O2B2 TOUR - Get Schooled!

As a professional makeup artist for television, film, live events and photography, I get asked all the time about how I became a professional.  Aspiring artists always want to know if I went to an accredited school or am I self-taught.

The answer to that question is that I went to school for 2 years total and it was a big investment, much like a college education.  But let me explain…

I was fortunate to attend Joe Blasco in Los Angeles and also the Institute of Studio Makeup, which, back in my day, was held on the back lot of Universal Studios and you had to have a recommendation to attend.

In addition to “normal” beauty classes, I was lucky enough to take specialized classes taught by some legendary artists such as Dick Smith, Rick Baker, Ve Neill and I was fortunate enough to apprentice for Stan Winston after I graduated.  In fact, I apprenticed for 3 years for Stan…apprenticing = unpaid work in case you were wondering.

“Self-taught artist” is a funny term to me because in retrospect…aren’t we all self-taught?  I consider myself “artist-taught” since most of my skills I learned directly from other artists both in the beauty and special effects arenas.

As a special effects artist, I spent years perfecting my craft and still do! As a beauty artist, I spend everyday working with a brush in my hand practicing my skills and testing new ones.

To keep current on new techniques, I attend special events like IMATS, The Makeup Show and Monsterpalooza and sit in on classes and seminars conducted by makeup artists who work in all genres and I always walk away having learned something new every time I attend.

I was really excited when I found out at The Makeup Show in Los Angeles, that two incredible artists have developed a course called the Out of the Beauty Box Tour and they were accepting applications.

Koren Zander of EnKore Makeup and Elessa Vovan of Pursebuzz are combining their beauty knowledge, marketing skills and makeup application techniques and are offering classes at an affordable cost and over a weekend period of time.

Their experience at teaching seminars at The Makeup Show and IMATS have helped them develop classes that will teach you how to be a Pro MUA or to simply show you how to apply your own makeup correctly.  Each class is specifically designed to target common issues in makeup application.  Here is what you can expect:

Consumer Classes – focuses on self-application in 2 phases and will take you through the proper steps of achieving an appropriate daytime look and progressing into a gorgeous evening makeup.

*Photo Beautylish

Pro Classes – these classes are designed for those aspiring to become a Pro or for working professionals seeking to further their training.  It is a certificated class and taught in different levels, which take you from Bridal and Editorial makeup all the way through to Airbrush classes.

*Photo Beautylish

Elessa will also teach seminars on how to market you as a makeup artist and she will teach an extremely useful seminar called Makeup Artist Contracts.  This Pro gets asked a lot about what type of contract I use or what a freelance MUA contract should look like.  Elessa will answer all your questions and lead you down the right path to protect and insure you are covered when working.

Each class includes a full kit exclusively designed for the student and certification courses come with an amazing list of benefits and perks, such as; valid Pro Memberships to Make Up For Ever, TemptuPro, Embryolisse, Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics and Eve Pearl Beauty to name just a few.

You will also receive on the Pro certification level, a supporting document for Employment Consideration at: MAC, Sephora, Temptu and the Eve Pearl Beauty Internship Program.

Valid proof of Pro Beginner Class Completion from Temptu (for Airbrush Class only), MAC Pro and Out of the Beauty Box Tour plus valid proof of Pro Status to attend Pro-only events via The Powder Group, The Makeup Show, Makeup 101 and other VIP events.

This is an amazing opportunity and extremely affordable.  For more information, to review biographies on educators, kit information or to sign up to take a class, please click here and you will be directed to the website.

Past tours have been in Beverly Hills, San Francisco, Chicago and currently applications are being accepted to attend a tour in San Diego on March 26^th and 27^th at the Bellus Academy.  Space is very limited so sign up now!

Koren and Elessa will also be visiting San Jose, Baton Rouge and Tampa Bay later this year.   Again, I can’t emphasis enough what an incredible jumpstart this tour is to your new career or added bonus to your current career.

With sponsors such as Make Up For Ever, TemptuPro, Crown Brush, naked cosmetics, BeautySoClean, The Powder Group, Embryolisse and with presenters from Beautylish and Fusion of Color Cosmetics, this education opportunity is sure to be an enlightening, full-filling and skill boosting experience.

Here is a great YouTube video from founder and educator Koren Zander:

And you MUST watch this video from a graduated student – more videos and behind-the-scenes photos can be viewed on the O2B2 website.

I hope and encourage you to take advantage of this opportunity immediately and maybe someday I will see you backstage!

* Photos courtesy of Beautylish