Today we’d like to introduce you to Candace Sillman.
Candace, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
Growing up in San Diego watching all the classic films. I would love seeing all the beautiful elaborate makeup and hairstyles. I tried to recreate them on my mom. When I was 15 I injured my ankle and saw the inside of it, which was really gross! While I was healing I got the chance to watch horror movies and was fascinated by the special effects.That is when I decided I wanna do that!! I want to make the beautiful scary and the beautiful more beautiful. With that thought in mind, I would do everyone’s makeup into zombies and day of the dead. When I got older I decided to start my career by going to Marinello beauty school. Going there helped me realize I didn’t want to be a cosmetologist. I wanted to be so much more! So I started by working fashion shows and volunteering to give makeovers to domestic violence victims. It was not enough, if I wanted to work in Hollywood I needed to move to LA. Once I moved here I started Cinema Makeup School. While attending there I learned about beauty and special effects makeup. They pushed me to be the makeup artist I am today. In the makeup industry so far I have worked beauty pageants, weddings, films, commercials, and photo shoots. I even helped produce and was the head makeup artist for a fan film called ”Batman: Anarky”. At the moment I am working on a short film called “I Am” which is an exciting project. Working on all these incredible opportunities, my determination is to get into the union and see my name in the credits at the movie theater.
Has it been a smooth road?
There have been many obstacles, I have dealt with in becoming a makeup artist. One of the biggest was losing my dad. He was someone I looked up too. He taught me no matter what anyone says if you put hard work and dedication the world is yours. I apply that quote to every situation except when it comes to family. Which is the toughest obstacle, because all I look for is the approval of my family. My mom and dad are amazing. It is the rest of the family that are very tough. Loving them is easy but they are extremely critical. They haven’t always been the best support system through the years. Which now looking back and thinking of the negative and a positive. The negative is it always made me second guess whether I am good enough for the job. The positive is that it pushed me to realize I needed to work on who I am. I choose to create a better life for myself instead of being a victim of the cards life handed me.
How would you describe the type of kid you were growing up?
Growing up, I had a great childhood with two amazing parents and my older brother. My mom is incredibly talented with sewing, drawing and crafting. She taught me how to create beauty out of anything you see around the house. My dad taught me how to build anything and music. I grew up with always listening to the Rolling Stones, Diana Ross, and The Who. Though they were an artist in their own right. They kept a very strict home. School was number one. Though it had to be because I struggled with many learning disabilities that made me feel so different than the rest of the world and became a huge insecurity that I slowly overcame through the years. I was never the easiest child because of it. Scared of everything especially people, to always living off the beat of my own drum when it came to loving the darker things, to doing things that were different than the normal. I love monsters, Nightmare Before Christmas, and skeletons. My favorite monster is Frankenstein’s monster because of being misunderstood by the world but having a kind heart. Same with Jack skeleton. I use to wear this one skeleton necklace all the time as a child and I loved wearing wigs. It wasn’t till I was in 4th grade and I got into the Spice Girls that makeup and styling hair was my world. I use to make my mom look like the different spice girls and all my barbies. I had a huge imagination and drew on everything. When I got into middle school that’s when I started doing makeup on all my friends.
Do you look back particularly fondly on any memories from childhood?
My childhood had many great memories but there are two that stick out to me. My favorite childhood memory was just sitting on the floor in my dad’s music room listening to him sing and watching him play guitar in his favorite blue recliner chair. To this day if I ever need a moment to relax I think of that memory. My dad was such an amazing guitarist, I could listen to him for hours. It is a moment that is so special that I miss so much. The second memory was learning about makeup and how to take pride in my beauty from my Tia Kathy. She always takes the utmost pride in her looks. As a child, she would teach me how to use makeup to enhance my beauty. She also taught me how to style my curly hair. I loved watching her do her own makeup. She would always have her own beauty and strength that I looked up to.
So, what’s next? Any big plans?
My big future plans are to one day get into the local 706 union for makeup and hair artist. Once I get into that my goal is to start working with brilliant directors like Tim Burton, Rob Zombie and many more. My other future goals are to be a wife and mother. Since I was a little girl I have always wanted to be a successful makeup artist with an old Victorian home with a classic 57 Chevy Bel air in the driveway. To have a great man by my side with kids .
Contact Info:
- Website: www.littleladyfrankenstein.com
- Email: [email protected]
