I know you are anxious to begin working as a freelance makeup artist, but just in case you don’t have the funds to attend school right now, you can still gain useful knowledge and experience. I’ve been working as a freelance makeup artist for about 5 years now, and even though it’s hard work, I get to meet lots of different people and attend beautiful weddings. The most rewarding part for me is being able to “transform” the look of my clients. I just love it when they get excited and start smiling at the results.

The advice you receive from this article will help you get a descent start in getting the products you need, some clients to put in your chair, and to help you be more professional. Don’t forget there is more than one way to gain the experience you need, and I’m presenting some ideas and lessons that have helped me along the way.

When I first started I remember reading books about makeup/beauty. What helped me was getting books with color pictures to demonstrate the techniques, and with detailed writing. Some books contain content that is very vague, so it’s difficult to tell what is being done to the model’s face, which is why detail is so important. Also, try to be diverse about the types of books you read. I read books about mature beauty, Asian beauty, and Latina beauty because I wanted to be aware of certain concerns those groups may have. Great places to get books are from online bookstores and the local library.

If you have the extra funds I totally recommend attending a seminar from a professional (or a celebrity) makeup artist. This is a great opportunity to help you network with other freelance makeup artists, and to see the makeup application process through someone else’s eyes. It will help you improve your own work because you will receive some fresh ideas and information about great cosmetic products that are on the market.

Some items that you will need before getting started as a freelance makeup artist are a makeup case, makeup brushes, sample testers, a director’s chair, and makeup of course. A great place to purchase these items would be Ebay, or your local beauty supply. The makeup case I use has wheels with an extended handle, and fold-out compartments. I’ve used it for all of my assignments, and I’ve had no problems traveling with it. In regards to makeup brushes, make sure you opt for a set that isn’t too expensive, and will last a while – preferably sable or squirrel. Some examples of sample testers are individual mascara wands, lipstick applicators, and spatulas. These are so important to have because you want to prevent the transfer of bacteria from one client to the next. Pencil sharpeners are essential too for lip and eyeliners. Use it to shave off the used portion after dealing with each client.

You will use a director’s chair when seating your clients. I’m tall, so I find it incredibly useful. It’s also easy to fold and place in the trunk of my car. When collecting makeup, always start with basic, very diverse shades and colors. This will help in case you’re ever in a situation where you have to mix two different colors to get the desired color you need. The brand you use is up to you, but make sure you have the basics.

Some other good pointers would be to start with family and friends first. When you’re first starting out, you’re going to make mistakes, so it’s easier to use people who are close to you as your guinea pigs. They’re a lot less critical, and I’m sure they’ll make recommendations on how you can improve. Also, expose yourself to other artists that have different strengths. I say this because every freelance makeup artist has a different interpretation of what a certain look should be. I’ve known makeup artists that were wonderful at dramatic makeup, stage makeup, and bridal makeup. The more you learn from different people, the more diverse your techniques will be, which will improve your ability.

Last, but certainly not least, be professional. If you have a scheduled assignment, please be on time. Know that the bulk of your business will come from referrals, so you want to leave a good impression with your clients. If you have a client that is getting married and you have to work on location, dress appropriately for the wedding. Always wear an outfit that is classy, but that you can easily move around in. I tend to do a lot of walking when I’m on location, so it helps that my clothes aren’t restrictive. Don’t forget to bring your business cards with you to every event. Always pass them out so that others will have your information and can contact you if they need anything. Have fun and good luck on your glamorous journey!

Being able to collect good art is one exceptional talent. Although you may think good art collectors are born, this is not the case at all. The truth is, the skill of collecting art can actually be learned! Yes, and that is one good news for you. So, if you want to improve further with your collecting skills, here are some things that you can do to attain such goal.

Get Some Exposure

Getting some exposure on different disciplines of art is one way to enhance your collecting skills. There are a lot of national and international art expos and art fairs that you can attend to. Try attending such kinds of events to broaden your horizon on different kinds of art disciplines and forms.

This is also one way to discover not so well-known aesthetic pieces that have potential on getting a huge value in the future. However, most importantly, it is one way to see artworks that can move you and probably be part of your collection in the near future. Know Your Kind

Although collecting art can be a personal endeavour for you, there is nothing wrong with talking to other art collectors and knowing more about them. In fact, doing this can be beneficial to you, since you can learn more about how other collectors started and what other helpful information they can give you.

They can also give you recommendations like galleries to visit, events to go to, artists to see works of and other art related things. Some art collectors even have clubs or organizations that you can join in.

Read On!

Reading in any aspect can take your knowledge another level. Thus, reading books about art history and art collections would definitely improve your skill. There’s a lot to learn with collecting that you can actually find not only by looking at pictures, but also through reading texts about so.

Reading old published literature on the subject is good, since you can learn the basics of the field and the essentials of collecting. However, it would still be better if you are up-to-date with your reading materials. If you want something fresh and new regularly, then subscribing to some art magazines would do the trick!

Magazines, just like books, are helpful resources where you can learn more about collecting and collections. However, these magazines standout since their content are always up to date and new, unlike with books that may contain faced-out and irrelevant data.

Reviews: Seeing Another’s Perspective

Seeing art in the perspective of another person is bad at all. Remember that art is relative, thus, something may be beautiful in your eyes, yet ugly for another’s and vice versa. That is why you should learn to utilize reviews done by international or local art critics and channel them into something positive. Instead of being too much influenced by what they say, try learning from them and see if what they say about the artwork is true. You should also learn some points on how they critic a piece, since being able to critic is yet an important skill to develop collecting skills. Get Some Help

A little bit of guidance would not hurt if you are really interested on learning how to make a great art collection. You can work with a professional art consultant / art advisor, if you please since for sure they know what they are doing. They can also teach you about collecting and even guide you to the whole process of buying art.