Amy Gillespie | makeup artistry

Sneak peak at The English Department's 2012 look book shoot

2011-09-20T12:04:00.000-07:00

I had the privilege to work with the ever lovely Elizabeth Dye of The English Department again yesterday. She is so much fun and I'm always excited to be a part of her projects. Hopefully I'll be able to get my hands on some of the images when they are finished but here are a few behind the scenes instagram shots, courtesy of Lisa Warninger, our photographer extraordinaire! Hair and makeup, yours truly.

Amy Gillespie, makeup artist, Portland, Elizabeth Dye, The English Department, Lisa Warninger, wedding dresses, bridal, wedding makeup, wedding hair, look book

Kerry Herta Workshop

2011-08-30T16:05:00.000-07:00

I have been brimming with excitement for Emmy nominated makeup artist Kerry Herta's workshop taking place here in Portland. Tomorrow will be the first of a five day stint going over all things makeup. I look forward to updating this blog with the new things I will be learning! I'm also looking forward to building new friendships within the makeup community; I can't wait to see who will be in the workshop with me.

For now, check her blog, Beat Around the Brush, and website for information on Kerry as well as her workshops. Don't worry if you are missing this workshop! I missed her the last time she was in town and odds are good you'll be able to take the opportunity to learn from her on her next trip through.

Amy Gillespie, makeup, makeup artist, Portland, Oregon, Kerry Herta, Kerry Herta Workshop

Photography Workshop with Quavondo and Solstice Retouch

2011-08-26T12:41:00.000-07:00

This last weekend I had the unique opportunity to lend my assistance to a photography lighting and retouching class here in Portland. The workshop was put on by one of my favorite photographers of all time, Quavondo, and Pratik of Solstice Retouch.

I have to say, I was so impressed with these guys! I've known and worked with Quavondo for several years now; we met in the infancy of our careers. His talent knows no bounds and I'm constantly amazed at his work ethic, heart, and passion. Pratik was new to me but after a little research online and hearing some of the feedback on the workshop, I feel privileged to have worked on a project with someone of his caliber.

I believe Quavondo and Pratik are planning to take this workshop on the road so if you are a photographer looking to hone your skills and learn from the absolute best, definitely take the opportunity to contact them for more information. Based on the praise and feedback I've heard for the Portland workshop, you won't be sorry.

Here are a couple grabs from Quavondo's blog.
photos - Quavondo
editing - Solstice Retouch
models - Jessie and Erika
hair and makeup - Amy Gillespie

Amy Gillespie, hair, makeup artist, Portland Oregon, photography, photography workshop, lighting, retouching, fashion, beauty, Quavondo, Solstice Retouch

Part II - NARS Cosmetics, a match made in heaven

2011-08-24T11:35:00.000-07:00

This entry is a follow-up to a previous post highlighting Estee Lauder, the first cosmetic company I worked for. Feel free to check it out here.

After 6 years of working for Estee Lauder and seeing my hours slowly dwindle due to the economy, I felt it was time to move on to another brand. I was wanting to work for a smaller company and NARS is a company I have always admired. Upon receiving a job offer from them, I jumped at the opportunity to work for this great company.

If ever there was a makeup match made for me, it would be NARS. I absolutely love everything about this line! At first I was skeptical of some of the simplicity in the line - No foundation brushes?? Only two formulas of foundation and one concealer??? You don't contour the eyes?? Whaaaa...? It went against everything I was ever taught. However, after delving into the line and forcing myself to look at makeup from a different perspective, I was amazed at how many new opportunities were opened up to me.

Once I learned more of the background of the line, I was really hooked. The company was started by makeup master Francois Nars who initially launched 12 shades of lipstick that were sold exclusively at Barney's. From there, it gradually attained cult status as they added iconic products such as Orgasm blush, Rated R eyeshadow, and the amazing Body Glow, a divine Tahitian coconut oil.

Francois began doing makeup at an early age and quickly rocketed to success upon moving to New York from his native France. In New York he gained notoriety after doing makeup for 18 CONSECUTIVE covers of Vogue. He propelled Madonna into her era as the material girl by transforming her look and helped launch the careers of then unknown models such as Naomi Campbell (featured in a few early NARS ad campaigns) and Kate Moss.

The philosophy behind NARS is simple - it's just makeup, have fun with it, wear what makes you feel beautiful. One of the fun things about the line is that literally every item has personal significance to Francois and each color tells a story. Francois personally names all of the products and the titles can be grouped into a few basic categories:
Classic Movie References such as Shanghai Express, Pillow Talk, and Funny Face
Moods, Feelings, or Emotions such as Orgasm, Desire, and Zen
Iconic Women such as Marlene Dietrich, Blondie, and Edie Sedgwick
Exotic Locales throughout the world such as Mediteranee, Kuala Lumpur, and South Pacific

A few other fun facts about the line:
-The compacts have a unique velvety feel to them so that the experience of applying and wearing the product is full sensory.
-The iconic white NARS logo on black background pays homage to Francois' childhood days when he would sketch on a chalkboard.
-The tester unit you see in stores is evocative of a sushi platter because the initial meetings between Francois and Fabian Baron (the artistic mastermind behind the branding of the product) took place at a sushi restaurant.

