West’s sisters all wore the look.) Previously, makeup artists had worked almost in secret; Dedivanovic soon found himself in an unexpectedly public position. West seemed genuinely fascinated by Dedivanovic’s ability to mold her face into different shapes, and she spoke often about his work, to anyone who would listen, with the giddy enthusiasm of a college student who has just discovered existentialism. When Dedivanovic would casually mention a product in an interview, such as Ben Nye’s “banana powder,” a pale-yellow talcum mixture from a theatrical-makeup brand that has been in business since 1967, it would sell out, or quickly triple in price. (Dedivanovic, for his part, uses banana powder less than he once did, having found that the daffodil color, on certain skin tones, turns slightly garish when illuminated by flashbulbs.)

Dedivanovic, who is thirty-seven, grew up in the Bronx. His parents are Albanians from Montenegro. He has an angular, lupine jawline and the bifurcated mustache of a young Errol Flynn. He is soft-spoken and, by his own admission, sometimes insecure. He is prone to crying, particularly when talking about his mother. For years, he hated the way his nose looked, and contemplated rhinoplasty. He did not talk at all in interviews or videos about his private life, and maintained the same discretion with his celebrity clientele. “Mario is probably one of the only people that I could trust—like really trust, like ‘Oh, my God, don’t tell anyone I’m pregnant’ kind of trust, you know?” West told me last year by phone, from Los Angeles. “I’m not pregnant, by the way,” she added.

Dedivanovic came up in the industry before the advent of “beauty influencers”—online personalities who present cosmetics tutorials on platforms like YouTube and TikTok —but he is arguably at ground zero for contemporary Internet beauty culture. Arabelle Sicardi, a journalist who is currently writing a book about the concept of “beauty as terror,” described Dedivanovic to me as “the Venn-diagram middle point of Internet and celebrity.” His client roster has expanded beyond West to include other famous women, such as Kate Bosworth, Naomie Harris, Jennifer Lopez, Salma Hayek, and Demi Lovato. He did Lovato’s makeup for the most recent Grammys, where she shed a single tear during her performance. Dedivanovic, who was watching her on a monitor from about twenty feet away, told me that he briefly feared that his “career would be over” if her mascara ran. It stayed put.

Dedivanovic is perhaps best known for the Masterclass, a live event attended by aspiring makeup artists, who pay as much as seventeen hundred dollars (when West sits as the model) to observe him doing makeup for up to eight hours. A natural pedagogue, Dedivanovic told me that he feels his main purpose now is to educate other artists on how to pare back the excess that he himself partially inspired. He uses contouring only sparingly these days, and never, he told me, on very pale skin. Earlier this year, he taught a group of students in a small workshop in Chelsea. “My goal was to get them in there and see the type of work that they’re doing and then help them to sort of elevate a little bit,” he said. “And I literally, you know, I went one by one to all the students, like, ‘No, don’t contour her nose. No, don’t contour her chin.’ I probably redid ninety per cent of the eyebrows.” Makeup can be a form of personal expression, but, for a professional makeup artist, one of the allures of the job is the ability to have total control—over how a person looks and over products that require precise implementation. What bothered Dedivanovic most about watching the contouring trend explode, he told me, was that it “took on a life of its own”—one that he could not contain.

In November of last year, Dedivanovic accepted the Artistic Achievement Award at the second annual American Influencer Awards, in Los Angeles. West, dressed in a scarlet Dior gown with a high neck, presented him with the prize. “We’ve worked together for eleven years,” she said. “Eleven years of fights. You guys, we fight like, you don’t even understand, we fight like brother and sister. But he’s created some of my most magical memories, and really, I believe, made me who I am today.”

In his speech, Dedivanovic came out in public, calling himself “a proud gay man.” He said that, in the summer of 2018, he had purchased a plot of land in rural Montenegro, where his father was born. “But I can’t build the home that my father dreams of,” he said, weeping openly, “because I still feel ashamed when I set foot on that land.” The revelation might have seemed a relic of another time—but, the following month, Dedivanovic told me that it had changed everything. “I was always ashamed,” he said, as we sat in his office space in midtown. “In my mind, I was in a prison.” He no longer wanted a nose job. “I love my nose right now—I would never change it,” he said. “And I would go naked right now, honestly, in the middle of the street, and not give a shit. My life has opened up. Every block that I had built, every defense mechanism that I’ve built from the age of two or three, has just one by one been coming down.” His sister had given him a pumpkin pie, and he offered me a slice. “I eat pie now,” he said.

He was also ready to realize a dream that he had been harboring for two decades: to launch a makeup line of his own. While some have suggested that the beauty market is so saturated that even a major name like Dedivanovic’s could have trouble drawing customers, he explained to me that what would make his line stand out was his almost maniacal attention to detail. Dedivanovic had spent years testing and refining products. Most laboratories allow the brands they work with to make three tweaks on a product before it is manufactured. Dedivanovic told me that he had far exceeded that number, often asking for dozens of tweaks.

The packaging for his brand, Makeup by Mario, had been finalized when, in March, New York City went on lockdown. Overnight, Dedivanovic, who lives on the Upper East Side, found himself without an income. He cancelled his celebrity bookings and scuttled the remaining Masterclass sessions on the calendar. The industry was in chaos. It seemed ludicrous to painstakingly dab on concealer that would be covered by a mask. Still, he believed that there was a need for a line that would enable beauty enthusiasts to do their faces like professionals. When things are chaotic, order and ritual become even more crucial. “I’m creating a legacy brand,” he told me. “Every product is going to help people out there to fix things and to clean things up.”

The Masterclass is run by Dedivanovic’s older sister Marina, his cousin Diana Benitez, and another cousin’s wife, Gina Dedivani. On a sweltering day last summer, Dedivanovic met them at the Bronx home of his parents, to discuss an upcoming class in Chicago. The house, which is ranch style, in a suburban neighborhood called Country Club, smelled of potpourri and fried sausages. Lula, Dedivanovic’s seventy-three-year-old mother, a petite woman with a chestnut bob, had set out a full Albanian buffet, including a bowl of boiled beets and a tray of pickled cabbage.

In the dining room, Marina, a forty-year-old former nurse, with straight ash-blond hair and wire-framed glasses, sat at the head of a cherrywood table in a black cardigan, taking notes on a laptop. Dedivanovic sat across from her in a white T-shirt and baggy black athletic shorts, stroking the tiny skull of a Chihuahua perched on his lap and worrying about the quality of the projector at Chicago’s Victory Gardens Theatre. Next to Marina sat the Masterclass’s social-media manager, Bana Beckovic, who is not related to Dedivanovic (although, he told me later, “she is also Albanian”). Beckovic was the only person at the table wearing the type of heavy makeup, including false eyelashes, that evoked West’s. In the living room, Dedivanovic’s father, Tom, a tall, gruff man with a woolly mustache, sat on the couch watching Fox News.

