JT Makeup Studio

The last 6 months I have been busy focusing on relocating from London to Leeds and setting up a new Makeup Studio. The aim of the new studio is to expand the JT Makeup Product range of glitters and metallic leaf plus also to develop some training courses in hair and makeup. My background is teaching programmes at the LCF and West Thames College and I am a big believer in structured in-depth training for makeup artists.

In the last two weeks I have finally unpacked all my books that are all displayed on a new bookcase. Its an impressive collection of makeup, art, history, fashion and film books plus an archive of The Makeup Artist & Warpaint Magazines, a collection of Vogue UK, USA & Italia, plus additional copies of POP, Love & The Face magazines.

I will hosting a collection of Open Days and Taster Days at the Studio in April and our first course in Fashion Hair & Makeup which runs for 6 weeks will begin in June. Watch out for our You Tube channel which will start to show the development of the studio, makeup and body painting.
For any queries on the courses please check out my website www.jtmakeup.co.uk or check updates on my instagram site JT Makeup Studio

The Alex Box

One of my favourite makeup artists in the fashion industry is Alex Box. I love the way she brings her art into each makeup design she creates. As a person Alex is very generous with her time and a thoroughly down to earth northern girl. A highlight for me from a MAC Cosmetics event a few years ago I introduced Alex to another makeup legend in the film world Jenny Shirecore. It was great to listen to them both talking about their creations and inspirations.

When I headed up the HE Specialist Makeup Courses at West Thames College, our Graduate shows were sponsored by Illamasqua and were always attended by Spob OBrien and the Illamasqua Media teams. One year Alex came with the team to view our Graduate Show titled "Wonderland". After the show Alex & Spob went backstage to meet our graduates and chat to them about their designs. Knowing how busy Alex and Spob are, it was a real privilege for them to spend time with the graduates and it made their final show very special.

Alex Box left her role at Illamasqua earlier this year to develop her own specialism in the makeup industries. More recently she announced the launch of her box of cards each offering words of wisdom from the maestro herself. I was one of 25 people selected by Alex to receive one of the cards prior to the launch. My card said "only use fingers"

I ordered one of the first editions to be released. I felt for me they would be a great teaching tool for when I am with makeup students. I can challenge each student to create a makeup design in alternative guises and methods.

The cards are illustrated in Alex's handwriting and each one will inspire and promote creativity in a makeup artists mind.

‘I want to help people in those moments where they need
inspiration or change of direction, or even just encouragement
from a friendly voice’. - Alex Box 2016

Each card gives makeup artists the opportunity to experiment and explore boundaries. They are a great tool and a wise investment. The first edition of cards have now sold out but there is now a second edition available. The cost of the cards is £50.00

For more information check out www.thealexbox.com

The Business of Makeup

When I recently launched my courses at the JT Makeup Studio I introduced a course titled "The Business of Makeup". My reason for doing this was because graduates from makeup schools often contact me for advice on starting their career. This is sometimes skimmed over in training but should be fundamental knowledge.

In the 6 wk & 12 wk courses at JT Makeup Studio our students will cover a unit titled "The Business of Makeup". This is a core unit designed to assist the students to understand the makeup industry, starting out, building contacts, self promotion techniques as well as tax & insurance requirements. These are essential tools for any makeup artist.

Over the last year I have met up with many makeup artists at all levels in makeup to help them with career plans. This led me to develop the 2 Day Programme "The Business of Makeup" Course. This is aimed at makeup artists starting out & offers an intensive training in:

The Makeup Industry

Getting Started

What your role is
Assisting
Working in the Fashion Industry
Working in the Film & TV Industry

Plan, prepare, promote techniques

Promotional Tools

Essential skills

Building Teams & Assisting

Key Players

Websites

Social Media

Portfolios 

Agencies

Working teams

Tax, Insurance

Building clients & contacts & maintaining them

Goal Mapping

Career Planning

Through my own experience and knowledge of the Makeup Industry I can help others achieve reasonable goals.

The course is very intensive, covers 2 days of training from 10am - 6pm. These courses are based in Leeds & London and are highly in demand. For more information please email JTMakeupUK@gmail.com

The JT Makeup Range

The JT Makeup range is now celebrating a 3 year anniversary since it was launched at IMATS in July 2013. The idea of the range coincided with leaving a long term teaching role at West Thames College and began as an idea with my sisters Deby and Issie. My background has always been in makeup and body painting, so something to do with a glitter range was always an idea to explore. We were sitting around the kitchen table and started playing with ideas. Deby owns a craft company called Inkylicious and started making up some pots of glitter and gold leaf from the stocks she had, next thing a label with the logo was created and we had our first products as testers. Deby helped me source my product containers and a supplier with cosmetic grade glitter, plus printed all my labels and the JT Makeup range was formed.

I was able to take on a stand at IMATS, a very prestigious trade show for makeup artists in July 2013, my sister Issie who works as a sales director came down to London to run my stand. Deby had prepared quite a few products for me including signs and price tags. With limited stock we sold out of everything in the first hour. Luckily we had body painting demos going on and we could talk about the products and courses we were going to offer. We had a list of orders for the next day so spent the Saturday evening preparing products for the next day. We had a successful weekend and it proved it was a worthwhile idea to develop further.

