Anna Lingis Make-up Artist
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uper talented make-up artist Anna Lingis understands the transformative powers of make-up. With an extremely good eye for detail, her work clearly represents passion and implication in every stroke. When I saw her work for the first time, I couldn’t believe what I was seeing. She masters the brushes and understands how to use paint to create outstanding optical illusions. All due to her stellar taste in make-up, and acute eye for matching colours which make her creations worthy of being considered Haute Couture. Lingis’ work reminded me of a young John Galliano, when his collections for Dior had combined the powerful make-up by legendary Pat McGrath and horrific outfits with nostalgic decadence.
Born in Hertfordshire, raised in London with a Greek Cypriot background she is self taught, but felt the need to do a make-up course to ensure she was on the right track. She went on to complete an intense makeup course at the BBC, held by Sue Sian who became her mentor and helped to boost the confidence needed to pursue a career in make-up.
Lingis’ specialises in body painting and her creative personality is projected in her work, which has no boundaries and can be surprisingly amusing yet also spooky. She is like a chameleon or alchemist creating and mixing different characters for whatever the brief. I was honoured to catch up with Lingis and find out more about her incredible career…
What inspired you to become a MUA (makeup artist)?
– I have always been creative and loved experimenting with makeup. I can’t actually pin point the very first time I picked up a lipstick although I am sure my mother could find some embarrassing photos of me. I had – some would say still have – an obsession with fancy dress. So for me it was an excuse to play with makeup and face paint. Friends/family would ask me to make them up and the joy/confidence you could give someone made me want to keep doing it. When a client looks in the mirror for the first time and smiles, it’s genuinely priceless. Whether it’s enhancing someone’s beauty with makeup, or turning someone into a creature, it is so rewarding.
Describe a typical day in your life…
– To be completely honest, I start my day with a social media catch up and a cup of tea. I love the fact I don’t have a ‘typical’ day any longer, which means I don’t get bored and there is no routine. One day I could be making up a bride, the next I am face painting at a child’s birthday party, the day after I could be on an editorial shoot and the day after I might be body painting and so on… I can’t put into words how much I love the randomness of my job.
How do you get your inspiration for your characters?
– My inspiration comes from everything around me, all aspects of my life, from a piece of clothing, something I might have eaten, to a piece of graffiti on a wall I might have driven past. For example, I once created looks for an editorial shoot based on different elements such as metal, stones, etc…
If you could give one piece of advice to an up and coming MUA, what would it be?
– My advice would be to never stop practicing, keep learning, do not be afraid to experiment and do not give up. Even the great MUA’s started somewhere. Always put 100% in everything you do and most importantly enjoy what you are doing, that passion will drive you to succeed.
I know you are specialised in body painting, what caught your attention from the field?
– I just found it breath taking. The human form on its own is so beautiful, so to use that as your canvas and adding a splash of colour you are creating an amazing piece of art. It really is as simple as that.
What are the five must-have beauty products you can’t live without?
– Revlon PhotoReady Foundation – I love this foundation as it is super light, it has a medium coverage which is buildable and it leaves the most amazing flawless finish. I have used it for years.
– Maybelline Brown Gel Liner – I use this for my eyebrows. Unfortunately my brows don’t really grow anymore so I have to fill them in every day. To me, brows are so important; they help to structure the face and the eyes.
– Eylure Eyelashes – I literally cannot go out without my lashes anymore, I love how much they open my eyes and finish off my eye make-up.
– MAC Mineralize Skin Finish Powder – adds warmth and colour to my often tired/dull looking olive skin.
– MAC Pink Lemonade Lipglass – I have been obsessed with this coral lip gloss, I use it on its own or over a lipstick, its super glossy & the colour compliments my skin tone perfectly.
Do you ever improvise or do you always know what exactly is it that you are going to do when doing make-up? Do you practice beforehand?
– It all depends on the timescales I have been given for a particular project. Some projects I have had no time to prepare so I have to improvise which can be daunting but also quite rewarding. When I do have time, I try to prepare, by this I mean I will work on a mood board and have an idea of colours. I tend not to practice a look as I feel I may jinx myself, I wouldn’t want my ‘practiced’ attempt to look better than the final creation. How heart-breaking would that be!
Do you think airbrush will become more popular with us mere mortals in the future, and extinguish old make-up techniques?
– I hope not. I feel we live in a world where everyone wants to look as immaculate as they can. As great as airbrushing is to create a flawless makeup look, I think there is something beautiful in seeing ‘real’ skin, with pores & imperfections, it can add character. Alternatively, when using an airbrush to create body art, there is a lot to say for an artist who can create detailed freehand using a brush, rather than a stencil.
What are the three key elements a make-up artist should have to become successful?
- Creativity
- Passion
- Drive
What is your philosophy about make-up?
– Ultimately makeup can be used to enhance someone’s beauty, or to change their features (make eyes appear bigger, lips look fuller etc.) but at the same time it can be used to express your creativity through the use of colour…I don’t feel that everyone should wear their makeup in one particular way, everyone is different and I believe it’s down to the individual, so when I have a client I simply give them the best version of the look they want. For me personally, it all depends on my mood.
Step by step how do you create this amazing art through makeup and body paint?
– I will see/hear something that inspires me and it doesn’t take long before I get a pencil and some paper and start sketching away. This can take a few minutes, to hours and sometimes days until I have something I love. Once I am happy with a design, I decide on colour schemes, and ensure I have the paints I need for that particular look, I source any props I may need, decide on the hair style (if any) and secure a model. I tend to paint at home with my homemade studio. As mentioned above, I usually dive in without a practice run and once it’s complete, I snap away. I generally take my own photos of my body art and face paint. It’s that straightforward for me.
How does body paint relate to High Fashion?
– The definition of ‘High Fashion’ in the Oxford dictionary says:
‘Expensive, fashionable clothes produced by leading fashion houses’
so automatically you would think it doesn’t relate. But to me, Body paint is an expression of art, as is fashion. It’s a way of dressing your body using paint to create unique one off pieces of art.
Anna Lingis: