Making Moves

This summer has been super busy for me, so I apologize for the gap between posts. Between working at the shop and face painting, most of my down time is spent sleeping, or with family and friends! Its a rainy day today and before I set out to work on some tattoo drawings, I decided to go ahead and do an update. 

The tourist season is almost over, and I have decided that at the end of August, I will no longer be face and body painting as I want to focus primarily on tattoos and expanding my skills in my craft. I have been face painting for about 6 years now, which I can't believe how fast the time has flown by. I have painted at so many amazing events and have met people from all walks of life. I feel truly blessed and grateful that I was able to make a living doing something I absolutely love. Not many people can say that about their jobs. I really didn't think of faceprinting as a job, but that I was making relationships and creating long lasting memories. 

I am often approached by people whom I have painted for years ago and they still have pictures of what I painted for them. Working at the oceanfront for Beachstreet was an amazing experience for me  as I was able to see returning families every year and share in their excitement of getting their face painted. There is no bigger compliment an artist can receive than seeing smiles and happiness from those enjoying your craft. 

Although I will no longer be painting at events or for parties, I do have other friends whom I can refer you to. Also, if you are a fellow artist, I do not mind doing a facepaint workshop or giving tips on being a freelance artist. 

As always, thanks for checking out my blog! Stay tuned for more updates! 

Xoxo, Cecilia

Chinese New Year

Last night, I was booked with Magical Solutions Inc (a company I contract with) for an event at Origami Asian Bistro and Lounge to help them celebrate the Chinese New Year. 

I painted my version of celebratory Chinese New Year Makeup on 6 Lounge Girls, each with a slightly different neck design and added Orchid flowers and a ton of glitter! 

We had 2 stilt walkers and 3 cirque mimes as part as the entertainment as well, which I helped to also paint their faces as well. 

It was a great event, and officially the first face/body painting event to kick off 2017! 

I can't wait to share the next event with you! Thank you for stopping by and see you soon! 

I hope that in this year to come, you make mistakes. Because if you are making mistakes, then you are making new things, trying new things, learning, living, pushing yourself, changing yourself, changing your world. You're doing things you've never done before, and more importantly, you're doing something.

 Neil Gaiman

Western Zombies

Western Zombies! 

SUGAR SKULL

As I am going through all my old blog posts and updating my online portfolio, I came across this photo. For the past 6 years, I am always asked how long I have been face/body-painting or how I got into doing this as a profession. 

I was in hair school when this was taken. It was photoshoot day and we all had the opportunity to come up with a makeup theme and we would have professional pictures taken for our portfolios. While everyone was doing glamour or wedding makeup, I was the only one who decided to do half a sugar skull. 

Now that it is 2017, as I look back, I can say that it has changed my life. This is what started my passion in face and body painting. I am so thankful for the opportunities this field has opened up to me. 

It just goes to show that you never know that one single moment, a single day, a single person, a single idea can change your life. 

If you are not willing to risk the unusual, you will have to settle for the ordinary. Jim Rohn

Weeping Statue

Jeweled Flowers

Joker

Flash Lightening

Mermaid Scales

Painted Ladies

Snow Leopard

Butterfly Beauty

Rainbow Zebra

Snake Lady

Good and Bad Girl

Venom Body Paint

Valentines Hearts

Lawrence Brothers Hair Show 2012

My 2nd Year at the Lawrence Brothers Hair Show

I have a treat for you today my lovies! This past sunday, I was invited again this year to body paint for the lovely Hair Stylist Yolanda Billups and Tanika Brown for Hair 2 0 Salon in the Lawrence Brothers Hair Battle.  (To see last years post, click here )

This time I only had to paint one model, as opposed to last year where I painted two ladies. I brought along my friend, Lakesha to help me out. Lakesha is a salon apprentice and has been eager to get her foot in the door. I knew she would love this opportunity and I wanted to open her eyes to the crazy world of hair shows!

The theme this year was hairstyles from around the world ranging from India, Africa, Mexica to Japan. The young woman we were body painting was to be a fire bull for the Mexico part of the show. It was alot of fun to paint her. I didnt do a sketch for her because she was meant to be "fire" and I really wanted to go freestyle on her.

I used some old Xotic Eyes Blaze body art I had from when I used to work with Xotic Eyes that I used on her chest. I used Demonic Face mask for around her eyes. With the help of another MUA on site, she added lashes and gold metallic eyeshadow for the eyelids.

Lakesha picked it up fast and did great! The experience left her wanting more for herself in this vast beauty world. It also reminded me of what I love to do. I realized that I am not living up to my potential being at Coucoon Salon. Although it was a beautiful salon and spa, I feel I couldnt grow there as myself.

