This week LadyM Connects with Charlotte Arnold, a professional makeup artist who specialises in theatrical makeup, weddings and party makeup. Since we’ve just had halloween some of her work is a tad timely. I’m sure she was busy creating some amazing ghouls and zombies. 

Charlotte Arnold, Make Up Artist

If you have a Christmas party coming up or a special occasion; Charlotte Arnold is your lady for fabulously beautiful makeup too. Let’s find out more about what she does and the beauty she creates.

Q. When did you first start working in the Make Up Industry?

I have been working in the industry for about 5 years now.

Q. What encouraged you to get into this industry and what was your route into it?

I have always been into art, especially drawing and painting and I used to constantly spend my money on makeup, trying new things on my friends who then encouraged me to apply to the London College of Fashion in 2008. Sadly I was not picked to do the course there but this did not deter me and I under took a new course at K College in 2010 at Tonbridge, qualifying in 2011. Although I was already a practicing MUA by this time particularly in wedding and party makeup I wanted to broaden my horizons and learn the theatrical and media makeup side of the business.

Q. What is a typical working day for you?

There is no such thing as a typical day! Its dependent on the job I am doing, if its Film, TV or a fashion shoot then the days start very early usually and can run on pretty late into the night. Weddings and party makeups require several trials before the actual day to make sure everyone is happy, they usually only take a few hours so I can do 2 or 3 jobs in a day depending on the length of travel time.

Q. What are your favourite brands to work with?

I love working with M.A.C or Illamasqua for fashion shows, photo shoots and weddings as I find their range of shadows, blushers and foundations cover everything you could possibly want or need. I use a mixture of Crown and M.A.C brushes. Otherwise I’m a huge fan of Mehron products particularly the paradise paints which I use when body painting. All the products I use I test on myself because I have very sensitive skin so I make sure im using the best out there.

Q. Where are you based, how much of an inspiration is your city and what are your favourite cities around the world?

I am currently based in Tunbridge Wells, but I travel to London for work sometimes. Tunbridge Wells is a great place to be based because there are a lot of local projects that I have been able to get involved in enabling me to gain contacts.

I am yet to travel abroad for a job, but I wouldn’t mind heading back to NYC as it took my breath away. I’d love to visit Cape Town too.

Q. How would you sum up what you do in one sentence?

It is exciting but hard work and no day is ever the same.

Q. Who would you love most like to have on your client list or involved in your work?

I adore Alex Box’s work, it is truly stunning, I would love to work with her one day and see how she creates such beautiful, inspiring makeup designs. Nick Dudman and Rick Baker are 2 other heroes of mine – The things they can do with animatronics and latex are mind blowing!

Q. Have you seen the beauty industry or change in the last few years, have you had to adapt?

Yes with the introduction of HD filming, makeup has had to be better than ever, airbrushing has massively helped this though and I have been lucky enough to be educated in using airbrushing techniques.

Q. What’s the most rewarding part of your work? What is your greatest accomplishment so far?

I love being a makeup artist, the human body is my canvas and makeup is my medium I love being given a brief and having free range to come up with ideas, try them, invariably change them to create unique pieces of art.

There have been a couple of highlights for me, designing the makeup for the circus/dance troop “Enchantment Cirque” who went through to the live semi finals on Britains Got Talent in 2011 was definitely one of them, not only was my work shown live on national tv but Simon Cowell himself said he loved the makeup! Chuffed didn’t even cover it that day!

The other highlight was coming 3rd in the UK National Body Painting competition in 2011. This was my first ever time at doing body painting and I never expected to get through the local heats, let alone the regional heats to the final, which took place up at the Winter Gardens in Blackpool.

Q. What is next for you? What are your goals for 2012/13?

I am just coming to the end of wedding season and the start of party season for the end of 2012 along with a charity fashion show and a photo shoot. As yet no confirmed bookings for 2013 but I hope to undertake a more in-depth prosthetics course up in London which will teach me how to make full head casts and full head pieces which I then hope to be able to get more into using in the film and tv industry.

Bonus Question

Q. If you didn’t do the job you do now – what would be your dream job and where?

If I didn’t do this or couldn’t I always wanted to work for Pixar so I think id follow my illustrating career. As long as I was doing a job that involved me being creative then I’d be happy because that is what I like doing the most.

For more information on Charlotte’s work and to get in touch, follow her on Twitter or email her [email protected]