I started freelancing and in between jobs visited makeup colleges to show my range to the students. This was a tester to see if they liked the range. The feedback was positive. In March 2014 the JT Makeup range was available to buy in Screenface. This in turn followed with orders from PAM, Love Makeup & Illusion magazine. The following year I finally launched my website. The products sell very well at Makeup shows & online. The popular ranges are the metallic leaf & the glitter discs. The range has proved popular with makeup artists and have been used in editorial, runway, film & TV productions.

The JT Makeup range at the Love Makeup Shop.

The JT Makeup range at Screenface

Always believe a dream can come true. These products were created with love & a passion for the makeup industry.

Check out www.jtmakeup.co.uk for more info

The Face Painting Shop

Last Friday evening I attended the 3rd Anniversary Party of the Face Painting Store in Stanford Le Hope. This was the first time I was able to visit this incredible store. I have followed the journey of this store since it first opened and is now known as an Award Winning store built up by the talented Nathalie with her sheer hard work ethic which has now paid a multitude of rewards.

I loved the store which is packed from top to bottom with assortments of face paints, glitters, stencils, brushes, sponges and makeup cases; including one of my favourites Get-Set-Go bags.

On one of the walls are a collection of awards for Nathalie & Dupe magazine. These awards are testament to Nathalies vision and a strong team around her who make you feel very welcome in the store.

The turnout was great and the shop was packed, it really is a sweetie store for makeup artists, body artists & face painters. I took away some of the issues of Dupe Magazine which I have enjoyed reading. Thank you Nathalie & everyone at The Face Painting Store. It was a really enjoyable event & really lovely to catch up with so many friends

Always love my photos with these two lovelies Bobbi Bicker and Maria Malone guerbaa ❤️

For more information check out www.thefacepaintingshop.com

The JT Makeup Studio

Three years ago when I finished working full time in education at West thames College my aims were to set up a range of products, offer some short courses and work as a freelance makeup artist. Quite early on I became quite busy with freelance work so put the idea of courses to one side and instead taught occasional days in other colleges. My product range of glitters and metallic leaf took off and this range is now available in Screenface, Love_ Makeup,and Illusion Magazine. The glitter discs are also available at The Face Painting Shop and the Metallic Leaf is stocked at PAM in West london.

Over the last year I have started offering 1-1 courses for career planning and airbrushing so earlier on this year I decided to offer training courses based in Leeds and London. The courses offer training for beginners in hair and makeup. The courses I am offering are:
Film, TV, Media Hair & Makeup - 12 weeks
Intensive training for the film & TV industries. Comes with a hair & makeup kit

Fashion Media Hair & Makeup - 6 weeks
Intensive training for the Fashion & Media industries includes airbrush training. Comes with a hair & makeup kit

Bridal Hair & Makeup including - 2 weeks
Covers all areas of bridal hair & makeup including airbrushing

Body Painting & Airbrushing - 1 week

The Business of Makeup - 1 day 
Seminar based aimed at Makeup Artists starting out

The Business of makeup - 2 days
Seminar based aimed at Makeup Artists starting out covering a wide area of topics

There are only 10 places on each course.

There is a closed FB account for current students & graduates which will offer networking opportunities, jobs and discount shopping evenings at Makeup Stores.

The courses begin in Leeds in August and the London courses will begin in April 2017. The courses running in August in Leeds & London will be:

The Business of Makeup

Bridal Hair & Makeup

For more information please email JTMakeupUK@gmail.com

Paintopia Body Painting Festival - Urban Jungle

For the last couple of years I have been trying to attend the Paintopia Body Painting event but never get there always due to work commitments. This year Jennie Roberts, head of this event, asked me to judge a new competition titled "Creative Makeup Artist of the Year".

There was also a new section called "Online Alley" hosted by Jo Peters alongside well known Instagram artists such as Maria Malone, all showing their designs.

It was great to see Kryolan, Illusion, Mistair, Treasure House and a host of other body art/makeup companies selling their products at the event.

I was also able to watch some of the teaching sessions led by the Kryolan team of Paul Merchant and Gemma Horner.

At 11.30am I went to judge the Creative Makeup Competition with Victoria Lee representing Kryolan and Maria Malone. We viewed some really exciting designs and it was interesting to see each contestants take on creative makeup. After serious debate and reviewing each contestants work we finally decided on our final three.

At 3pm it was the Urban Jungle stage presentations of the body painting work and awards. For the Creative Makeup Artist our final three were:

1st Place - Karen Harvey

2nd Place - Suzanne Forrester - Beer

3rd Place - Liz Bylett   

They were given prizes from my range, JT Makeup and Face-Lace 

I loved the whole day and wished I could have stayed for the whole weekend.

Well done to Jennie and her team, Kryolan for sponsoring the event and everyone who participated.