Empowerment Through Makeup
Through History
My passion project was a way for me to explore the possible interests I have that are often disregarded, although they bring me self understanding, expression, and happiness. I have always been fascinated with makeup, the way it changes from day to day, like a sand mandala, the way it expresses mood, and power, and the history behind it. Makeup has been a quickly growing obsession of mine, and I thought it might be great to do something I might not have any time for in later years in my school career. I also wanted to focus on astrology. My grandfather always used to take me out to get chai, and he would have real conversations with me, not like I was a kid, and he was just another adult talking at me. He would talk with me about the stars, and the meaning behind them. He would speak about ancient philosophies that I found incredible and true. And from this, I decided that I would connect two of my greatest passions, makeup artistry, and astrology, and create a project that encaptured both equally. I created twelve makeup looks in a couple days, and put them together into a visual presentation with short descriptions of each sign and the colors they correlate with. I found peers that relate to those signs to be my canvases, and was encouraged greatly.
During this project I utilized my 21st century skills in many ways, including photography, creating a visual presentation, and social media. I decided that because social media has played such a big role in the understanding of makeup safety and morality, it would only be fair to post my looks on social media. I have an art instagram specifically designated to sharing artwork, which I used to my advantage during this project. I also learned from my skilled friend about photography during this time, the angles, lighting, and colors necessary for a quality photo. Then, after both of these, I created a visual presentation exhibiting my work, both the photography and the art. I know that in the future, digital art will be more in the spotlight than traditional. I have my doubts about this, because I believe most of digital art is more centered around design and skill than creative integrity. Throughout this project though, I was able to move past this stigma about digital art, and realise it can and will coexist with the traditional art. Knowing how to photograph my art will be so helpful in the future as a possible tattoo artist, or makeup artist, and design thinking is going to be just as relevant. So because, throughout this project I was able to refine and change my ideas, I was also able to refine and change my ideas about the future of art.
This project definitely revealed that I work well independently, and had misconceptions about my own drive. I was always really concerned about the future for me, wanting to be an independent artist or musician. I was worried about the fact that I have always been a chronic procrastinator. I was worried because I have been known to do as much as needed and not more. The past few years at Animas though, I have surprised myself. I realised that I thrive with independence, and the ability to solve problems myself. I never knew how much I love to be on my own until I got into high school. I learn best through action, and research, and especially visuals. I feel like if I am doing something I am so driven to do more, whether that’s physical products or writing pieces. But when I am moving, I continue to move forward. I also learned that one of my biggest learning problems is that I get extremely stressed about my work load and then I am so stressed that I don’t do it and then I get even more stressed. It is a cycle that I am learning to break. Overall, this project gave me sturdiness in myself, and my ability to get work done, and stability in the idea that my passions are not stupid.
During this project I utilized my 21st century skills in many ways, including photography, creating a visual presentation, and social media. I decided that because social media has played such a big role in the understanding of makeup safety and morality, it would only be fair to post my looks on social media. I have an art instagram specifically designated to sharing artwork, which I used to my advantage during this project. I also learned from my skilled friend about photography during this time, the angles, lighting, and colors necessary for a quality photo. Then, after both of these, I created a visual presentation exhibiting my work, both the photography and the art. I know that in the future, digital art will be more in the spotlight than traditional. I have my doubts about this, because I believe most of digital art is more centered around design and skill than creative integrity. Throughout this project though, I was able to move past this stigma about digital art, and realise it can and will coexist with the traditional art. Knowing how to photograph my art will be so helpful in the future as a possible tattoo artist, or makeup artist, and design thinking is going to be just as relevant. So because, throughout this project I was able to refine and change my ideas, I was also able to refine and change my ideas about the future of art.
This project definitely revealed that I work well independently, and had misconceptions about my own drive. I was always really concerned about the future for me, wanting to be an independent artist or musician. I was worried about the fact that I have always been a chronic procrastinator. I was worried because I have been known to do as much as needed and not more. The past few years at Animas though, I have surprised myself. I realised that I thrive with independence, and the ability to solve problems myself. I never knew how much I love to be on my own until I got into high school. I learn best through action, and research, and especially visuals. I feel like if I am doing something I am so driven to do more, whether that’s physical products or writing pieces. But when I am moving, I continue to move forward. I also learned that one of my biggest learning problems is that I get extremely stressed about my work load and then I am so stressed that I don’t do it and then I get even more stressed. It is a cycle that I am learning to break. Overall, this project gave me sturdiness in myself, and my ability to get work done, and stability in the idea that my passions are not stupid.