Octavio Solis of LA & Las Vegas – Make-up Artist Interview
Q: What is your favorite or most exciting aspect about your job?
A: The best part is interacting with new people and being in different locations daily. Some more exotic than others.
Q: Do you think going to school for make-up artistry is important to excel in the business later on?
A: It gives you a great foundation to build on. If your a go getter and want to take the time to research and and learn on your own more power to you. I have worked with many self taught great make up artist. We have learned from each other.
Q: Tell a little about yourself personally and if you attended school or you are a self taught makeup artist?
A: I am very chill laid back. I’m originally from Los Angeles so I don’t put on a face. I don’t have to prove anything I’m from here. I grew up as a tagger/muralist. You might of seen some of my work on the 10 fwy on your way to downtown 15 yrs ago or so. I went to Joe Blasco Make Up School here in L.A. after finishing college and earning a degree. Have to have something to fall back on. I consider it a plan b so to speak.
Q: Did you always wanted to be an artist, or did you stumble upon your talent by chance? Who or what inspired you to become a makeup artist?
A: I grew up painting and drawing. I later started doing fx make up on friends for Halloween. After hating working in my field of study my friends convinced me to pursue a career in make up. 7 yrs later here I am loving my job.
Q: What surprises you most about working as a makeup artist?
A: The perks and friends you make. Oh and the $$$$
Q: Describe your “Classic Approach to Beauty.” how do you define beauty?
A: I define it as a clean fresh look with a bit of emphasis on the eyes to bring them out.
Q: What individual products and brands you’re “addicted” to at the moment and you use on a daily basis?
A: I like the foundations Make Up Forever, their concealers and their earthy blushes. I love the Mac air brush foundations it gives you a great flawless look with very little touch up required if a sealer is mixed into the solution before applying. Their eye shadows are great as well.
Q: What are some of the most basic but effective skin care tips in general that you have, that are really important?
A: Keep hydrated. Cleanse tone and then moisturize. during the day use a moisturizer that contains SPF.
Q: What is the biggest skin care dont’s?
A: Don’t sleep with your make up on. Share sponges, or any kind of liquid or cream base lip or skin products. You will be sharing each others bacteria and could lead to more acne or worse.
Q: Have you had an extreme, crazy or bad experience with a skin care product or during a makeup session? If so, what happened?
A: The prosthetic glue stated giving the actor a chemical burn. Had a chemical reaction with his prescribed acne treatment.
Q: What do you find to be the most common mistakes women make with makeup? What’s the worst thing a woman can do to her skin?
A: Cake it on, and use the wrong shade.
Q: What do you think are best/worst trends in the makeup / skin care industry right now?
A: There is no wrong trend as long its executed right. The worst thing about the skin care industry is selling false hope. Last years miracle treatment that was all the rave in magazines is no longer valid because the new reformulated treatment contains diamond dust. WTF? is that about.
Q: Do teenage girls needs to splurge on high-priced makeup products, or are drugstore items are just as satisfactory?
A: Drug store make up is just as good as department store brands.
Q: What feature(s) do you love to accentuate?
A: It all depends on the look I’m going for.
Q: What are your steps for the perfect, flawless, natural look?
A: Great skin prep, perfect matching foundation, a natural/taupe eyeshadow, very little mascara on the top lash, peach or a soft pink blush, fill in the gaps on the brows, lip liner and lip moisturizing balm.
Q: What is a really quick way to change a day look to a special occasion or nighttime face?
A: Use a black eye shadow in the crease and highlight the brow bone with a light shimmer. Or just smoke out the eye with a black khol liner or a liquid/cream liner.
Q: What are the differences between applying makeup on models and on real women?
A: On models you tend to apply make up that is too wild or crazy for everyday. It’s a bit unnatural. You apply it past the eyelid and go beyond to the hairline at times. With real women you want to keep them looking as natural as possible and as clean as possible for on the go.
Q: In terms of eyeliner, if you had to choose between a pencil, liquid, or creme/gel based, which one would you choose? Why?
A: Its a matter of opinion. I like the cream/gel based. I use a fine art brush to create a fine line with cat tail. I can then smudge it to create a soft smoky eye. its faster as well.
Q: Lip gloss or Lipstick. Which product is best? Why?
A: For film lipstick is better. its last longer and the applications are less in a 12+hr day. Gloss is great for shoots as it reflects light.
Q: What should a client consider before deciding to try permanent makeup? What is the difference between permanent and semi-permanent makeup?
A: Semi permanent fades over time. permanent make up last up to 10 yrs.
Q: What brand/type of concealer is your favorite for covering up the after effects of a late night out i.e. under-eye circles, blemishes?
A: MAC and Smashbox have great ones
Q: How about airbrush spray makeup trend? Are these products better or easier to use than standard sponge or finger application? If yes when would you recommend using them?
A: Its definitely more efficient and lighter on the skin with full coverage. You don’t need a concealer if done right. you do have to prep the skin.
Q: What do your clients think of you? What are some individual testimonials?
A: They love me and have a great time being around me. As for testimonials:
Jordyn Borczon, Publicist, MLC PR (business partner)
“Working with Octavio is always such a pleasure. He is so talented, and he is by far one of the best make up artists in the entertainment industry. Recently I watched him paint tattoos all over a body double on a music video shoot, and the tattoos were so realistic, everyone on set thought they were real. Personally and professionally, Octavio is fantastic, and I look forward to working with him more in the future.”
Anton David, creative director/ hair dresser, Inner Lotus Inc. Freelance Hair stylist
“Make up at its best,amazing, flawless Perfection! Always a joy and privilege to work beside him. AD”
Greta Valenti, Fuji Mynx(client) Great Results, Personable, Creative
“Octavio is such a awesome person to work with. He truly brings out the best in people. He is uber-talented, creative, & an expert in his field. He is professional, kind, patient, flexible, & just all around great person to work with. Will definitely hire Octavio again. He is A+ quality
Q: Would you share some of your future goals, your life motto, any words of wisdom that get you by in life and professional career?
A: I want to run the dept. on a major motion picture someday in the near future and come out with a successful cosmetic line. I live life to its fullest. Keep the positive friends and stay away from negativity. it will only wear you down. Don’t let people discourage you. they are only envious of your skills and career choice.
Q: What tips and advice do you have for aspiring makeup artists just starting out?
A: Be patient and persistent. It will happen. If you get passed up on a job its not because your not talented your skills are not what they are looking for. Getting to the bridge is the easy part. The hard part is keeping those bridges open.
Visit Octavio’s ModelMayhem page.