September 14, 2016

Meet North Hollywood Makeup Artist: Courtney Murray

Local Stories

Today we’d like to introduce you to Courtney Murray.

Courtney, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
I can’t say I always wanted to be a makeup artist. I’ve always loved it, but I grew up wanting to work with kids. Daycares, child centers and nannying were my things and I wanted to continue that for the rest of my life. Then, something changed in me and I realized I couldn’t handle that forever. I grew up around hair and makeup because my mom is a cosmetologist who also taught beauty school. It was kind of in my blood, so I decided maybe it was in me to go that route. Makeup school was everything I could have imagined and more. I instantly fell in love and knew that’s where I was meant to me.

Has it been a smooth road?
I think at this point in my life, the only way I knew I could do something different with my life and go for it was because of something I dealt with at age 15. When I was a freshman in High School, I had a brain tumor. I was very small, not growing much, so we started to get tests done which led to the incidental finding of a brain tumor. Luckily, it was very small, benign, and operable. Gone in 2 weeks, I changed before my own eyes. In a matter of that short time, I was a new person, in the best way possible. I learned to never take anything for granted and that if you wanted something badly to go for it and never give up. That’s how I knew I could take on the entertainment industry and be totally fine. Flash forward to 8 years later, I’m healthy and doing what I think I was always meant to be doing. Making people happy and seeing their smiling faces after I apply makeup is something that will never get old.
The only struggles I face now are little compared to that. Being a freelance makeup artist is tough and it’s not for everyone because you do need to fight every day. Every day I’m networking, looking for new work and clients and I don’t think that’ll ever change. Staying busy and working consistently are the things I strive for every day. I have many goals and I know that if I keep doing what I’m doing and never give up, I’ll be just fine!

So, what should we be on the lookout for, what’s next in store for you?
My plans for the future are simple. I hope to continue making the world beautiful through makeup artistry. I hope to grow as an artist as well and never let the pressures of the industry get to me. I’ve been doing this for almost 9 years now and that’s really only the beginning. I’d also love to travel more, in general, and for work. So, even though I don’t know my exact path yet, I hope to grow as a business and a person.

Let’s explore some of the challenges you’ve faced along the way. What was the most difficult part of your career so far?
The hardest time in my career has to be the time I was asked to not come back to a job on account of someone else’s mistake. It was a 2 or 3-day job and this was day 1. We had been told a bunch of different things for hair/makeup, did those things and then through a series of back and forths, we had to change the looks. Long story short, the other makeup artist said some things that really upset the boss, which led to us both getting fired. That was the first time I’d ever been in a situation like that and it definitely taught me a lot. It helped me learn about myself as well and that I do carry myself in a certain way. There is never a reason to talk back to someone higher than you and I’m so glad I went through something like this to help me continue to see that I need to always have my own back and be my own person. Do what I’ve been doing the last 8 years because it’s getting me to where I want to be.

Do you ever feel like “Wow, I’ve arrived” or “I’ve made it” or do you feel like the bulk of the story is still unwritten?
There have been a lot of jobs over the years that I’ve done where I just really can’t believe I’m a part of. I think I could answer this question in two parts because there are a couple big experiences that make up my WOW moments. Two years ago, I got a job out of the country. I got to go to France and Australia for 2 months to assist with makeup on a movie. Not only were the locations incredible, but the cast and crew as well. We worked with A-List stars and top of the line Australian makeup artists. It was a dream job. My WOW moment there was when I was in France, we were shooting in the Palace of Versailles. We shot a lot outside, but some inside as well. There was a Ball scene that we shot in the Hall of Mirrors during the night, while no one else was in the Palace. Not only was it the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen, I stopped and looked around where I was at because I truly couldn’t believe any of it. I couldn’t believe that my talents as a makeup artist got me to that point. It’s a job I will never forget. Other moments that fit in this category are any of the times I’ve seen my work displayed, whether it’s a picture or a commercial, I’m truly in awe that it’s something I was a part of. It just makes me realize how lucky I am to be doing what I love.

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