Lula took a seat next to Dedivanovic. “Mario is the best child,” she said, beaming. “The best one.” Lula grew up in a shepherding family in a mountain village called Tuzi, in Montenegro, a tiny country wedged between Serbia and Albania. She did not go to school. She knew of Tom, who worked as a mail carrier, through a cousin. She saw him when he came to ask her father for her hand in marriage, she explained, and “maybe one other time, in church.” The next time she saw him was on their wedding day. The Dedivanovics emigrated in 1974. Tom eventually found work as the superintendent of an apartment building in the Bronx, where he, Lula, and their three children—Mario is the youngest—occupied a small apartment. When Mario was three years old, Lula went to work as a cleaner in Manhattan, in lavish Upper East Side homes and at the corporate headquarters of the cosmetics conglomerate L’Oréal. Lula didn’t wear makeup—she still doesn’t—but she often brought free products home from work for her two daughters.

Dedivanovic remembers an early attraction to the L’Oréal swag. “I would see a product in the bathroom or somewhere in the house when I was alone, and I would pick it up and feel it,” he said. “I wouldn’t have dared to touch my face with it, but I definitely swatched and touched and felt them.” When he was in elementary school, he often asked his father to drive him north of the Bronx to see “the beautiful gardens in Westchester,” which he liked for their symmetry. “My dad wasn’t really fond of it,” he said. Dedivanovic was twelve when he got his first job, bagging groceries. His next job was at the Bronx Zoo, where he sold pretzels and was later promoted to manager of the hot-dog stand. He then began busing tables on the weekends at a red-sauce restaurant in Little Italy. In 2000, when he was seventeen, he and his mother walked past the tri-level Sephora flagship store, on Fifty-first Street and Fifth Avenue. The French multinational beauty chain, whose black-and-white striped exterior resembles a travelling-carnival tent, had opened its first outlets in Manhattan the year before. It was a novelty concept: half department store, half professional supply cabinet.

That day, Dedivanovic applied to become a Sephora “cast member.” (Sephora’s terminology has an operatic quality: the store is known as “the stage,” the shelves are called “gondolas.”) He got a job in the fragrance department of the Nineteenth Street store. Cast members at the time wore a single black glove; female employees had to wear red lipstick. Dedivanovic bleached his hair and got a fake I.D. so that he could go to downtown clubs like Limelight and the Roxy with his new co-workers. Karina Capone, who now works in product development for cosmetics companies including Estée Lauder and Revlon, worked in makeup—what Sephora calls the “color department.” Dedivanovic, Capone recalled, was “this slick, skinny blond kid who kind of looked like Leonardo DiCaprio, but super nice, you know?” She continued, “Slowly, I could see makeup was pulling him in. Always, when we had a shortage of staff on the floor, he was very excited and willing to help the customers that were looking for the foundation.”

Dedivanovic brought home cosmetics samples from work and stashed them in a Nike shoebox under his bed. One day, his oldest sister, Vicky, showed the box to his mother, and the result was a family argument. “I was unhappy,” Lula said. “Because we don’t know nothing about makeup. Not those days. I said, ‘No, honey, you have to do something. You have to finish school.’ ” Dedivanovic ran away from home, staying in Stuyvesant Town, at the apartment of a friend he had made while hanging around the restaurant Cafeteria, in Chelsea. When he returned to the Bronx, two weeks later, he shoved the shoebox back under his bed, and his parents did not mention it again.

Dedivanovic’s first in-store makeover on a Sephora shopper took almost three hours. “I used this pearly-white eyeshadow,” he recalled recently. “And I remember my boss said, ‘Mario, it’s beautiful, but it took too long.’ ” Later, after transferring to the color department at the flagship location, Dedivanovic was recruited by a representative for Lorac, a cosmetics line founded in 1995 by the makeup artist Carol Shaw, whose clients included Nicole Kidman, Cindy Crawford, and Debra Messing. He became a kind of travelling salesman for the brand, visiting Sephoras all over Manhattan to push rosewood lip liners and tawny blush.

Dedivanovic’s makeup career outside Sephora began in 2001, when he assisted several established makeup artists, including Billy B., Isabel Perez, and Kabuki Starshine, who worked on “Sex and the City” and created the eccentric club-kid looks (Kiss-esque white greasepaint, spindly spider lashes, overdrawn, clownish lips) that the 2003 film “Party Monster” made famous. In the meantime, Dedivanovic gathered his friends in his apartment to take “test shots” for his portfolio. In 2007, he landed a part-time job doing touch-ups for the on-air talent at Fox News.

The female anchors on Fox wanted to look battle-ready yet feminine, with cheekbones that “popped” on television. Dedivanovic turned to a style of contouring, which he called his “glam look,” that requires a great deal of blending and buffing. He gained a reputation around the Fox News building for making women look lacquered and pristine. Julie Banderas, who was then the host of “Fox Report Weekend,” told me, “The first time he did my makeup, people thought I’d had a nose job. People thought that my cheeks were more sunken, that I had lost weight.”

Dedivanovic met West in 2008, on a shoot for the cover of the Hamptons life-style publication Social Life. She had grown up in the shadow of the O. J. Simpson trial; her father, the attorney Robert Kardashian, had been a longtime friend of Simpson’s, and her mother, Kris Jenner, had been a friend of Nicole Brown’s. The reality show “Keeping Up with the Kardashians” had débuted on E! the year before. “I don’t really know how to explain it,” West recalled. “I just came alive when Mario did my makeup.” Immediately after the shoot, she asked Dedivanovic to walk with her through Henri Bendel to buy every product he’d used. In the next year, Dedivanovic did her makeup in a series of three fitness videos called “Fit in Your Jeans by Friday,” in which she did abdominal crunches in a latex bodysuit and silver hoop earrings. West also continued to hire him for photo shoots and press junkets in New York and Los Angeles.

Dedivanovic often tells the story of how, when he started doing West’s makeup, his booking agent told him that, if he ever wanted to work on a Vogue cover, he needed to cut ties with her. “I get it,” he told me. “At this time—and we’re talking eleven years ago—a reality star was not a known thing. They just knew Paris Hilton, that was it.” He and his agent parted ways, and he kept working with West. He went on to do her makeup for six Vogue covers, including one in which she posed in a cherry-red helmet, her lips glassy crimson. He was also the head artist for West’s wedding to the rapper Kanye West, in 2014, which took place over several days at Versailles and at an Italian castle once owned by the Medici family.

As West broadcast her life, she documented and promoted the people responsible for her image, such as her longtime hair stylist, Chris Appleton, and her brow expert, Anastasia Soare. In 2009, she suggested that she and Dedivanovic film a YouTube video together. In it, he re-created the biscotti-hued maquillage he had used on her for a recent cover of Vegas magazine. In the first moments of the video, Dedivanovic, with the gelled, spiky hair of a boy-band tenor, looks jittery, but he soon finds his rhythm, affecting a professorial tone. He grabs a hot-pink ovoid sponge. “This is called a Beautyblender,” he says, holding the sponge like a science teacher holding up an owl pellet. “And you can get it at places like Ricky’s or Alcone, in New York. You basically wet it, and you squeeze it, and it becomes fluffy, and it just really presses in the makeup and blends it beautifully.”

