Liz Washer, Makeup Artist

Selection from a recent catalog shoot

admin — Thu, 12 Apr 2012 17:21:42 +0000

Grooming for Adidas NCAA Uniform ads

admin — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 22:33:05 +0000

Here are six final images from a shoot advertising Adidas college basketball uniforms – these guys were so much fun to work with! I spent a lot of time spraying “sweat” on the models (who, despite jumping around all day, were entirely too cold to break a sweat, especially in an unheated warehouse in February).

All photos by Eric Levin – and check out their behind the scenes blog entry!

15 things I learned at my first New York Fashion Week

admin — Sun, 19 Feb 2012 16:57:16 +0000

Pack as many makeup wipes as you think you’ll need… then triple that. Cotton swabs, too.
Comfortable. Shoes. I will only say this once.
Release the model from your chair for a “quick fitting” at your peril. Get a real ETA and then memorize her face so you can find her again. (Get her name, too, but sometimes it will be difficult to pronounce or easily remember so don’t rely on that.) I’m the first to admit that I find models with identical hair and makeup very difficult to tell apart.
Be sure that the beautiful person who plops down in your chair is actually a model who is actually walking in your show. (At some shows, this will be confirmed for you, but not always.) On my third day of shows, I drew very specific eyes on someone who turned out to be a promotional model. (Fortunately it wasn’t a problem, but if I’d known, I could have saved myself some time!)
People who have no compelling reason to even be backstage WILL ask you for a makeover or “just a quick touch-up” if they see an empty chair. Make sure you know the difference between the designer making this request (good!) and the friend of a friend of a PR person (less good).
Related to above: when in doubt, clear it with the key. They’re usually happy to be the bad guy, they’ll actually recognize the VIPs, and it saves you awkward questioning.
Related to above: there are no stupid questions except the ones you don’t ask but assume you know the answer to.
Photographers and camera crews can and will go wherever they want, knock shit off your table, and rest their equipment on your shoulders while you work so they can shoot directly up the model’s nose. It’s all part of the fun, but if you’re tight for time, politely insist upon the space you need to get the job done.
“Don’t masturbate over the makeup.” – Viktorija Bowers, on speeding things up. Backstage makeup is no time for a spa day for models; knock out the big parts of the look and fix what needs fixing, but in a crunch, don’t let perfectionism slow you down.
The key designed the look and knows what the designer wants to see. Don’t take feedback, edits, or changing your work personally. You’ve already proven yourself by being selected; the rest is details that the key will know much more intimately than you will. (Of course you need to pay attention to the details, but don’t flog yourself over mistakes or requested changes.)
Don’t apologize when you make the model look away from her smartphone. You need her eyes and chin UP for a goodly portion of the makeup, and she knows that. Don’t let a 17-year-old walk all over you!
That said, be nice, and be as gentle as you can. Most models are friendly and so poised and professional that you’ll forget they are teenagers/young adults who are routinely poked, prodded, dragged around like props, and have precious little claim to personal space (or modesty). Be respectful.
Prominently display the sponsor’s products and use them as much as possible – this stuff DOES get photographed. (Keep the “contraband” products off to the side or in unlabeled containers if possible.)
Many models will be coming directly from another show and will be covered in makeup. See above, re: wipes. But if you’re pressed for time and can work over some of the existing makeup without compromising the end result, go for it.
Eat, drink water, sit down, and visit the restroom every chance you get (because you won’t get many!)

Selection of my looks from New York Fashion Week Fall 2012

admin — Sat, 18 Feb 2012 18:01:43 +0000

I was honored, privileged, and ecstatic to work with several amazing teams backstage at a variety of NYFW shows at Lincoln Center and all over the city. It was a challenging and inspiring experience that I’m happy to cross off of my bucket list (and would gladly do again!) Here is a selection of images of the models I worked on (there are more, but it’s difficult to remember who was who after the fact):

Malan Breton Fall 2012

United Bamboo, Greenshows Collection Presentation

(See previous post for the official MBFW video of the presentation highlights.)

