Today we’d like to introduce you to Tetiana Kazak.
Tetiana, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
I’m an LA-based makeup artist, creative director and music video director. I was born and raised in a small city in the south of Ukraine, and at the age of 16, I moved to Kiev. Even though I went to a linguistic university I always wanted to do something creative for living, so I started acting. I took drama class at school and I feel like that experience led me to booking further jobs. I mostly acted in commercials and television projects. In 2012, I got casted for a long run reality show. But almost right away, I realized that I want to be behind the camera. After the project ended, I got hired as a PA and really quickly moved up the ladder and ended up as a creative producer.
At the same time, I was always a big fan of visual arts. I drew a lot, did makeup for my friends in university, did my own makeup for photoshoots and my acting jobs. At a certain moment, I decided that I need to upgrade my natural talent and went to a makeup school. I got my first full-time makeup job on a television series pretty soon after graduation. In 2016, I moved to LA where I started my journey as a freelance makeup artist. But I still had a need to create projects that I could completely overlook myself. So I decided that I want to try directing. My first music video went live in November 2019.
Has it been a smooth road?
I don’t think that life is ever nice and smooth for any of us, especially for those who’re trying to achieve bigger goals. But your perception of external circumstances is what really matters. I guess my biggest struggle was fighting an anxiety disorder for about ten years. When I realized that medication only worked for some time and talking to therapists made things worse, I decided to help myself and started learning about neuroscience and cognitive psychology. And that actually helped me not only to overcome my issues but also changed the way I see life in general. So at the end, if I didn’t have that problem, I wouldn’t become the person I am right now. One has to remember that nothing is the end of the world unless it’s the actual end of the world.
We’d love to hear more about your work and what you are currently focused on. What else should we know?
As a makeup artist, I specialize in creative, editorial and beauty makeup. When I ask new clients why they chose me for the job, I usually hear something like: “we were looking for something different/special/unique”. I feel like I have a very distinctive aesthetic. I love bold colorful looks with a hint on nostalgia. I mostly work for fashion, print, music videos, film, sometimes commercials. When a client brings me on board, it means that they fully trust me and expect me to bring my vision to the project. So I fully take advantage of each chance to experiment. I’m very grateful for all the unlimited creative freedom I have and for all the people who support me. And as for my directing, I’m still on the very beginning of my journey but I definitely know that it will take me far as long as I keep creating.
Is our city a good place to do what you do?
LA’s definitely a great place both for someone who’s just starting out or continues their creative journey. But at the same time LA’s a very competitive place that gathers best of the best. Living here for some time, I’ve learned that it’s extremely important to embrace your personal style. That is something that will help you to stand out and get clients with the same vision interested in you.
Contact Info:
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: @triplekream
Image Credit:
Sana Nodelman
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