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Shortly after the tutorial appeared on YouTube, Dedivanovic, who lived in Astoria, Queens, at the time, found his MySpace and Facebook pages flooded with messages. “Makeup questions like ‘I have dark circles. What do you recommend?’ Or ‘My highlighter runs. What can I do?’ ” He took to spending hours of every day answering the questions, and discovered that he had an aptitude for education. In 2010, he briefly moved to Los Angeles to be closer to West, and there he launched an early version of the Masterclass, which he called the Workshop. He did a second, similar course in New York. Lula made chicken and Albanian bread to serve as a buffet. The class grew into a full-time business, selling out theatres in Miami, Sydney, London, and Dubai. His largest class, at the Palace of Congresses in Tirana, Albania, had more than two thousand students.

In his early courses, Dedivanovic taught the method that he used on West when they began working together, starting with thick, Nutella-colored stripes across the cheeks. In the years since, he has stressed that this exaggerated application should be reserved for formal events. For the daytime, he prefers a subtler, sun-kissed glow—a deceptively “natural” effect that takes more than a dozen products and at least an hour to achieve. Still, at a Masterclass in Chicago last August, which began before nine in the morning, I noticed that most attendees had shiny blowouts and were wearing high-drama looks, including false eyelashes.

When Dedivanovic teaches, he works offstage, in the wings, while a cameraman films his hands, beaming the feed to a giant high-definition screen. This way, he can stand close to a large table, invisible to the audience, covered with under-eye concealers in every shade, lipsticks smooshed into clear tackle boxes, stacks of shearling-soft powder puffs, breath mints, and Wet Ones baby wipes. The Masterclass follows an unusual Socratic format: students are encouraged to shout out their questions from their seats. Dedivanovic answers, using a headset microphone, in a mesmerizing stream-of-consciousness monologue. “I’m going to use a lot of makeup, a shitload of products,” he said to the packed room the day I attended. “But pay attention to my layering and blending. You are going to see in the end that, once the makeup is done, even though I’ve used so much product and so many techniques on this model’s face, in person she’s going to look softer, more feminine, not intimidating. Very doll-like.” The woman sitting next to me scribbled the word “doll” in her notebook and circled it.

He began the class by manicuring the model’s eyebrows. The trick for getting the brows to stay put, he said, is to use the latex adhesive Pros-Aide. A few members of the audience gasped. “This glue is very strong,” he said. “I don’t want you to all go out and buy this if you’re not used to it, because it will stay on your hands for days.”

Around hour three, he started applying eyeliner. “Do you want me to use brown or black?” he asked. Several people in the crowd yelled out, “Brown!”

“Oh, wow, why?” Dedivanovic said.

“Because it’s softer!” one woman yelled from the back of the theatre.

“You guys need to stop acting like you’re not all drag queens,” Dedivanovic teased; for all his emphasis on restraint, he is aware that something else made him famous. “I know what you guys wear, I know how you wear your makeup. You guys want to act all chic and natural but . . .”

Cries of “Black!” started to come from various corners of the room.

Dedivanovic laughed. “You see how the truth comes out?” he said.

In the years since Dedivanovic started doing West’s makeup, influencers have become some of the most powerful people in the beauty business. Zoella Sugg, a British “hauler”—a term used to describe people who show off their purchases in videos—has more than eleven million subscribers on YouTube. Jeffree Star, a rainbow-haired electro-pop musician, was a fixture on MySpace before he migrated to YouTube, where he now has more than seventeen million subscribers; since 2014, he has had his own line of Day-Glo cosmetics. Huda Kattan, an Iraqi-American from Oklahoma, started her beauty empire with a WordPress blog in 2010; she now has more than forty-seven million followers on Instagram. She also has her own gondola at Sephora, and, in 2017, Time named her one of its “25 Most Influential People on the Internet.” On TikTok, an even younger crop of stars has emerged, with their own hyper-specific skills: ethereal raver pastels inspired by the HBO show “Euphoria,” neon cut creases, cosplay cosmetics, makeup you can apply to your character in the popular Nintendo video game Animal Crossing. Just this summer, a group of TikTok-famous beauty influencers, including La Demi and Cole Carrigan, decided to move into a Beverly Hills mansion they call the Glam House, from which they will broadcast primping content around the clock.

As the Internet has opened up new avenues of experimentation and education, cosmetics have ballooned into a multibillion-dollar business. The makeup-line “drop” is akin to the release of a limited-edition sneaker or a pop album. When Rihanna released her line, Fenty Beauty, in Sephora stores, in 2017, the brand pulled in more than a hundred million dollars in less than forty days. KKW Beauty, West’s own brand, which launched in 2017 as well, sold $14.4 million in contour kits in less than three hours. Influencers get in on the action, too, releasing regular “collaborations” with brands including Anastasia Beverly Hills and Morphe. Sephora remains a valuable showroom for products, but newer, direct-to-consumer brands, like the minimalist line Glossier, have also flourished.

Dedivanovic claims not to be in competition with any other brand, but a stroll through Sephora on a drizzly afternoon last October told a slightly different story. As he walked past a glittery, highly pigmented eyeshadow palette, he took a swipe of an acid-green color with his finger and wrinkled his nose. He lingered over the Nars gondola, calling François Nars, a legendary makeup artist who launched his brand in 1994, an inspiration. Dedivanovic is most drawn to product lines developed by other successful makeup artists: Troy Surratt, Pat McGrath , Laura Mercier, Bobbi Brown. In late 2019, he hired Alicia Valencia, a beauty executive, to serve as his global president. Valencia had overseen the global expansion of McGrath’s and Brown’s lines, and worked at Estée Lauder for twenty-three years. She told me, “Mario is, to me, this generation’s Bobbi Brown. It’s, like, yes, he could glam it up so much more than Bobbi did, but, I mean, the reality is that he does things in a way where it’s easy to understand, and there’s a why to every product and technique.”

In December, Dedivanovic released a technical brush collection with Sephora; it was, a representative told me, the fastest-selling collaboration in the store’s history. What Dedivanovic is really selling, perhaps, is his proximity to celebrities and the trust they put in him. The new beauty influencers, by contrast, don’t need to touch stars’ faces; they are the stars. The hugely successful twenty-one-year-old YouTuber James Charles, who, at seventeen, became the first male face of CoverGirl, makes elaborate videos for his sixteen million subscribers, but, as he told me, he is neither a makeup artist nor a professional teacher. “What I do is make entertainment content that happens to be about the beauty topic,” he said. He admires Dedivanovic, he hastened to add: “I think it’s always important to, like, respect your elders.”

The beauty-influencer world is rife with cliques and feuds, scandals and dethronements. Dedivanovic has, for the most part, resisted such drama. He refused to put his Masterclasses online, even as the pandemic wiped out his live-event revenue; he was waiting for a way to stream that could catch the micro-movements of his brushes. He had never used himself as a model until quarantine compelled him to test out his product line on his own face. As he insists to his students, it is control and consistency, not gimmickry, that make for a sustainable cosmetics career. He opens every Masterclass by telling attendees that, above all, he wants them to be able to make money doing timeless, glamorous makeup for weddings or quinceañeras. He also warns them that it took him two decades to perfect what he is about to do. “I tell you that,” he says, “so you don’t give up on your dream, or on yourselves.”

