I’m curious, because I’ve heard a lot of people compare makeup to painting, and I loved art class in elementary and high school (I stopped in college because I was too busy taking boring sh*t like organic chemistry, ugh).
Especially makeup artists. I’ve heard that a lot — that they were one of the “art kids,” and they were into painting and drawing, so they got into makeup because it was a natural extension of that.
Do you have an artistic background? Because I don’t really. I mean, I like doodling and drawing logos and designs for connorclaire.com, and I played musical instruments as a kid, but I haven’t taken serious painting or drawing classes or anything like that as an adult.
I’ve always just liked applying makeup, and when I’d see a makeup look somewhere that I liked, I’d try to figure out how to do it on my own.
It’s funny, but have you ever noticed how much paint brushes look like makeup brushes? I remember going into an art store after I was really getting into makeup and having an aha! moment. “Oh! This brush looks like the flat brush I use to pack color on my lids, and this one looks like a tapered blending brush for diffusing color!” It makes perfect sense in hindsight.
Fellow makeup lovers, do you happen to have an art background? Inquiring minds want to know.
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
P.S. TGIF! 🙂
Kelsey says
I’ve never been skilled with art forms requiring precision like drawing and painting, but I used to love photography and altered art.
Kim says
It’s funny because I just called you artistic in a reply to an older post, like 6 seconds ago! I was always good at copying but was never very strong with original drawings or painting. I feel I have that problem with interior design as well. You can show me a bunch of things and I can say “this is the nicest” but I don’t create well from scratch. 🙂 Actually, same for graphic design. I think I’m much more creative with writing than with art.
PS I finally got back to you about the hair color. Have a fabulous weekend!!!
Chris25 says
Yes, actually! I’ve always been an artsy person, but in the sense that I appreciated all the arts: music, poetry, theater, etc. I could draw to a certain extent when I was a teenager, but I was never really a great artist. I think I’m just a super creative person in general. I was never really a math and science person.
Jessica says
LOL um, I guess you could say YES, I am a painter, obsessed with paint…my poor child has stood no chance at not being an artist herself (dancer) because she has literally grown up in a painting studio. Who needs a living room. I went to art school. I have books and cats and I go to museums.
It isn’t a casual thing for me, never has been…non-artists don’t understand it AT ALL and that’s ok.
Artists are different, our heads work differently. I have very much discovered this to be true.
My apartment is covered literally to the ceiling in hundreds of paintings…where else can I store them?
My vacation days are spent going out painting.
My sketchbook comes in the bathtub with me.
I have a fully stocked studio in oils, acrylic, pastel, oil pastel, watercolor, gouache….and MY PAPER DRAWER! <3 <3 And my BRUSH FARM!!
I put so much research, time, and money into my plein air gear (outdoor painting).
Oh I love my little studio so much.
There is always at least one painting on my easel.
I'm primarily an oil painter, but pastels are a close second.
I LOVE PAINT!
Tracy says
I am not artistic at all. At. All. I can’t draw or paint to save my life. But I love doing my makeup. 🙂
Susan says
Love to paint and draw, always have. I also plant tons of flowers in the flower beds around my house. Love to play with the different colors–kind of like painting in nature I suppose. I take pictures of them each year and study them to see what combinations I want to change for the next growing season. By the way, love that coloring book! Do you have any idea where I might find one like it???
Giada says
I don’t have a proper background, but i was good at drawing an Photoshop! Talking about other branches of art, I’m also a singer, but It’s not my first work. At least, when I have the concerts, I can experiment a lot with make up!
Erin says
Very much so, I don’t do any of it anymore though. I used to paint, sculpt, make jewelry, dance, sing, and write. I even had a few poems published.
Amy says
Yes very artistic, and that’s one of the big draws for me! Color is so satisfying in any form.
Astrid says
Hmm… I guess so, in a way. I’m a software engineer by trade, but I also studied design. I like to draw although I don’t consider myself very talented at it.
Just like Kim, though, I always thought you are artistic!
Fran says
I’d call myself more of an artsy/craftsy person 🙂 I always enjoyed art, but have yet to learn how to draw, and didn’t have much more luck with pottery or sculpture. In high school my medium was black-and-white photography, focusing on textures found in nature. Photography back then meant spending a lot of time in the darkroom! It almost seems like a different medium to me now.
But I’ve been into knitting, sewing, crocheting, bead jewelry making, and embroidery to various degrees for more than fifty years. And I love color in all my media.
I think that a number of famous makeup artists began as painters, or portrait painters — Laura Mercier comes to mind, and I believe also Way Bandy or Kevyn Aucoin or both were painters at some point before developing a career as a makeup artist.
I’ve actually been wanting to learn how to draw. I’d like to try my hand at working with pastels, or oil pastels, and I would like to write and illustrate a couple of children’s books featuring the adventures of the furbabies. (Especially if I ever have grandchildren to read them to.) I like coloring books, too — started with the Anatomy Coloring Book, then the Human Brain Coloring Book, years ago; worked some geography and history coloring books with my son when he was little; worked on some historical costume coloring books as an activity with one of my elderly clients who had dementia and depression. My son and I have quite a collection of Prismacolor pencils.
Tatiana says
I have a BFA in design and painting and I went back to school for a while to study spatial art. I love makeup because I love color.
Lets get one thing straight though, Organic Chemistry is NOT boring! Please, please, please if my daughter is every around do not say that. This girl took honors org chem her first semester at college and honors advanced orgo II her second semester and aced both. I would not want to hear what she would say if she ever heard anyone say Org Chem was boring.
Sorry, not sorry, we’re artistic and scientific as well.
Ami says
I have a rule about art, if it requires/has artistry, it’s art. The end.
Think about the adjectives that are often given to ‘womens things’, artistry is a big one.
So for me, Makeup IS art. Hair styling IS art. So it totally makes sense to me if people who are especially good or into it had some ‘classic’ artistic leanings earlier in life.
Chelsea says
I used to draw and paint a lot, I’m trying to get back into that. I bought some stuff to paint a picture of Quincy, but I’m not quite in the right frame of mind for that yet.
I also used to sew and knit quite a bit! I still like putting costumes together, and circus / burlesque gives me an excuse for that.
Tammy says
I love artsy things but am not a creative person. I’m not crafty. I can do stamped cross-stitch baby quilts,but that’s the full extent of my artistic ability.
Kiss & Make-up says
I’m definitely creative with make-up, but that’s where it ends. Unless creative writing counts…
lizjay100 says
I’ve never considered myself artistic (unless we’re completely stretching the definition to writing). I was the kid in elementary school who hated art class more than gym class, and I was nowhere near athletic. However, I’ve always loved looking at art and visiting museums, and I really wish I had artistic talent. Makeup is the closest I’ve gotten to this. I’m never going to be able to recreate an amazing Halloween tutorial, or even master winged liquid liner, but I try to apply makeup in a colorful and expressive way, and I’m glad it’s a creative outlet for me.
laura says
I am not an artsy person AT ALL. I was never into drawing or painting. But I am really good at makeup.