Quite often you stories from other make up artists about the genesis of their calling to make up involving playing with their mothers or sisters make up. I can hardly remember my mother wearing make up. I do remember this bright shade of crimson lipstick she would wear on the the very rare occasion she went out. To me it was add odds with my perception of her so had rather the opposite effect to inspiration. My sister is younger than I am so no inspiration there either. My inspiration came from the impossibly distant images of Jerry Hall and watching Miss Universe on TV. My wife wears make up out and to work, but as little as she can get away with. If she didn't have to she wouldn't. So for as long as I can remember I have felt a bit like I'm on an island. But wait, on the horizon I can see a ship carrying long awaited hope in the form of my daughter, a girly girl for sure with any eye for fashion and a passion for make up. Oh and did I mention how beautiful she is!

Rock N Roll Rae

OK, so can life get any better? My recent adventure assisting Rae Morris is still putting a smile on my face. To spend time behind the scenes with a Make Up Artist of Rae's calibre is inspiring to say the least. For me it was life afirming. I know that working with make up is what I really want to do. Watching Rae not only put make up but also a huge smile on the faces of women is a wonderful thing. It is not only Rae's amazing and seemingly effortless work that has me and all others in the studio smiling it is Rae herself. Watching a person working with the likes of Jason Capobianco whilst her agent shows her a newly released o/s edition of vogue featuring her work and discusses her plans for a book signing in the city on the weekend, as celebrities walk through the door and hug her with warm familiarity and channel seven are on the phone to go over her appearance on the Morning Show is enough to overwhelm anyones senses, however Rae does it all with a mixture of precision, grace and most impressively sincere modesty. Being an observer of Rae's work, for a long time I have known she rocks, now having spent time with her I love the way she rolls as well.

M.A.C. Aye!!!

I have been to the Edinburgh Festival and the Tattoo. I have worn a kilt to a Rugby match and my Grandfather was in the Scotts Guards but dare I say I have never been more in love with all things Scottish than with M.A.C.'s latest offering. I know I regularly rave about M.A.C. I am sure it has something to do with how enthusiastic Nicole Thompson is when I'm lucky enough to see her at the Paddington Store. This time is no different. M.A.C.'s Tartan Tale range has me doing a highland fling, och aye!!

Of course there are the gorgeous colour pallets. My faves are Pigment: Moon Light Night, Eyeshadow: Enviably Fun and Lipstick, Cut a Caper and Full Fuschia. I can't wait to play with these. I need to find me a red haired lassie soon and get some shots up for you.

The packaging is cool as always and the combination bags are a great idea.

Oh and boy oh boy I love the head shot of the model with heart stopping red hair. Thank you M.A.C. thank you!!

Blondes have more fun

I can't believe I haven't written a post about my earliest and still favourite Make Up Icon, Marilyn Monroe. I didn't have posters from Big League up on my walls, it was all Marilyn Monroe and Madonna. I could stare at Marilyn's lips for hours. I remember at a Christmas party the other kids were watching the cricket and I was in another room watching a Marilyn movie marathon. Strangely enough though I am a gentleman that prefers red heads then brunettes. Although again I contradict myself when I admit that my two fave models of all time are Karen Mulder and Lilly Donaldson. Or is it Christy Turlington and Coco Rocha? I do have a soft spot for Cyntia Dicker, OMG that hair and those freckles.

M.A.C.simum Impact

I receive emails from M.A.C. often, sometimes several per week, no surprise there, I did subscribe to them. Yet M.A.C. do always seem to have a little surprise in store in the form of a great graphic, a cool tip, a good deal or a crazy concept. The hello kitty range fell into the later for me. Even though I didn't rush out to buy any, I draw my girliness line at Make Up, Hello Kitty's way too far, I appreciated the pairing. Yesterday I received notification of their latest master stroke, Disney Villains. M.A.C. have always stood out from other houses with their cutting edge MUA vibe, not to mention their often confrontingly, in a great way, tattooed counter staff. So alighning themselves with some of animations cunningest bitches works for me. Check out their new window graphics on DJ's Castlereagh Street window.

Interviewing Technique

Having now completed my first ever interview and wanting to do more, I now know that I need some tips to brush up my technique. So firstly I need to find someone with great interviewing skills and secondly someone as a make up artist I would love to interview.

I know exactly who fits the bill.

Being a fashion fan I fell in love with Amber Renae on Project Runway and now regularly see the gorgeous Amber interviewing on FTV. So adding two and two together I thought I would make it my goal to interview Amber about interviewing. Whilst I'm at it I'll throw in some questions about make up. A girl with eyes like Amber's should definitely have some tips.

Rae Morris part 2

Wanting to know more about getting a toe behind the curtain at Fashion Week I pressed Rae for more information. ‘A lot of MUA’s take on assistants for Fashion Week’. ‘I remember when I first worked at Fashion Week as an unknown. It was one of those “What am I doing here” moments.’ ‘I remember girls flocking to certain artists wanting them to do their make up’

I’ve had that sort of experience myself, and not even in the rarefied atmosphere of FW, so I am buoyed by the fact that one of my idols has been there and done that too.

As for getting to assist at FW, or at any top gig, Rae’s advice is that ‘you just have to really want it.’ ‘There are a lot of girls (and guys Rae, don’t forget me) who think they want to be a top Make Up Artist but they just don’t have the hunger they need to stick out the tough times.’ ‘They need to make things, like assisting at FW happen.’

So what Rae is saying is that although we can all get a look in at great assisting opportunities, only those who are prepared to go the extra distance will get them, keep them and grow from them. It was about now that I had to sit on my hand to stop it flying into the air with a cry of pick me, pick me. That would have to wait. I had to continue behaving professionally and get on with the interview. After all, others were beginning to circle. They needed Rae to face her fans.

So how long does one need to spend as an assistant? ‘I think one year is enough, by then you should be able to step out on your own’ assured Rae. ‘I really judge it on when I feel my assistant is too good for me to expect them to work for free.’ ‘At first they will be getting coffee and cleaning brushes, just like I had to.’ ‘Then I will allow them to do lips or brows etc until they master it.’

I also wanted to know if working in retail cosmetics is the way to go. I did it very briefly for Giorgio Armani, but the GFC took care of that job. ‘Not at all.' ‘I didn’t go that route and a lot of girls who do become complacent and stay there.’ confided Rae. ‘What is valuable about it though is the number and variety of faces you get to work on, that is important.’

So basically I am on the right track, but I need to put the accelerator down and take a huge leap, so…..Rae, is there any chance I could assist you some time soon? …………….’Definitely Ray!’

How psyched am I?!!