We’re looking forward to introducing you to Eline Van Den Storme. Check out our conversation below.
Eline, it’s always a pleasure to learn from you and your journey. Let’s start with a bit of a warmup: What battle are you avoiding?
For a long time, the battle I’ve been avoiding is the one with my own self-confidence. Working in a creative industry like film and special effects makeup means constantly putting your work — and a part of yourself — out into the world to be judged. And sometimes, the hardest critic isn’t the industry, it’s the voice in your own head.
What’s interesting is that despite that inner doubt, I’ve realized that some of my best work actually happens in the most unexpected situations. On set, when something goes wrong or when time becomes extremely limited, I suddenly shift into a completely different mindset. I become very focused, very fast, and entirely solution-oriented. In those moments, there is no room for doubt — only creativity and problem-solving.
It taught me something important: sometimes the confidence we are looking for doesn’t come before the challenge, it appears during it. When you’re forced to adapt, trust your instincts, and find solutions quickly, you realize you’re more capable than you thought.
So the battle I’m learning to face isn’t really about becoming fearless. It’s about trusting that when the moment comes, I will rise to it.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My name is Eline Van Den Storme and I’m a professional makeup artist working across special effects, beauty, fashion makeup, and wig making/styling.
What fascinates me most about this field is the power of transformation. Through makeup, hair, and prosthetics, we can completely change how a character or a person appears and help bring a creative vision to life.
I’ve always been drawn to the artistic and storytelling side of this craft. Special effects makeup sits at a unique crossroads between art and cinema — combining sculpture, painting, technical precision, and imagination. At the same time, working in beauty and fashion makeup allows me to explore another form of creativity, one that focuses on enhancing features, mood, and aesthetic expression.
What I love about this profession is its diversity. One day you might be creating a realistic wound for a film scene, and the next you could be designing a look for a photoshoot or working on hairstyling and wigs to complete a character. Every project brings new challenges and opportunities to learn.
What makes this work special to me is that it constantly pushes you to evolve. Every face is a new canvas, every project is a new story, and every detail matters in helping bring an idea to life.
Appreciate your sharing that. Let’s talk about your life, growing up and some of topics and learnings around that. Who were you before the world told you who you had to be?
Before the world told me who I had to be, I was simply someone curious, trying to understand what truly made me feel alive.
For a long time, I didn’t have a clear vision of what my future would look like. In fact, until my final year before graduating high school, I had absolutely no idea what I wanted to do. I didn’t even realize that I had an artistic side.
Like many people at that age, I was still discovering who I was. The world often expects you to already have a plan, to follow a path that feels safe or familiar. But my journey started more as a process of exploration than certainty.
When I finally discovered makeup and the creative world behind it, something clicked. It felt natural in a way I hadn’t experienced before. I realized that creativity allowed me to express something I hadn’t yet put into words.
One thing that made a huge difference in that moment was the support of my parents. When I told them I wanted to pursue a career in this artistic field, they were probably worried — though I didn’t realize it at the time. They later told me they were concerned, mostly because it was a world they didn’t know. But they never projected that fear onto me. Instead of pushing me toward a more “conventional” path, they allowed me the freedom to explore what felt right for me.
Looking back, I think that version of myself — the one who was simply curious and open to discovering who she was — is still very much present in the person I am today. And in many ways, creativity is still that same process: listening to what excites you and having the courage to follow it, even when the path isn’t fully clear yet.
Was there ever a time you almost gave up?
Honestly? The thought of giving up has probably crossed my mind more than once — sometimes almost daily!
But not because I don’t love what I do. It’s simply because building a creative career can be unpredictable.
Especially at the beginning, there are quiet periods, uncertainties, and moments where you wonder if you’ve made the right choices. Being a freelance artist also means you are everything at once — your own boss, your own manager, your own accountant, your own social media strategist… and sometimes your own motivational speaker. It’s a lot of hats to wear!
There are days when you feel confident and inspired, and others where you question everything. But I’ve realized that those thoughts don’t mean you should stop — they just mean you care deeply and want to succeed.
Every time the idea of giving up appears, I laugh a little and remind myself why I started in the first place. And then I get back to work. Because in the end, creativity has always been stronger than doubt.
Sure, so let’s go deeper into your values and how you think. What do you believe is true but cannot prove?
I believe that everything happens at the right time — even the moments that feel uncertain or uncomfortable.
I can’t prove it, of course. Life doesn’t come with visible timelines or guarantees. But when I look back at my journey, I realize that many of the things I once questioned later made sense. The late discovery of my passion, the moments of doubt, the quiet periods in my career — they all played a role in shaping who I am today.
I believe growth often happens in the background, even when we don’t see immediate results. Sometimes what feels like a delay is actually preparation. Sometimes what feels like a setback is redirecting you toward something better aligned with who you are becoming.
Thank you so much for all of your openness so far. Maybe we can close with a future oriented question. How do you know when you’re out of your depth?
I know I’m out of my depth when I feel that I’m no longer learning, but simply reacting. As I told you before, in my work, growth comes from curiosity and problem-solving. When I feel fully engaged, even under pressure, I know I’m in the right place — because I’m thinking, adapting, and creating.
However, there are moments when something feels unfamiliar or beyond my current experience. In those situations, I don’t see it as a weakness. Instead, I recognize it as an opportunity to grow. Being out of your depth doesn’t necessarily mean you’re not capable — it often means you’re stepping into new territory.
For me, the key indicator is how I respond internally. If I feel frozen or disconnected, it’s usually a sign that I need to slow down, ask questions, or seek guidance. But if I feel challenged in a stimulating way, even if it’s uncomfortable, that’s often where development happens.
I’ve learned that depth isn’t about never feeling overwhelmed — it’s about knowing how to ground yourself, seek solutions, and continue moving forward with intention.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: eslworkpro
- Linkedin: https://linkedin.com/in/elsworkpro
- Other: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm14594771/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_1_tt_0_nm_8_in_0_q_Eline+Van+Den+Storme
