Dana and I had met Claudia Mejerle a few months ago through a mutual friend. We were in need of a make-up artist for a shoot, and were so fortunate Claudia volunteered her talent and time to help. We spent five minutes with Claudia, and felt like we’ve known her for years. She is instantly inspiring and engaging, and so beautifully talented at her craft. You could just sit and watch her gracefully transform a bare palette into a stunning work. Our collaboration sparked a sweet friendship with Claudia, and we loved sitting down with her a few weeks later to hear more of her heart and passion for her art. She is just brushing the surface of what we believe will be an amazing career, and hope you are as inspired by her beginnings and passion as we have been.
When did you first realize you had an artistic talent?
Growing up, I enjoyed dance, painting, making jewelry, sculpture, paper goods, rubber stamping, crafting…anything that allowed me to create. Unlike most young girls who dreamed of dolls or toys, I requested art supplies as gifts. And then I found that same love for creating in makeup artistry and hair styling. My years dancing introduced me to cosmetics at an early age, and I quickly learned that I loved everything about these tools that allowed me to experiment with colors and textures and create various looks. I was hooked and realized this hobby wasn’t just a phase.
What inspired you to pursue doing make-up full time?
After college, I went the safe route and put my advertising degree to good use and worked in account management for a marketing firm. It was a great experience to learn how to be an adult, understand how a business is run, and gain some confidence. But after a few years, I became restless as I didn’t feel fulfilled by my work. I had this suppressed love for doing makeup and hair that I reserved for doing weddings on the weekends, primarily for friends. But it got to the point that it was painful to go to my “real” job–I knew I had to make a big change and take a leap. So I quit my job. It was the scariest thing I had ever done. But I was confident that I wanted to pursue my passion for makeup, giving it my full focus and whole heart. I realized that if I can make a living doing something that I love, why wouldn’t I?!
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tags: a conversation, claudia mejerle, make-up artist interview
category: Interviews