There are fewer weddings happening during the pandemic. And yet, as Dedivanovic put it, “we all have more time now.” There is a savviness to his business model, which relies on the language of education and mastery. Time-intensive, absorbing hobbies—sourdough baking, calligraphy—give everyone what he called an “instant hit of dopamine.” It was the playful, addictive side of makeup that Dedivanovic learned from Sephora, where amateurs were given the opportunity to feel like professionals. “They used to have this gondola at Nineteenth and Fifth, right in the front of the store,” he told me last fall, when we were walking through the Sephora near his apartment. He shut his eyes, recalling the moment when he felt he had become an artist. “It was like a rainbow of lipstick. I mean, yellow, green, blue, any color you can imagine. And that was the area where a woman asked me to help her choose a lipstick.” He had selected a “reddish shade” for the customer, who tried it on and told him she loved it. “That was the first time I thought, I can actually do this,” he said, his voice breaking. “It was like an epiphany: This is it. This is what I want to do.”

A moment later, several salespeople—these days known as “beauty advisers”—nervously approached Dedivanovic to ask for selfies. One young brunette, with a bright streak of magenta eyeliner running across her lids, said, “I know you’re from the Bronx, and your parents are immigrants, and you really didn’t have much when you first started.” She took a breath. “I can relate to that. My parents are from Colombia, and I was born on Long Island.”

“Yes!” Dedivanovic said, nodding along emphatically. She told him that she planned to work for free, doing makeup at children’s hospitals.

“I worked for free for many years myself,” Dedivanovic said. “You have to take the job you have here and use it to your benefit. This will make you a stronger person, a stronger artist, a stronger woman.”

Another employee, with a slicked-back ponytail and understated makeup in a sandy shade, tapped Dedivanovic on the shoulder. “Is it really you?” she asked. He nodded, staring at her face. “How did you put together your look?” he asked.

“These are three-dollar lashes,” she said, giggling. Later, as the woman walked away, he pursed his lips and softly inhaled, a small gesture of delight.

“Her look was very editorial in her own little way,” he said. “Like, she’s a glam girl, with full coverage on. But she did it in a way which is almost reminiscent of how I like it, where she left a lot of elements out. No liner, no shadow.” He looked suddenly reinvigorated. “I love it. That’s what gets me excited.” ♦

An earlier version of this article misstated the name of a theatre in Chicago.

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By Molly Fischer

How Danessa Myricks "Accidentally" Became a Makeup Artist, Photographer, and Brand Owner

By Jihan Forbes

"What was your big break?" It's a question people often ask of celebrities, but at Allure, the beauty professionals and brand founders are the celebrities. In My Beauty Break , we'll dig into the behind-the-scenes details — the money, the aha! moments, and the mistakes — of the biggest brands in the industry. The following interview has been edited for length and clarity.

Danessa Myricks is your makeup artist's favorite makeup artist. When she launched her namesake brand years ago, her color cosmetics could be found at pro stores — and in the kits of any artist who wanted to create a "look" (and not just the everyday fresh face). Her unconventional products were for unconventional (and striking) makeup. 

All this is quite ironic when you consider that the self-taught Myricks calls herself an "accidental makeup artist."

If we rewind time, her career started as a sales and marketing director for a company that published hair magazines. "I was the corny nerd girl in the corner," she tells Allure . "There was nothing cool or trendy about me at all." She would often see makeup artists come in for shoots and marvel at their vibe and the joy and creativity radiating from them. After some years on the job, the magazine owner announced the company was closing and Myricks had 30 days to figure out what she was going to do next. "I was 30 at the time," she says, "so it wasn't like I was fresh out of school or anything." But, after a moment of reflection — and a minor freakout over what she would do next — Myricks saw she had the opportunity to follow her passion. That passion was (and still is!) makeup artistry. Thinking back to that time, she says, "I wanted to be excited to wake up every day and be passionate about what I'm doing. Freedom was always something that was this carrot in front of me — just being free with my time, with my lifestyle."

So, Myricks did what any nerd would do — she hit the books to learn all about the ins and outs of makeup artistry. Her former employer's connections would eventually lead her to some of her first (unpaid) gigs, which soon turned into paid ones, which then turned into masterclasses, which eventually led her to start her own brand. 

Fast forward to today, and you can now find Danessa Myricks Beauty on Sephora's shelves .

We spoke to Myricks about her journey, how she built her brand, and some of the challenges she's still facing as a brand owner — ones that she is happy to endure as the architect of what's turning out to be a beautiful legacy.

Allure : What were some of your first gigs as a makeup artist? Danessa Myricks: When I first started, it was about working for free. I honestly did a no-payment situation for almost a year because I really needed to get experienced. And luckily, there were two photographers that used to shoot for the magazine who knew me as one of the corporate people there. They knew I was a good worker, and they gave me an opportunity. Thankfully, over time people did allow me to actually touch them, and I learned — I learned through doing.

One of those photographers, Eric Van Lockhart, used to shoot all of the hair campaigns back then, all of the Black hair-care brands. He did the perm boxes and all that stuff. He recommended me for a job at Luster Products. And that's when I thought I had arrived. I felt more confident after doing that job.

By Aliza Kelly

By Sophie Saint Thomas

Allure : It's interesting you thought you had arrived because looking back it must feel like you "arrived" at just one step on what would be a huge journey. Myricks: It's so surreal, I can't even process it sometimes. If people only knew all of the things.

Allure : How would you describe your makeup aesthetic? Myricks: It's changed so much over the years. I think it's like this for everyone: When you start in an industry, you try to figure out who people think are the best. Then you just aspire to be that person. Back when I started, it was all about Sam Fine and Kevyn Aucoin, and so I was like, "I need to do makeup like that." 

Clearly, I didn't in the beginning, but that was my aspiration. And so I did makeup a lot heavier. Back then, it was about making it look flawless with the makeup, and there was no retouching really that was happening back then. So it was like, "I need to look flawless out the gate."

One of the things that really stood out to me about their work was that you felt something when you looked at their finished work. It moved you emotionally. That was my aspiration. I didn't want to just put makeup on people. I wanted people to feel the work. Because that's what makes it different, and that's always been what has driven me in my artistry and in the development of my style over the years. If they're not feeling it, it's not good enough.

As I grew in the industry and as I was exposed to more, my style and my aesthetic have kind of evolved over time. And now I'm really about full-on freedom. There's no right or wrong. I want people to do what they feel like doing, but make it feel effortless, make it really represent who they are.

Allure : When did you realize that you needed to start your brand? Myricks: I did development for lots of other brands. I think one of the ones that I'm most proud of is with Benefit Cosmetics as a director of product innovation. I developed their [Editor note: iconic] brow collection, which launched in 2016. And after that, I was like, "This is great. This is a really wonderful experience." But in my experience, not just with them, but with all of the brands that I consulted for, there always seemed to be a limit as to what I could create. I was always creating for somebody else's vision. 