United Bamboo, Greenshows Collection Presentation

Emu Australia Fall 2012 at Elle Style360

Bebe Black Fall 2012 at Elle Style360

Saint Wobil Fall 2012

THEIA Fall 2012 at Elle Style360

(The THEIA show was incredible – watch the video here!)

ANTM winner and actress Eva Marcille for Sachika Fall 2012 (Elle Style360)

Eva Marcille for Sachika Fall 2012 (Elle Style360)

And a few behind-the-scenes snaps…

My station backstage at Elle Style360, sponsored by BeautiControl

Bethany Townes, Angela Kaeser, me, & key artist James Vincent at the Greenshows

Working on a model for the Saint Wobil show

Team Wobil! (Key artist Shameika Bowman is 1st row center)

Me making up Eva Marcille for Sachika

Total credit to key artists James Vincent, Orlando Santiago, Shameika Bowman, and Viktorija Bowers – it was such a pleasure being an extension of your arms and executing the beautiful looks that you created for the designers. I look forward to working with you again!

The GreenShows at Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week AW2012

admin — Sun, 12 Feb 2012 00:11:13 +0000

I was so honored to have the opportunity to assist celebrity artist James Vincent for two shows at New York Fashion Week Fall 2012. The following video is from The GreenShows, a presentation showcase of 8 eco-conscious designers. I worked alongside Angela Kaeser, Bethany Townes, and students from AOFM London – a truly international and outrageously talented team! I turned out looks for Bamboo by United Bamboo, which are shown at 1:26-1:44; I also did lip touch-ups backstage right before curtain.

Enjoy the show – I know I did!

HowtoBeaRedhead.com – Vintage Redhead Editorial

admin — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 23:29:52 +0000

The theme: 1960′s Mod & Mad Men-inspired. The venue: HowtoBeaRedhead.com. The team: amazing!

Credits

Photography: Kara Kochalko

Model: Christine Stripinis (Maggie, Inc.)

Hair: Michael Albor (Ennis, Inc.)

Styling: Amanda Antunes

Beauty shoot featuring bright lips and dark eyes

admin — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 18:49:01 +0000

Model: Dahlee

Photographer: David Pankratz

Essence Magazine, Feb 2012 – education feature

admin — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 22:46:58 +0000

Essence Magazine, Feb. 2012 – on newsstands now. I did makeup & grooming for the 12 people (all real-life families) featured in the article.

Lifestyle shoot – horseback on the beach

admin — Thu, 17 Nov 2011 14:13:15 +0000

Some shoots really are a day at the beach! In this case, Crane Beach, one of the most beautiful oceanside stretches of sand I have seen (at least in New England). Quiet, serene, and we shot until sundown. And if that weren’t enough, this shoot had HORSES!

My job was to groom the two girls and manage the flyaway hair of the two professional riders (they didn’t even get makeup since the focus of the shots wasn’t their faces). Here’s a sampling of images by the incredibly talented lifestyle photographer, William Huber:

You can see more (including behind the scenes snaps) at M Doucette Production’s blog.

Stuff Boston cover and article

admin — Sun, 23 Oct 2011 20:05:49 +0000

I was thrilled to be a part of the shoot for October 18th cover of Stuff Boston. It was such a well-organized shoot – only took a few hours! – and came out in print only a few weeks later, which is not the norm (usually I’m waiting for months). Very fun, and very rewarding to have my work on the cover of the issue.

The goal was to showcase fetish-inspired wardrobe for Fall (with softer makeup, to keep the result from being too gothic or costume-y), as well as feature the new, soon-to-open bar Descent, which is located underneath the stylist W Hotel in downtown Boston. I loved the location, it definitely felt like one of those places I might not be be cool enough to get into (haha!) so it was a treat to work there and see the space before it opens to the public. I kept Tessa’s eyes subtle with a soft smoky brown liner and wispy false lashes, and gave her a punch of fuchsia on the lips (vibrant lipstick is huge this Fall!)

Here are scans of the pages that show images from the shoot, starting with the cover:

Online article links:

Photography: Conor Doherty

Model: Tessa (Maggie, Inc.)

Hair: Kara Hurston (Shag)