I wanted to spend some time to highlight my experience so far
at the Glam Academy with Alexa Prisco.

Let me first start by saying that Alexa is the type of mentor
any aspiring makeup artist could dream of.  She wants you
to succeed and will do everything in her power to make sure
that happens.  She is blunt and to the point and makes you
work!  She’s not going to sugarcoat anything.  If you
do a classic bridal look on a model that is not up to standards
she will tell you that and then make you fix it.

When I arrived the first morning, all 16 students were asked to
hang out in a separate room from the factory.  While there
we introduced ourselves, talked about our dreams, and everyone
seemed very nice.  One of the things I catch myself doing
as a makeup artist is checking out other people’s makeup.
I can be watching a TV show and realize I have no idea what’s
going on because I was looking at the makeup the characters
were wearing.  So naturally on this first day, I admired
all of the beautiful work everyone had done on their own
faces.  I find myself questioning how did she get her
eyeshadow to fan out like that?  Or I wonder if that
lipstick is MAC or a drugstore doop?

After about a half hour, Alexa finally came in and introduced
herself and had us all come into the factory.  Set up in
front of each chair was a Glam Fairy Bible (chock full of
amazing information) and a small makeup kit courtesy of
NYX.  The first half of the day we spent doing icebreakers
and after lunch we broke into the bible for some much
anticipated glamology.  Glamology is the oral aspect of
the academy where Alexa goes through the bible and explains all
things makeup, technique and business.

The second day was much like the first.  Lots and lots of
glamology.  Not that I mind.  I’m as much interested
in learning about contouring as I am actually contouring
someone’s face.

Day three was where the fun and the stress began!!  Good
stress though not bad if that makes any sense whatsoever.
It was our first lab day.  Alexa did a demo look on her
wonderful assistant Brenna.  The look of the day was
classic bridal makeup.  The demo was so interesting
because it opened my eyes to things I wasn’t doing quite right,
or made me happy that was doing a lot of it right
already.

After the demo we went to go pick out our models.  My
model was a sweetheart of a 16-year old from
Pennsylvania.  Her and her mom drove from the Poconos to
help out!  I explained to her through smiles that the only
person I have ever put makeup on before other than myself is my
mom.  So I got down to work and did my best to re-create
what Alexa had taught us in the demo.  I was one of the
first ones done which made me nervous because automatically I
think I’m doing something wrong.  However, when I handed
my model a mirror her face lit up.  She loved what I had
done.  That gave me such a huge sense of satisfaction.

After some time, I was finally called to go with my model into
the other room where Alexa was doing final checks before the
photoshoot.  Alexa looked at my model and told me she
looked great!  No touch ups, nothing to be fixed, I had
done a good job.  That was when I realized that maybe this
really is my talent.  My model did a great job glamming it
up for the photoshoot.  I’m very excited to get the
pictures so I can share them.

Now onto this upcoming weekend.  Two labs which means two
looks and two photoshoots.  Nerve-wracking yet
exciting.  I just hope I can keep up the good work.

More entries later