Today we’d like to introduce you to Genevieve Garner.
Genevieve, we’d love to hear your story and how you got to where you are today both personally and as an artist.
Growing up in Southern California and having a dad in the entertainment industry influenced me from a very young age. I remember my mom and I going to visit my dad at work, I was always drawn to the hair and makeup team, watching them transform the actors into their characters. One day I will never forget is when I was 7 years old, visiting the CBS Radford lot, my dad was working on a movie with Jamie Lee Curtis and we just happened to run into her on her way to the makeup trailer. She picked me up, put me on her hip and asked if I wanted to watch her get ready. And of course, I said yes! She carried me into the trailer, set me on the counter and I watched as the makeup and hair team worked their magic. I was in awe. From that day on, I was dead set on becoming a makeup and hair artist. Learning that I could do something I loved and make a career out of it… that was it for me. Once I was in high school, I decided to go to cosmetology school. At 19, I decided to go to the Westmore Academy of Cosmetic Arts to study makeup. At 20, I moved out to Los Angeles and haven’t looked back. I have since been lucky enough to work in all aspects of the industry from film and television, advertising, press and promo, red carpet and everything in-between.
We’d love to hear more about your art. What do you do and why and what do you hope others will take away from your work?
My art is a collaborative effort. I love learning about my clients and what makes them feel best about themselves. But makeup is also a science. Knowing what products work best with each other best and steering clear of allergens for my clients is very important. It’s the worst feeling when you put something on someone’s face and then they have a reaction. Really knowing what is in the products we use is half of my job. The other half is the really fun part! Creating a beautiful smokey eye to make them pop with the dress that the stylist put them in. Or finding that perfect red lip when they thought they could never wear red, those are the moments I live for. Making someone feel and look their best.
What do you know now that you wished you had learned earlier?
My advice for other artists is to just keep at it! It wasn’t always easy and I am so thankful that my parents supported me through the hard times. I think you also need to try every aspect of the job to really figure out what lane you want to live in. Work on a few films, try out a television show or two, put yourself backstage in a frantic fashion show (those are some of my favorite high-stress situations!) or see if maybe you love having some one-on-one time for a fun red carpet glam. You will never know what you love most unless you try it all! And I will say that each aspect of the job uses different makeup techniques for different lighting situations so if you can, find yourself a mentor who can teach you along the way. One thing I wish I knew when I first started is to not take things personally. Sometimes, you won’t get the job you’re dying to have or a client you have been working with decides to use someone else for an event. It’s not about you and to be honest this is something I still struggle with because I put my heart into everything. There are a lot of us artists out there and plenty of work for all of us! Let’s support one another and fuel each other’s dreams.
Do you have any events or exhibitions coming up? Where would one go to see more of your work? How can people support you and your artwork?
The best place to see my work is Instagram (give your girl a follow and some likes for that support!) or my website. I am so grateful to have Instagram to stay up to date with my friends and followers. It also works well as a resume that you can continuously update with photos (which I think works very well for us artists) and a way for me to connect with people who are interested in my work. It is also a great way for me to stay connected to my fellow artists who are such an inspiration to me!
Contact Info:
- Website: Beautybygg.com
- Instagram: @_beautybygg_
- Other: @bridalbygg (second instagram)
Image Credit:
Tiffany Smith, photo by Storm Santos
Chelsea Kane, photo by Matt Sayles
Kelley Jakle, Photo by Alix Rae
Lauren Ridloff
Whitney Moore, photo by Sela Shiloni
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