I wanted to be able to tell my own story. I decided to leave Benefit and come back to New York and basically start from scratch again. I taught myself photography. I started developing one product at a time. And that's what led us to where we are today.

Allure : Where did your idea for products like Colorfix come from? Myricks: I did a lot of work with hair salons back [in the day] because they knew me from doing their photoshoots. After a while, people started to ask me if I would teach them [some of my techniques]. I started teaching and at the end of every session people were like, "OK, well, can I buy some product?" Throughout the entire presentation, I was always mixing things together, and layering things together. So I wound up mixing up concoctions to sell at the end of the classes.

 That's literally where it started.

I would put together these little kits, like cream pigment and powder, or a cream, a pigment, and a glitter. Or I'd do a cream, a pigment, and a mixing medium. [I started] making little kits in my basement and then selling them at the end of classes, and at shows.

Allure : When would you say was your big break?

Myricks: I think there were multiple ones. Every moment I thought my whole world was falling apart and I was the biggest failure, was the breakthrough to the next phase of my life. Like losing that job. Were it not for that happening, I would never have made a decision to break away and do something different and creative.

If it wasn't for me being so burnt out and tired from being a freelance makeup artist and consultant, I would have never taken that position at Benefit. If it wasn't for that experience, that on-the-job training, I would not ever have been prepared to develop my own products. And if it wasn't for me being so horrible as a makeup artist after reintroducing myself to the world again, I would have never picked up a camera, and I would have never seen makeup the way I see it now.

Allure : What has it been like going from seeing your products being embraced by makeup artists to now seeing them widely used by people everywhere? Myricks: It makes me emotional because being able to figure out ways to communicate our products to everyone has been very tricky for me. For so many years, I've mainly talked to artists. My whole conversation had to shift. It was like starting all over again because I had to really make [my products] digestible for everyone.

Now I get to see the average person use my products. I wanted to be able to shift the thinking about how people perceive makeup, how they use it, and how they play with it. To know that a housewife in Minnesota can have the same appreciation for Colorfix as the biggest artists in the world — I can't even put words to that.

Allure : One thing I've noticed is that people have been getting more artistic with their makeup. I think that it really did help set the stage for Danessa Myricks Beauty to soar, especially since that artistry aspect is so very much tied to your brand.

Myricks: I couldn't be happier about that. And that's another thing, the pandemic, as horrifying as the whole thing was, it really set the stage for our brand to be seen in a different light as well. I think people completely shifted their idea about using makeup. People want it easy and effortless. People are ready to break free and have more time to experiment. I think that time really gave people a different level of appreciation for what our brand offers.

Allure : Do you have any tips for small brands looking for funding? Myricks: To this day we are completely self-funded. We have never been able to get funding at all. I work and get money and then I decide is it going to go to my household or is it going to go to the business. That's how the brand grew. It always feels uphill in that process.

So what I would say — because this is a conversation I had to have with myself over and over again — you can slow down if you need to, you can pause for a second if you need to, but just don't stop . That's really the advice that I would give, just to keep plowing at it, keep pushing, keep moving forward. The time will come. The opportunity will come and will eventually turn over. I know it sounds like corny advice, but that really is it. The moment is going to come differently, the journey is different for everyone.

Allure : How much time these days are you spending on your business versus makeup artistry versus photography? Or are all those things intertwined?

Myricks : They absolutely are. But I'm so glad that you asked because the other word of advice I would say is don't stop creating . I went through a moment of feeling completely overwhelmed by deadlines, and all of the business elements. I realized in those moments when I focus completely on [creative pursuits], the business is thriving. It almost seems like it would be the opposite. But when I'm creating, that's when everything moves forward .

Now, I make sure that my week is split. The first part of my week is full-on, hardcore — we're in the meetings, we're in all of the things. Then midpoint to the end of the week, I switch the script and I'm full-on about creating. I have a model waiting for me now. I say to myself, "You can't stop doing makeup. You can't stop moving your ideas about beauty forward because the brand won't move forward." 

I really do work really hard to keep it balanced.

All products featured on Allure are independently selected by our editors. However, when you buy something through our retail links, we may earn an affiliate commission.

Read more stories about incredible brand founders.  

• Nicolas Travis on What It Takes to Launch Two Global Beauty Brands
• Clark's Botanicals' Founder Francesco Clark Turned a Life-Altering Event Into a Powerhouse Skin-Care Brand
• Tower28's Amy Liu Shares Her Secret for Pitching Sephora Successfully

Now watch Awkwafna try nine things she's never done before.  

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By Brennan Kilbane

By Beth Sobol

By Annie Blay

Debra has had the privilege to work with MAC Cosmetics, Ritz Carlton, Ford Models, Coast Magazine, L’Oreal, St. Regis, LA Models, Shu Uemura, Newport Beach Magazine, MLB Network, L.A.M.B, Estee Lauder Corporation, Dick’s Sporting Goods, Nordstrom, Enzoani Bridal, St. Joseph Health, Miss California USA, Brand Model & Talent, LA Fashion Week, Otto Models, Next Model Management, Vertis Communications, Elite Model Management, Knott’s Berry Farm, Walter Collection, Fashion for Lupus, CESD Talent Agency, Atelier Basil, Laguna Beach Magazine, Click Model Management, Miss Irvine USA, Vogue Salon, Glitter Girl, Influenza Magazine, Peak Model Management, Hoag Hospital, Furnishing Hope, Oblivion Clothing, When Love Happens, Q Models, The Elephant Man Foundation, Envy Model Management, Black Moth, Wunder Management, Toshiba, Cox Communications, Fox News, and Disney Resorts.

         Gina My love for makeup began early on as a preteen when I was working hard to hide my flaws. For a decade I had suffered from acne that increased a sense of insecurity within me that I needed to change. It was when I grew as an official makeup artist in 2010 that I learned the real concept of highlighting and enhancing one's individual unique beauty.

Throughout the years Ive gained experience in bridal, photoshoot, and runway makeup ensuring each client, designer, or photographer is fully satisfied with the final results. My mission is to make all of my clients see themselves in a light they never imagined and allow their inner beauty to project outward. 

           Yari Fashion, beauty and art have always been worlds of intrigue for me. Watching YouTube vloggers, tutorials and practicing on myself were my first steps prior to freelancing. Since I became a freelance makeup artist in 2013, I have built an ever-growing 

love and passion for makeup. My work has allowed me  to  indulge in my love for color and beauty, as well as the concepts 

of transformation and personal expression. I absolutely enjoy   theater/Halloween makeup; it makes me feel like there are no  rules in makeup, but overall what truly gets me going is seeing  my clients smile after their makeup looks natural but still makes  an impact. I like to make my clients feel relaxed and beautiful  inside and out when they step out of my makeup chair.  My goal  is to  motivate and inspire women daily.

         Jackie  

My passion for makeup started at a very early age. Since I can remember, I always knew that the artistry  of makeup was going to be my career.  I have been doing makeup for over 15 years. I graduated high  school, went to college but nothing really interested me like the beauty industry did. So, I decided to go to an institute of Esthetics. Learning about skin care and beauty was exactly what I enjoyed. It  confirmed my passion for makeup and my career path. 

