Today we’d like to introduce you to Jamie Ingram.
Jamie, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
I’ve always been interested in makeup. Halloween is my favorite day of the year. I’ve always loved creating different makeups for Halloween on myself and others. A few years ago I started to watch the show Face Off. I found myself very inspired to start looking into SFX (special effects makeup).
Moved back to LA from Portland in 2014 and my journey began there. 6 months after I had moved back I decided to go to Cinema Makeup school at night. I went for 1 year Monday – Friday 6-10pm after I got off work as a full-time Executive Assistant at a school of psychology.
I loved every course I took at CMS and the SFX course was the last one. I created an Evil Tooth Fairy and was very proud of the work I had put into creating her.
I’ve had some freelance makeup jobs along the way and since I graduated; Web Series “Small Town Famous,” Zombie Fashion Show, music videos, misc. events/parties, a wedding and most recent zombie makeup on a trailer for an upcoming web series/movie.
I was 48 years old when I went to CMS, not really thinking about how brutal the competition was for a makeup artist. There are a lot of young women and men that knew exactly what they wanted to do from a pretty young age. As for me I was interested in becoming an “actress,” then did a stint as a singer-songwriter in San Francisco for a band called Balipsticks, got into painting in 2010 and was in multiple art shows in Portland, OR and now, well now, in my 49th year I’m pursuing what I should have all along…. Makeup, in all it’s shapes and sizes from beauty to SFX. I love it all!!
Has it been a smooth road?
The struggles I’ve experienced are that there are many great makeup artists out there trying to get the same gig. It really is luck of the draw sometimes, and who you know. Since I’m fairly new at the “makeup game” so to speak, my portfolio might not be as big as someone who has been doing makeup for 5-10+ years. I’m developing my network and am willing to go to any length to make it in this industry.
Do you feel luck has played a role in your life?
I actually don’t believe in “luck” per se, but rather manifestation. I manifest and create what I want in and for my life. I also believe that people you need in your life are not there by accident. Some stay for a lifetime and others teach you what they need to and move on.
Is there a characteristic or quality that you feel is essential to success?
Accountability, because without it I find that there’s no organization or trust, therefore making success a bit more difficult to attain.
What do you love about our city and what do you dislike?
I like that there is a large variety of things to do, i.e. go to the beaches, new cool shops and restaurants, and checking out different neighborhoods.
What I like least about our city is the homelessness and the time it’s taken to really resolve this huge issue. I know that there are major changes that are coming, I just hope it’s soon for the sake of those that are suffering.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.makeupbyjamieleigh.com
- Instagram: @jamieleighingram
