Our Creativity Spotlight series features advice on artistic practice, inspiration, and a glimpse into the worlds of artists working in a variety of disciplines.
Marina Georgia is a Canadian make-up artist who launched her own business, Marina Georgia Makeup, in 2019.
"I represent the quintessential millennial that has a full time job, as well as a creative side hustle."
Tell us a bit about yourself.
I represent the quintessential millennial that has a full time job, as well as a creative side hustle. While my day job is working as a political consultant, I come alive in the evenings and weekends when I can express myself creatively through makeup. I have loved makeup and learning about products as long as I can remember, and have always spent time doing my makeup in new and creative ways.
In 2019, I decided to pursue a life-long goal of becoming a certified makeup artist. I completed my certification from the Alberta Academy of Aesthetics and shortly after launched my small makeup business. With Marina Georgia Makeup, I teach makeup application, do clients’ makeup for special events, as well as participate in creative collabs with other local artists. Most of all, I love meeting new people and helping them feel beautiful and confident.
"When I do my own makeup, I like to actively play with different techniques and placement to manipulate my face shape and features so that there is almost a fantastical element to the finished product."
How do you stay inspired?
When I started Marina Georgia Makeup, I was worried that it would take some of the creativity or enjoyment out of it if it became “work”. Often, before I launched my business, friends and family would offer to pay me to do their makeup - however I always refused as I didn’t want to mix “business with pleasure”. I have been pleasantly surprised that my love and creativity towards makeup has only increased as I have started my professional pursuits.
People are so familiar with their own face and preferences, it is such an inspiring challenge to get to work with other people.
That being said, I think that all creatives go through ebbs and flows of feeling inspired. One of my best tricks to staying creative with makeup is to constantly keep learning. Learning about new products I want to play with, discovering new techniques, or even saving creative photos I come across which I can then look back on for inspiration have all been sure fire ways to make me want to pick up a makeup brush.
My favourite aspect of makeup is the transformative impact that it can have on the person who wears it. When I do my own makeup, I like to actively play with different techniques and placement to manipulate my face shape and features so that there is almost a fantastical element to the finished product. Reducing the amount I fall into any sort of makeup routine is another tool I use to stay inspired.
As a creative, I strive to find a balance between always having a drive to improve my art and being proud of the finished product. I think artists have to often remind themselves that the finished product may look and feel different every time, and that there is beauty in that.
What advice would you give to other creatives?
As a creative, sometimes I find the hardest part is just starting. One of the main reasons I love makeup is it is a time in my day that I truly feel calm. When I am focusing on applying makeup, I don’t have any other thought or worry going through my mind. For this reason, I really enjoy starting a makeup look with no plan or preconceived notion of what the finished product will look like, and instead organically following my intuition with colour choice and placement. All this to say that although sometimes I do not feel inspired, once I start, my creative intuition takes over.
Something I am always working to overcome is the pitfall of being hyper critical of my work. Regardless of how a makeup look comes out, I always find something in the photos later that I wish I did differently. As a creative, I strive to find a balance between always having a drive to improve my art and being proud of the finished product. Since creative work is subjective, I think artists have to often remind themselves that the finished product may look and feel different every time, and that there is beauty in that.
Similarly, as artists we are often our own harshest critic. One of the tools I use to not be stifled by this is posting photos of my work even if I do not consider it to be perfect. In all the photos I post, I do not photoshop or edit them, and instead post what the makeup truly looks like (hopefully in good lighting), regardless of if there is texture, a blemish, or smudges. This practice gives me confidence because despite often not being perfect, I am proud to be part of a positive change in the beauty community which is steering away from flawlessness. Showing vulnerability by sharing my work in a raw way has become a core value in my makeup practice.
To celebrate Pride month, Marina collaborated with PicsbyAkanksha and Shane Scott on a glam drag photoshoot.
Check out her insta for more!
(details below)
Plug time! What are you working on?
Due to COVID-19, many weddings have had to be postponed or cancelled. In addition, personal services such as makeup artistry are not permitted in many areas of the world because of physical distancing. If your wedding has been impacted by COVID-19 and you can no longer have your makeup professionally done, I’m offering free online classes to teach brides how to do their own bridal makeup! Email marinageorgiamakeup@gmail.com for more information.
Follow Marina Georgia Makeup on Instagram @marinageorgiamakeup and check out her website www.marinageorgiamakeup.com.
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