Knowing about skin care gives me the advantage to not only deliver a flawless makeup application but 

have the knowledge of everyone’s skin type and needs. My mission is not only to continue my education  in the industry and expand my services but to always stay updated with the latest trends in fashion, skin  care and of course cosmetics. Allowing me to provide the best experience to my clients while enhancing  their natural beauty

• Celebrity Beauty

The Hustle That Made Sheika Daley: From Strip Club Makeup to Red Carpets Everywhere

Published on 1/27/2021 at 11:35 PM

Welcome to Big Break , where some of the most influential figures in the beauty industry reflect on the moments that made them — from the good to the bad, and everything in between. Here, veteran (and self-taught!) makeup artist Sheika Daley shares how she went from doing makeup at the top gentleman's club in Miami to being a makeup artist for some of the biggest names in Hollywood, including Zendaya and Beyoncé.

After slipping into the ballerina pink tutu, but before the curtain drew to a legion of parents, 7-year-old Sheika Daley would wait backstage for the finishing touch: red lipstick . Her mother, a painter, quickly became everyone's go-to for makeup at dance recitals. She could get 20 to 30 girls ready with a single Fashion Fair eyeshadow trio.

"I was fascinated with how she held the brush, how she painted on the colors," Daley said. "Somehow she would make us all look different, and I would just watch her as she worked. When she put on that red lipstick I was like, 'Wait a minute. This is a whole 'nother world for me.'"

That fascination lingered well into college, where she was studying mathematical science on a full-ride scholarship. Her life trajectory was in plain sight: professor, actuary, mathematician. Still, "as much as I was trying to excel in that world, my mind was still on makeup," she said. "In my first year of school, I spent most of my time in my dorm room getting people ready for pageants. It was my thing. I realized then that I already knew what I really wanted to do with my life, and that wasn't it."

"While they were selling panties, I was reading up on color correction and skin tones and product formulations."

By the end of freshman year, Daley was headed back home to Florida to launch a job hunt that would get her foot in the door. Soon, she got a gig at Victoria's Secret — "that was the only company I knew that had makeup and skin care" — and ended up working as the head of the beauty counter. Without formal cosmetics training, she began to teach herself everything there is to know about makeup. "I was a student again, reading everything I could get my hands on. While they were selling panties, I was reading up on color correction and skin tones and product formulations."

Around that same time, MAC Cosmetics was just emerging onto the beauty scene as this "hip, new, fun, energetic makeup line that was all inclusive for everyone," she said. "As a woman of color, that was huge, because back then there weren't a lot of makeup lines that had a full range of color for everyone."

Needless to say: Daley wanted in on the magic — and after two years of frequenting the store every single month and asking the store manager for a chance, she finally landed the job.

Learning the Tricks of the (Makeup) Trade

Once there, she was like a beauty sponge , soaking up as much information about the world of pro makeup as she could. Over the next few years, "MAC taught me how to build my portfolio, that I needed to build relationships with photographers, that I needed to find an agency," she said. "I realized, This is just the beginning; the first step . There was so much left to do, and I was getting older."

Beyond that, working 20 hours a week at a beauty counter also wasn't bringing in much money, and Daley knew she needed to branch out in order to turn this profession into a career. Then, in walked her opportunity: a freelance makeup artist who rotated nights doing the glam for girls at a local strip club called Tootsie's in Miami.

"One day she told me how much money she made in one night, and I said, 'You need to sign me up. Immediately.'"

And sign up, Daley did. Two months later, she secured a position working anywhere from two to seven nights a week at the gentleman's club. "The girls ended up loving me," she recalled, adding that this was where she really got to play. "That ended up being where my creativity just exploded, because I had the freedom to literally do whatever I wanted."

You could also say it was the first time she got to put her makeup mastery to work on the big stage.

"No one said anything if I did something bold. I could explore. And then I could also see how the products held up and how they looked on the girls. Because I would get them ready. They would go out, and I would watch them perform. I could see what the lights were doing and how it looked when they came back to the dressing room."

It wasn't completely unlike doing the makeup before a big recital, much like Daley's mom did for her and her friends backstage growing up.

"They would come back and I could see, OK, did this foundation stay or does it sweat off? Does this glitter work under the light? Does this glue stay on? What about this eyeshadow? I was literally testing products every single day for three years while I was at the club."

For the last year of her time at Tootsie's — and because she "didn't want to get stuck there," Daley said — she started double-booking herself, assisting other hair and makeup artists until she could sign with an agency. The work was solid, including catalog photoshoots for retailers like Sears, JCPenney, and Kohl's. And so it went: work from 5 p.m. to 2 a.m. at the club, up again by 5 a.m. to make a 6 a.m. call time.

"That was hard for a year, but I wanted to be looked at as a solid makeup artist." She never let up the hustle, and eventually, she signed on with a modeling agency that also repped artists. Next up? An A-list clientele.

Booking the Big-Time Names in Hollywood

Daley's first official celebrity client was comedian Sommore, followed shortly thereafter by rapper Trina, a job which took her from Miami to Chicago, followed by Milwaukee, WI, and Green Bay, WI, on weekends. While in Chicago, she then landed a gig working on the set of The Oprah Winfrey Show doing correspondent Ali Wentworth's makeup.

"It was all one big pinch-me moment," she said. "But I'll never forget one morning, I was just sitting there and Oprah came into our dressing room and gave me a hug. It was mad early — call time for those morning shows was something like 6:30 a.m. — and she had just gotten off a flight from Africa. She walked in and said, 'Good morning,' gave me the biggest hug, and then just walked out. I looked around like, What just happened? I nearly lost my mind. I still have my badge, my sticker, and I still have the red cardigan that I had on; it's on a mannequin at my mom's house and it's never been touched since."

That experience, of course, was only the kickoff to Daley's rise up the celebrity makeup team roster. After fleeing the cold of Chicago for Miami, and before eventually making her way to New York City, the artist booked a flurry of clients via word of mouth — from Kelly Rowland to Serena Williams to La La Anthony. Her star, it seemed, was on the up.

"I've been able to work with some of the most amazing women in the world," she said. "I couldn't tell you the exact scenario that made all of it happen. I can only sum it up as: I just put my head down, I went to work, I stayed focused, kept clear of the drama, and just tried to be consistent with what it is that I was doing."

Not that the work stopped there: "I didn't want to go to New York because I didn't know what to expect. All I knew was I wanted to do makeup, so I packed up and lived with my uncle for four months until I could find a place and figure it out. Then I grinded it out every single day. I never turned a job down and I did whatever it took to make sure that I was going to succeed, because I had my father and my mother looking over my shoulder at the end of the day."

Meeting Zendaya — and Paving the Next Frontier of Beauty

Daley had been booking a steady stream of jobs in New York when the opportunity to work with Hollywood's biggest up-and-comer presented itself. "I met Zendaya when she was 15 through her stylist, who I have a great working relationship with through La La [Anthony]," she said. The gig was for a Macy's campaign surrounding the Material Girl collection, and the partnership has been going strong ever since — extending from magazine covers for Elle and InStyle to brand campaigns, and even an Emmy win .

