Q&A with:

Angela Peralta

“Learn from your experiences in life however good or bad they may be and don’t dwell on them.”

Makeup Artist
Los Angeles, CA

What comes to mind when you hear:
Art/design: True expression without words that provokes a unique feeling that differs from individual to individual.
Beauty: Culture, Mother Nature, Hawaii Islands, redwood trees, texture, color, black and white
Culinary: Latin cuisine
Fashion: Dior ,Chanel, Dolce and Gabanna
Film: As Cheesy as it may seem I love my 80′s movies! Pretty in Pink, Fast Times at Ridgemot High, St. Elmo’s Fire, all the brat pack movies I adore! The big hair, poptart makeup, fluffy fashion, bebop music and neon make me smile. It’s just a feel good moment that lets you escape your everyday worries.
Literature: I’m not much of a reader, except fashion magazines and even then I mostly just look at the pictures of makeup and study what I like or don’t like. However, If I had to pick a book it would be a Dr. Seuss book called, “Oh the Places You Will Go”. I love this book because it’s a simple message and encouraging message for all of us that wish to follow a dream.
Music: Now this is my absolute passion! I can’t live without music and I love all music genres. I really love Indie rock, classic rock and roll, Hip Hop, Techno and Trance and even some country. My favorites right now are Foster the People, MGMT, Band of Horses, Phoenix and Peter Bjorn and John. If I want to get motivated I will listen to Paul Oakenfold, Tiesto or DeadMaus.
Online: Todays, “online” is a blessing and a curse. It’s great to have and abundance of information at our finger tips, however I think we are losing good old fashion human contact.
Photography: Zhang Jingna is a fashion photography that I had the opportunity to work with and it was an amazing experience. I love her vision because it goes beyond fashion and really provokes a feeling when you see her work.
Quote: Socrates: “True wisdom comes to each of us when we realize how little we understand about life, ourselves, & the world around us.”
Stage: Stomp, Phantom of the Opera, The Nutcracker, Grease and Annie.
Television: I admit I was a sucker for Desperate Housewives and Grey’s Anatomy. I like the GCB now too.

Can you describe the moment you first realized that creating was something you absolutely had to do:When my sister did my makeup at 13 years old. I loved how all that blue eye shadow (it was in the 80′s) made me feel and I wanted to recreate it and add more! She was definitely more experience in doing my makeup, but from that moment I fell in love with the power of makeup and how it can change not only how you look but how your feel. It’s very therapeutic for me and when I’m doing someone’s makeup it never feels like work.

What are you trying to communicate with your art: My passion for natural beauty. I love all things natural, the ocean, the tree’s, the mountains and the sky. I don’t think we need to mask our face with makeup to bring out our beauty.

What project are you working on next:
This is a mystery, because everyday it changes, but there is talk of a music video with some big names that I’m excited about. I can’t reveal it yet….but stay tuned.

Which creative medium would you love to pursue but haven’t yet: I would love to learn photography. I love to take pictures of anything and everything, but I don’t have a clue how to work a professional camera.

What is one great accomplishment in this industry that you have achieved:
One accomplishment that I’m very proud of is mentoring other artists and helping them to be successful in the industry. It’s always a good feeling to see someone who has assisted me in the past doing great things! I strongly believe in helping others and “paying it forward” and when you actually see the people you have helped being successful it’s such an amazing feeling!

What one thing that has happened in your life has made the biggest impact on you: My brother was killed at the age of 27 and we were very close. I admired him because he followed his dreams and always stayed positive with a smile on his face. He inspired me to do what makes me happy in life no matter how challenging it may seem at the time.

What makes you truly happy: My family makes me happy. They are my biggest fans and always support me in whatever I do. I can’t tell you how many times I have had to ask my mom to buy me things for my kit, because that next job is “going to be a big one”. Even my 8 year old son get’s excited when I work with someone he knows of, especially musicians. I’m so thankful to have the family I have because being a makeup artist can be quite the roller coaster of a ride sometimes and it’s wonderful to have a strong support system that keeps cheering you on.

http://www.dripbook.com/makeupbyperalta/splash/