As much as I love female portraiture, and working on my goddesses series, I've been experiencing burn out.  In an effort to restore my passion for this project, I decided to switch up things and do some shoots which aren't typical for me.  I'm looking forward to sharing new edits and creations from this break.  And of course, I'll still be doing "goddess" work--mostly organizing imagery and writing for the project.  In moving out of my comfort zone, I'm hopeful to see changes which will help me when returning to shooting goddesses.

I'd like to thank the lovely Ms. Meeza Gee of War Paint Artistry for her awesome MUA skills and assistanting, as well as her time and efforts in finding our handsome up-and-coming male model, Hanekuro Hellstorm.  For more awesome imagery, find and follow us on IG:  
@jeannienadja
@warpaintartistry
@hanekurohellstorm

1.  Please tell us a bit about yourself and how you became an MUAH?
I've always been really interested in fashion and conceptual art since I was in high school and I started doing makeup for theater productions. When I moved to Richmond VA for college (VCU, Go Rams!), I was in an artsy city and surrounded by other artists. I got my start with modeling, I did a few fashion shows first then eventually started doing photoshoots. Lots of photoshoots! I met so many talented makeup artists over several years and really paid attention to their craft and how they handled their businesses. I practiced applying makeup on myself before I even considered going into makeup artistry, and before long I had lots of friends, family, and coworkers commenting on my skills and asking me to do their makeup for special occasions or just because. After I moved to North Carolina, I decided I wanted to do makeup because I was more interested in creating a look or a concept behind the scenes rather than having that decided for me.

2. How would you describe your style or aesthetic?
The style question is always a hard one for me. Unless the client or photographer wants a specific look, I tend to just go with however I feel makeup would complement the look in front of me or how I feel. I'm still trying to figure out for myself what my personal style is.
 
3. What inspires you to create your looks?
I get inspiration from color palettes, fashion, nature, and other makeup artists. I love putting together color schemes that pop on a client's skin tone that also pulls their whole look together. I love when I do makeup for someone and they are completely blown away that they are pulling off a look they never thought they would, or that their natural features are accentuated in a way that makes them feel more beautiful. I try to translate a lot of natural color schemes through makeup as well, whether it’s a pretty pinkish purple from a sunset or earthy tones. Fashion gives me inspiration in the sense that it is ever changing, and makeup looks also evolve along with fashion. I get inspired from a lot of edgy looks you see on the runways and try to learn new techniques to recreate an unconventional look. 
 
4. Are you working on any special projects right now or in the future?
I am hoping to get more involved with conceptual art, highly stylized shoots that tell a story. I like being involved in projects that go beyond a pretty image; I want my art to command attention and get people thinking. 

 5.  What advice would you give to someone wanting to become an MUAH?
Take your craft seriously, don't take yourself too seriously. You want to learn about different techniques, sanitation, color theory, etc. but I've learned that if you constantly compare yourself to others or stress over the number of followers you have on social media, you lose motivation for your craft. Don't be afraid to fail, but always put in your best effort. Not every shoot is going to be exactly how you envisioned, but you learn more about yourself as an artist if you open yourself up to the possibility of failure.

​6. What's your favorite brand of make-up and why? 
My current favorite brand is Tarte Cosmetics. I recently bought three of their eyeshadow palettes and their loose powder foundation. Their eyeshadows are velvety smooth and so highly pigmented. They make their powders with Amazonian clay and it has helped my skin from breaking out or becoming too irritated. Kat Von D's tattoo felt liquid liner is also a staple for me and is amazing for doing sharp cat eyes. Skincare wise, Ziaja's Goat Milk Day Cream is my go-to because it deeply moisturizes skin without making your face too greasy.
 
7. Where can readers see your work online (website, social media pages, etc)?
 You can check out my website at www.warpaintartistry.net, and stay updated on my Facebook page, War Paint Artistry, or see more of the day to day looks I put together on my Instagram at @warpaintartistry.