Here are some photos I found from backstage! The hair is just amazing and these ladies are really talented!

I wish I couldve filmed it. I am gonna try to find the show on youtube. It was great to watch all the salons compete and really see them pour their hearts into their work. Its really inspiring to me. It pushes me harder in pursuing what makes me happy.

We left early before the judging but we found out that Salon Hair 2 0 won!!!! Weve also been invited to go down to Atlanta to work with them on the next hair show! Thats what I'm talking about!

Well, I hope you enjoyed this post as much as I have written it for you. Stay tuned for more! Thanks for stopping by and reading!

People are like stained - glass windows. They sparkle and shine when the sun is out, but when the darkness sets in, their true beauty is revealed only if there is a light from within.


Lawrence Brothers Hair Battle

A few weeks ago, I was invited to work with Yalonda Billings, an amazing stylist from Shadez of Beauty Hair Salon, ( Follow their Facebook) thanks to a friend who recommended me, for the Lawrence Brothers Hair Battle.

She had a Geisha theme, and wanted to have two models body painted to match her theme. I sat down and desigend a few ideas. Here is what I came up with:

Yalonda confirmed the designs, and I got all my supplies needed. I ordered the Best Body Paint, Ben Nye Magicolor Body Paint, ( you see more on that here) and got it two days before the show due to shipping delays because they were waiting on two more colors. 

I had asked a few people to be my assistant, but none of them could make it, so I went solo. Sunday morning, I met at the salon and they treated the crew and models with breakfast complete with eggs, pancakes, sausages, bacon and grits. A perfect start to my day! That was pretty much ALL I ate that day too!

We got to the Hampton Convention Center right before noon and got set up. With all kits in hand, strapped with my makeup bag and painting supplies, I managed to get everything in with one trip also thanks to a few models that helped me carry! Everyone was so nice and really enjoyed meeting everyone!

The set up was really nice for the audience. Although I wish I could say the same thing for the backstage area, we had a section for us that was the size of my bedroom, which is about 11ft by 15 ft and there was what seemed like thirty of us crammed in there!

There was only one outlet too, which made me grateful that I packed a surge protector cord with me with 10 extra outlets which I am sure the stylists were happy about too so everyone could plug in their tools and cell phone chargers! My phone ended up dying and I just tossed it in a bag. hahahaha!

I got to work right away painting my first model, there wasnt alot of space- but we made it work. My airbrush was clogged and I simply didnt even have enough time to switch nozzles or hoses because I had to get the first model done by 4pm for prejudging!

Here is the finished look of the first Geisha- She is wearing underwear but she opted to go topless and we used tape for the top which I painted over. I added more details than my sketch, mainly because the mody is a bigger canvas than my small sketch.

My second model came just after prejudging, so, I got to work on her right away so that we would be done by the time the show started and we were meant to go on. It took about 3 hours- it took me a while mainly because I had to stop and keep mixing colors. But she turned out amazing- she had on underwear and a bra, it was a bit of a challenge to paint over the material of the undergarments, but I got it to work.

Models with Angela Stuckey-winner of the Bronner Brothers Hairshow in Atlanta

The day went by so fast, and by the end of the day , I was exhausted, but still very energized, the atmosphere of the show was just amazing. Once I was done painting and did the neccessary touchups, I went out into the audience to get a quick look around and check out the vendors (which I bought some awesome earrings...Ill save that for the next post)

I ran into some friends from school! Here some photos of me, friends and models of Shadez of Beauty and just pictures of backstage.

Bryant Murphy and I

Rock Mims and I

The performances were simply breathtaking! I loved the whole atmosphere of the show. I was able to watch all 4 top competitors and I was impressed with it all. The costumes, the choreography, THE HAIR, the stage presense......It was sooo exciting. The fashion of all the viewers in the audience too, I was really inspired by all the fashion I saw in the crowds. I saw more people too that I knew in the audience from school.

After the performances, we all waited IMPATIENTLY for them to announce the winners- and Guess What???? The Stylist I worked for, Yalonda from SHADEZ of BEAUTY WON!!!!! We all jumped and screamed and ran on stage- It was soooooooo amazing that all that hard work paid off. I am so happy that I was apart of this team and was able to experience a hair show in my local area.

Yalonda Billups in the middle holding her Prize Check for $10,000

I got a chance to hold the trophy :)

That was my day Sunday, I hope you enjoyed your trip with me! See you in the next post and thanks for stopping by as always!

Regardless of how you feel inside, always try to look like a winner. Even if you are behind, a sustained look of control and confidence can give you a mental edge that results in victory.
Arthur Ashe quotes 

Surrender to Your Inner Artist