Lead me not into temptation

I worked on a stock shoot that took place inside the offices of a bunch of lawyers who were on leave during Christmas and New Year. Turns out they were Greek laywers. Greeks stick together like bubblegum to your shoe. So I casually took a glance at the files lying around, I just knew I would find a file belonging to someone I know.

BINGO! My doctors daughters ante nuptial agreement! At this point the photographer warned me about client confidentiality. I had to choose between good gossip or a career in makeup.... it really was a tough choice! I decided that if I found any high profile greek divorce files I would not care if I didnt paint another face in my life again! Unfortunately I didnt get to sneak a peek but I'm pleased with the pic from the shoot

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I heart Konad

When I was in Greece I ordered a Konad nail stamp set from Germany. Shipping to Greece is 10 euro, shipping to South Africa is 52 euro, I'm bleak. But I absolutely love love love my Konad set, I refuse to ever again have boring nails! Konad has definitely changed my life, yes I know there are starving kids and more pressing world issues, blah blah blah *pulls a zap with a perfect konadicure*. Makeup artist, makeup art, nail art, I figure its all art so I'll be showing off my nails


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I hate photos of myself

I really hate having my picure taken, it just feels so corny, say cheeeeeeeze!

Ignore the unruly eyebrows, the wild blush, the lazy eyes and the red lips (first and probably last time you'll see me with red lips, my generation is all about a dark smokey eye and nude lip - why do mua's never say eyes and lips? smokey eyes and nude lips is good grammar and a full face, smokey eye and nude lip is really just bad education and half a face of makeup!)

I had many, many, many, when I say many I really do mean a lot, of caiparinhas in me when this pic was taken. It was the first day I had ever worn really red nail polish and the peanut gallery was trying to convince me to wear red lipstick. I wouldnt budge until Mike the barman (complete with feather boa and stories of life in South America) started pouring caiparinhas down my throat. Anyhoo somehow I was part of a bet that saw me in red lips being photographed by Nick who was wearing fishnet stockings and gold heels..... what the hell was in those caiparinhas??? Add 2 drunk models and you have a ridiculously fun shoot.


For anyone thinking its a half decent pic of me have a look at the before pic, god I love photoshop! and omg I need to save up for surgery on those undereye bags, jeez they are more like trolleys than bags!


You can read the full story at http://www.modelbase.co.za/forums/8_3854_0.html, good times!


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Me Me Me!

So I realise I should have started the blog with this post but oh well.

No I didnt grow up wanting to be a makeup artist. I didnt know I was interested in doing makeup until the age of 24 (okay 28 but who's counting and besides Linda Mason also only started at 28 and she's super famous now... erm, okay so she's super famous to some makeup artists not super famous like Brangelina).

So how did I become a makeup artist? I had a lipgloss addiction, a Dior lipgloss addiction, a very expensive lipgloss addiction, and I was bored. My real job was managing a model marketing agency, it just seemed like a good idea to do something creative that would also be useful for events and photoshoots I was booking models for. So I chose makeup artistry.

I originally wanted to sign up for an intensive week long course but somehow got convinced to part with 3 times more money and study for 6 months instead..... good thing they were dealing classes not drugs.

Fast forward two years later and I have a pretty darn good portfolio and a fab website www.stavmua.com (yours truly did most of the work creating that website, just the logo and background aren't my work...they are Johann Marx' work). I have worked with many photographers and models, I have done tons of work for free, I have done a fair amount of paid work, I have received glowing references and yet some days I wake up and honestly think I know nothing about makeup :-S

I have been through a I-hate-girl-makeup phase. It was at the time when we were doing a lot of boy makeup shoots and girl makeup just seemed sooooo boring (yes working with gorgeous boys with gorgeous bodies was far more captivating than doing just another natural look on a pretty poppie). Very few photographers are willing to shoot boys so I'm back to doing girl makeup and actually enjoying it *makes a note that Johann owes her a lot of boy shoots*

I am currently going through a am-i-good-enough-phase. Sure my portfolio is great but is it because my work is great or because I have worked with great togs and models?


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Business Cards

Here are my new business cards. I'm pretty pleased. Thanks Denis!