"It's been a long, joyful, wonderful ride," Daley said.

Still, despite the thousands of photoshoots under her belt, and the hundreds of red carpet moments she's crafted behind the scenes — not to mention co-creating a synthetic and cruelty-free false mink lashes line called Elora Lane Beauty with Kelly Rowland — one thing is clear: there's more to be done in this space.

"Even now, I don't think I've reached 'success' yet," she said. "I still see myself as this little girl or teenager, trying to convince my parents that this is what I'm supposed to do. I'm always going to be that no matter what, no matter how successful I am."

To achieve success as a makeup artist, Daley admits, it should be less about notoriety or acknowledgement, and more about taking care of the people around you. "Success for me is making sure that my mom and dad don't have to work anymore, or that I can put them in a nice house they can retire in. That my son has everything he needs. I'm not there yet. So I'm still grinding. The head is still down."

This is the one thing she wants to teach other up-and-coming artists in the industry, "because I feel there's so many artists out there that are more caught up with being the celebrity itself than providing a service," she said. "My legacy is not fame — it's the art, it's the craft. Fame is not what's going to take you to the next level. It's your loyalty, it's your work ethic, and it's your ability to be consistent."

She added: "Oprah once told me, 'Do your best and the right people will notice.' And that's all I've been doing my entire career — the best that I can do. The people that are meant to notice will. I know I still have a lot of work to do. There's more for me to give."

Put simply: the show for Sheika Daley — even all these years later — has only just begun.

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“When you look beautiful you feel beautiful, and it’s that kind of happiness that I try to give to women every day.” – Erin

Enhancing natural beauty is foremost in the mind of makeup artist and hairstylist Erin Gallienne when she works.

A makeup artist and hairstylist with more than 18 years’ experience in the areas of fashion photoshoots, creative studio photoshoots, makeup education and product consultations, Erin has learnt from her clients one universal rule: women want to look fresh, flawless and beautiful. It’s this principle that drives a signature style that is feminine and natural yet in keeping with modern style inspiration drawn from her many creative sources, from the world’s best fashion magazines to time out at the beach with her young daughter.

Erin’s vast experience, combined with training by some of the industry’s most highly regarded professionals, sees her clients transformed into their best selves.

Book in for your corporate or private hair and makeup service, a personalised makeup or hair lesson so you can achieve flawless makeup at home, or let her come to you and prep you for your special event. Enquire here .

Certifications / Master Classes

• Trained under Dale Dorning (Delta Goodrem’s Makeup Artist) learning photographic-specific artistry skills
• Star FX Professional Makeup Centre, Diploma Of Makeup Artistry
• Trained under professional artist Brie Stevenson, honing skills based on discovering each person’s unique colour toning and matching the makeup colour choices to bring out their natural beauty, shaping hairstyling to flatter the client’s face and problem-solving whilst in a photoshoot environment
• 2-year apprenticeship at photographic studio Starshots Glamour Photography, discovering and perfecting how makeup appears on camera and under studio lighting
• Corporate and commercial campaign work (see sample client list below)
• Makeup teacher at the Australian Institute of Creative Design (AICD)
• Celebrity/media personality makeup (see sample client list below)
• 20 years and thousands of makeup applications (the best kind of experience – face after face after face)
• Peony Swimwear
• Bondi Boost
• Sophie Monk
• Homebodii Sleepwear
• Hot Tomato 102.9 Radio Station talent
• Pro surfers Alana Blanchard, Sally Fitzgerald, Ellie Brooks, Ellie Jean Coffee
• Corporate grooming lessons for companies including Coolangatta Airport
• Cricket Australia
• 2XU Performance Wear
• Sofitel Hotels
• Kendall Gilding Channel 7
• Natalie Gruzlewski
• KFC Corporate
• Outland Denim
• Bask Eyewear
• Nutra Organics
• World Poker Tour
• Jane Iredale
• Lokoa The Label
• Two Soles The Label

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    Artistry By Erin    

Meet the artist....

Before Youtube and Instagram ever existed, I wanted to be a makeup artist. From 2005 till the present I made my dream a reality. My husband Geoff is my biggest supporter with our two beautiful girls, Skylar and Teagan. I absolutely love what I do, helping woman feel beautiful is very rewarding, whether it's a bit of glam for their photos and events or a naturally stunning  spray tan, being able to instill confidence in every woman is what keeps me going.  Be sure to follow me on all my social media platforms to stay up to date with all things makeup and tanning. @artistrybyerin

10 Best Biopics About Artists, Ranked

T o encapsulate the life of a person within the constraints of a film is a daunting task; to encapsulate the life and essence of an artist, perhaps even more so. With only a few minutes and the medium's limitations in hand, biopic movies about artists are ambitious efforts that try to convey what made the creative in question such a crucial part of art history, whether that's through a traditional biopic narrative or a more abstract structure.

Many filmmakers have set out to portray the lives of certain painters and sculptors . From Oscar laureates like Lust for Life to more underappreciated arthouse masterpieces like Andrei Rublev , these artist biopics succeed at showing the life that brought these icons to put out such extraordinary work while adding some creative elements to dive even deeper into their psyche and individuality.

'Big Eyes' (2014)

Director: tim burton.

Though her work earned little acclaim from critics, audiences absolutely loved the "Big Eyed Waifs" of Margaret Keane , who's known for having started a movement characterized by painting subjects with unusually large eyes. Big Eyes is a drama about her success story, touching on the legal difficulties she had with her abusive husband, who claimed credit for her works in the '60s.

Despite his distinctive and instantly recognizable style, director Tim Burton has shown admirable versatility when it comes to working on different genres, and the biopic genre suits his storytelling sensibilities beautifully. With Big Eyes , he made one of the best biopics of the 2010s , with a phenomenal performance by the ever-great Amy Adams and his equally gifted sparring partner, Christoph Waltz . Big Eyes is the kind of unique portrayal of Keane that one might expect from a singular creative mind like Burton .

Release Date 2014-12-24

Cast Vanessa Ross, Danny Huston, Krysten Ritter, Jason Schwartzman, Amy Adams, Christoph Waltz

Rating PG-13

Runtime 105

Watch on Netflix

'Pollock' (2000)

Director: ed harris.

Jackson Pollock was one of the most noteworthy American artists of the 20th century, a leading figure in the Abstract Expressionist movement, characterized by spontaneous brushstrokes and movements. Ed Harris makes his directorial debut and stars in Pollock , a biopic about the controversial painter's life and work, his problems with alcoholism, and his troubled marriage with Lee Krasner .

The film's two main performances are fantastic, with Harris earning an Oscar nomination for his work and Marcia Gay Harden winning Best Supporting Actress. More so than just plainly depicting his subject's life, however, Harris seems to be more interested in the nature of creativity and the creative process as reflected in Pollock's work. It's an interesting approach, certainly one that not many artist biopics take.

Rent on Amazon

'Camille Claudel' (1988)

Director: bruno nuytten.

