Applying makeup is like painting—but your face is the canvas.
A large variety of artistic elements come into play when applying makeup, both traditionally and editorially. Linework, color theory, and shading all hold vital roles in the makeup process. We can compare eyeshadow palettes to paint palettes, eyeliner to marker, and brushes to, well, brushes.
Makeup is one of the most widely used artistic mediums in the world, applied by hundreds of thousands of people daily. Yet, often, the wide usage of makeup, along with the connotations of vanity surrounding it, is taken as an argument against why makeup should be considered art. Nevertheless, makeup has a fluidity that not a lot of different mediums share.
Of course, people may use makeup solely to make small modifications to their appearance. However, artists can also create something entirely new out of makeup, whether by incorporating facial features into artwork or using skin as a blank canvas. Whatever the case, makeup artists most definitely require artistic skill to pull their stunning creations off, even more so in an editorial context. For example, the fashion industry typically uses makeup to complete or create a “look” that artists already have in mind. Additionally, drag culture often morphs a canvas—a face—into something completely different from its original.
On the other hand, to the average person, makeup is used to enhance the features or appearance. In this context, specific artists gain influence as well: makeup artists such as James Charles, Tati Westbrook, and Arabia Felix invade everyday pop culture, and other artists earn a living directly off applying makeup. For example, Sam Fine’s services cost around $3,500 a day, not including travel and overtime, and celebrities such as Naomi Campbell, Tyra Banks, and Iman have all employed Fine.
Makeup provides a way of personal expression, artistry, and even relaxation. Regardless of how we may choose to use makeup in our own lives, makeup is an art form continuing to rise.
SOURCES
https://www.makeupartistedu.org/salaries/