Returning to Makeup Artistry After a Break…
With school and work and supporting myself, it was all too much. But how could I let go of my creative plug? It came time to do less and fewer things with more intention. The reality is that sometimes as a creative, taking a step back leads to a later resurgence of drive. I can say without a doubt, that this is by far and away the most driven I’ve ever been to do and be a Makeup Artist once more. But…I’m getting ahead of myself.
“So you mean to tell me that you can use paint, powders, and stains to create art on someone’s face?!” I’d say to myself. Five year old me use to sit quietly on the toilet and stare up in wonder at my Maman applying her shimmery bronzer, swipes of jet black mascara, and a berry toned lip stick. I have fond memories of her ensuring she took advantage of every Clinique sale so she could get the sampler tote packed full of some of their new or best selling products. Being the French woman that she is, having on makeup and leaving the house in a presentable fashion was a daily necessity…and my creative fascination couldn’t have been more thrilled. At every opportunity, my Maman had me in the city to go to the Museum of Fine Arts, coloring in my coloring book, and engaging in one form or another of creative out put. I’m grateful she did. It’s shaped who I am as a person and a creative individual.
Through my formative years, into high school, and even into my freshman year of college, I was always doodling and sketching eyes. Now let’s get something straight, I have not mastered drawing a 3D human eye at all, but something about the eye specifically really had me fixated. Then onto the nose and profile face sketches. Again, and I can’t stress this enough, I wasn’t gifted at making these look anything other than “abstract.” That didn’t matter too much as eventually I stopped sketching and began playing with makeup on my own face and on the faces of friends and family.
After completing my Associates Degree in Liberal Sciences in the Spring of 2005, I decided it was time to apply to a Makeup Artist Academy. But where? I had no interest in learning special effects makeup and the like. My hope was to focus on more editorial and fashion centered makeup artistry. After some searching on Google, I came across MKC Beauty Academy in LA. Long story short, I applied, and was accepted into their Beauty, Print, and Fashion Makeup 3 months intensive certificate program. So off I went from October 2005 through January of 2006 to live in LA and fulfill a dream of mine to be a Certified Makeup Artist.
Upon returning from LA to the East Coast, I spent the next 13 years very slowly building my side hustle freelance business. From working weddings, boudoir, commercial, and print work during my time in Washington DC for a few years and upon returning my home city of Boston in 2012. I got to work on photoshoots both as Key Makeup Artist and Assistant Makeup Artist for Velcro, Friendly’s, Panera, Sassoon Salon North America, The Improper Bostonian, Scene Magazine, Shawn Mendes, former Mayor Marty Walsh, and as part of The Knot Magazines Hall of Fame travelling wedding beauty team Charlotte & Company, Inc.
When Covid hit, I chose to put down my brushes to re-group, finish my Bachelors Degree for a BS in Business Administration from Southern New Hampshire University, spending time hunkering down with my now Husband in our North End apartment, and resting. After all that down time, I FINALLY feel called back to a passion of mine and am eager to begin creating from this peaceful, centered, and inspired place. My schedule is available via the scheduling link on my website www.juliabrocard.com.
I look forward to sharing my work with you via this blog and updates to the website. Keeping you posted on trends, holy grail products, creative inspiration, and all things makeup from my very French girl point of view. Au Revoir for now et a bientot….Lots of Love, Julia Brocard, Makeup Artist