One of the most overlooked artists in European history, the French Camille Claudel was a massively talented sculptor in her own right; alas, today, she's best known for having been Auguste Rodin 's muse and mistress. Bruno Nuytten 's Camille Claudel examines their relationship and Claudel's struggle to escape Rodin's shadow.

Isabelle Adjani got an Oscar nomination for playing Claudel, and Gérard Depardieu is terrific as Rodin. Camille Claudel is exquisitely poignant, as beautiful as its main characters' sculptures , and with a truly jaw-dropping performance by Adjani, an essential French film that everyone should watch at least once. It's an accurate character study with some outstanding production qualities, but its exceptionally sad, profoundly compelling story is the main attraction.

Watch on Kanopy

'Frida' (2002)

Director: julie taymor.

To this day, Frida Kahlo is still recognized as one of Mexico's most important and renowned painters, best known for her intensely surreal work on topics like identity and the human body. One could talk about her for hours on end without running out of topics for conversation; her life was a story like no other, full of pain, always reflected as sheer beauty in her art. As such, Frida had a lot of ground to cover, and it did a fantastic job. With an unconventional approach to the biopic genre , this film shows how the artist channeled the pain of a crippling injury and her tumultuous marriage into her work.

Salma Hayek earned an Oscar nomination for playing Kahlo, and it was well deserved. Her performance is a tour de force that's marvelously complemented by Alfred Molina as Diego Rivera , Kahlo's husband and an eminent, galavanting artist. The relationship between these two complicated people is the main driving force behind Frida , but it does just as sharp a job of portraying what made the titular character so unique as an individual.

Release Date 2002-08-29

Cast Diego Luna, Alfred Molina, Valeria Golino, Salma Hayek Pinault, Mia Maestro, Antonio Banderas

Runtime 123

Watch on Paramount+

'Maudie' (2016)

Director: aisling walsh.

An exceptional folk artist from the province of Nova Scotia in Canada, Maud Lewis led an extraordinarily simple life. Though she wasn't a trained artist, her work is beautifully cheerful and optimistic. Aisling Walsh 's Maudie is the story of her cozy rural life, as well as her unlikely romance with the recluse fish seller Everett Lewis .

Maud has become an iconic part of modern Canadian culture, and Sally Hawkins portrays her magnificently, with Ethan Hawke playing her husband equally well. Although the film never dives particularly deep into Lewis' remarkable life and achievements, it never aims higher than it needs to. Simultaneously tragic and life-affirming , Maudie is a touching slice of the creative essence of an admirable woman .

Release Date 2016-06-16

Cast Erin Mick, Billy MacLellan, Gabrielle Rose, Ethan Hawke, Kari Matchett, Sally Hawkins

Runtime 115

'Mr. Turner' (2014)

Director: mike leigh.

Undeniably great yet infamously eccentric, English Romantic landscape painter J.M.W. Turner had an expressionistic grasp of color and lighting like no one else in his day, heavily influencing Impressionism. Mike Leigh , one of England's most acclaimed directors, had the daunting task of directing Mr. Turner , a biopic about the last quarter century of this legendary figure's life.

Though it's a biopic on the longer side , clocking in at 150 minutes, Mr. Turner is worth every second. Timothy Spall is masterful in the role of the eponymous painter, utterly transforming into Turner with all his different layers and cantankerous quirks. Leigh's approach to the biopic genre is delicate, slow, and refreshing; thus, Mr. Turner is a different kind of portrait, as singular and interesting as the man at its center .

Release Date 2014-10-31

Cast Karl Johnson, Paul Jesson, Marion Bailey, Dorothy Atkinson, Ruth Sheen, Timothy Spall

Runtime 149

Watch on Starz

'Lust for Life' (1956)

Director: vicente minnelli.

When one hears the word "painting," it's hard for the legendary Vincent Van Gogh not to be one of the first people to come to mind. The magnificent Dutch Post-Impressionist has had his life portrayed on film on many separate occasions; however, few have been as successful as the lauded Lust for Life , which examines Van Gogh as much more than just the archetypical tortured artistic genius.

Director Vincente Minnelli nails both the hauntingly sad nature of Van Gogh's life and the incomparable beauty of his art. The great Kirk Douglas is simply perfect as Van Gogh, his intense and passionate style fitting the role like a glove. Anthony Quinn , chief among Mexican actors who made it big in Hollywood , is also fantastic as Paul Gauguin . Visually striking and fittingly plaintive, Lust for Life is a touching portrait of one of history's most fascinating men .

'Loving Vincent' (2017)

Directors: dorota kobiela, hugh welchman.

In a rather unconventional twist of the biopic genre, DK and Hugh Welchman 's Loving Vincent isn't exactly about Van Gogh and his life. Rather, it's the story of a young man who arrives at Van Gogh's hometown to deliver the artist's final letter, ending up investigating his final days there. This was the first oil-painted feature film, and the result is a movie as visually gorgeous as it is narratively gripping.

Experimental, deliberately paced, and full of the kind of melancholy that today permeates Van Gogh's entire body of work, Loving Vincent is regarded by many as one of the best animated movies of the 2010s , and rightfully so . There certainly is no other movie like it, and that alone makes it a must-see, whether you're a Van Gogh fan or not.

Watch on AMC+

'My Left Foot' (1989)

Director: jim sheridan.

Christy Brown is nothing short of one of the most impressive and admirable artists of all time. Born with cerebral palsy, he was unable to control any of his limbs except his left foot. It was with only this extremity that he became one of the most noteworthy Irish novelists, painters, and poets ever, which director Jim Sheridan potently captured in My Left Foot .

By the late '80s, audiences didn't yet fully know what Daniel Day-Lewis was capable of. It was in his astonishing transformation into Brown in My Left Foot - which earned him his first Oscar - that he started showing signs of being one of the best actors of all time . But although it's Day-Lewis that brings most audiences to the film, it's the poignantly sincere script, eye-opening story, and Sheridan's phenomenal directing that give My Left Foot its staying power .

My Left Foot

Release Date 1989-02-24

Cast Hugh O'Conor, Ray McAnally, Cyril Cusack, Brenda Fricker, Adrian Dunbar, Fiona Shaw, Daniel Day-Lewis

Runtime 103

Watch on Hoopla

'Andrei Rublev' (1966)

Director: andrei tarkovsky.

Andrei Rublev is considered the greatest Medieval Russian painter of Orthodox icons and frescoes. Little is known about his life, so the illustrious Soviet director Andrei Tarkovsky , perhaps cinema's greatest poet, wasted no time in making Andrei Rublev a traditional biopic. As slow-burning, poetic, and philosophical as the rest of the director's work, it's a historical epic touching on religion, spirituality, and art and how the three are more deeply interconnected than most people give them credit for.

Undebatably one of its director's greatest works , Andrei Rublev is a fascinating arthouse drama full of rich symbolism and thought-provoking themes , an insightful exploration of Medieval Russian history, and one of the most unique biopics ever made. It's a beautiful way to get familiar with the work of its titular subject and a must-see masterpiece for all those who enjoy outstanding cinema.

Watch on Criterion

NEXT: The 10 Best World War II Biopics, Ranked