These days, Francois is a bit reclusive, spending half his time in the South Pacific and the other half in New York. Although he sold the company to Shiseido over 10 years ago, he still retains creative control and continues to photograph each and every ad campaign for the company.

The following are my favorite, must have products from NARS.

Skin

1. Body Glow II is a beautiful coconut oil body treatment that has been processed in a French Polynesian tradition. It has a wonderful fragrance due to the Monoi de Tahiti oil as well as the rare Tahitian Tiare flower that has macerated in the oil.

2. Essential Vitamin Serum is a lightweight serum that is applied over your moisturizer each morning and evening. The potent blend of vitamins brightens, protects, and firms the skin.

3. Mud Mask is made of seaweed, Masada Mud, natural botanicals, and minerals designed to offer deep purifying and brightening of the skin. I like to use it as a spot treatment on blemishes too. The best thing about this mask is that it is not overly drying and can be used by virtually anyone.

4. Aqua Gel Hydrator is a lightweight gel cream made up of 87% water. Massage a generous amount into your skin at night, alone or on top of your regular moisturizer, and let it go to work the entire night as you sleep. Your skin will be freshly plumped and re-energized when you wake up in the morning.

Cheeks

1. Maldives Multiple Stick is a gorgeous pink champagne. I like this color because it is flattering on virtually every skintone. My favorite way to use this color is to stripe the product on the forehead, cheekbones, nose, jawline, and chin and then carefully blend the foundation into the cream. The result is the most beautiful, luminous skin you can possibly imagine.

2. Torrid Blush is a lovely coral shade with a gold shimmer. I say, "Move over, Orgasm! There's a new blush in town." This shade is just as flattering as Orgasm but it has more pigment and less frost for those of us who like a more natural finish to our blush.

3. Exhibit A is hands down my favorite NARS blush of all time. When applied sheerly, it lends such a cheery pop of color to the skin. This shade has also been voted the best color for dark skin. I recommend applying it with the Yachiyo brush which I will outline under my favorite brushes.

4. New Order is a recent addition to the line but it has quickly become one of my favorites. It is a beautiful blend of a pearly lilac and gold powder with a fine gold sparkle. I like to apply it on the cheekbones for a whimsical touch of fairy dust.

5. Doucer is a gorgeous sandy pink blush. I often use it as a contour shade or to deepen some of the lighter shades of blush such as Deep Throat.

Lips

1. Dragon Girl Velvet Matte Lip Pencil is one of the brightest reds I have ever seen. I love this pencil because it is such a pigmented red yet it won't bleed like a traditional red lipstick. Rumor has it that this shade is Gwen Stefani's preferred red.

2. The Dolce Vita line of products is right behind Orgasm in popularity. There is currently a lipstick, gloss, Velvet Matte Pencil, and a blush. This shade is routinely voted as being the most universally flattering shade of lipstick. I personally prefer the pencil version myself as it has a certain softness that isn't as present in the lipstick or gloss. This product is great on it's own or as a base to add natural warmth to any other lip colors.

3. Easy Lover lipgloss is a beautiful sheer fuchsia giving the right amount of brightness without being overdone.

4. Greek Holiday is an amazing peach gloss that shimmers and shines like you wouldn't believe. I like to mix it with deeper glosses to give them a softer finish.

5. Moon Fleet is similar to Greek Holiday but with a more glittery finish. All the little flecks of gold and platinum feel galactically fantastic and this seemingly simple lipgloss is a definite show stopper!

6. Striptease is quite possible the greatest nude gloss of all time. While most nude glosses are sheer, Striptease is opaque and milky and everything a nude lip should be.

7. Barbarella is a really flattering peach lipstick that screams 1960's bombshell. Tres Sexy!

8. Roman Holiday is the perfect Barbie pink - not too bright and not too Grandma rosy, just the right amount of bubble gum.

Eyes

1. Rue Bonaparte is one of the new Larger Than Life Long-Wear Eyeliners. A lot of people use a white pencil to brighten the rim of the eyes but white isn't always flattering. I prefer the fleshy shade of this pencil as it will cover red better and this long wearing formula will stand the test of time.

2. Kitty Eyeliner is an amazing shade of turquoise eyeliner. It's so fun to use on it's own, to brighten a smoky eye, or, for a truly dramatic look, with Mediteranee eyeshadow duo, also outlined in this section.

3. Lili Marlene cream eyeshadow is the perfect base for a smokey eye. It will make your powder shadows last for hours as well as give them a beautiful smokey depth.

4. Portobello eyeshadow duo may look unassuming but it is the perfect set of soft neutrals. Not too warm and not too cool, I love these for a sophisticated natural look or for a perfect blend when transitioning from one color to the next.

5. Jolie Poupee is hands down the greatest set of purple shadows of all time. My favorite is the shimmering, electric purple but the dusty orchid is very complimentary and shouldn't be overlooked. As with all NARS eyeshadows, try applying these with a damp brush for more intensity.

6. Key Largo is a duo I go back to time and time again. The soft peach is perfect for highlighting a darker skin or to give evenness to a mature eyelid. The bronze is simple and sexy either on it's own or with darker browns and coppers for a burnished look.

7. Alhambra is a perfect shimmering pair of gold and champagne. I use these all the time to add pops of light to the inner eye, tear duct, center of the eyelid, and the arch of the brow.

8. Rated R is probably the most iconic shade of eyeshadow made by NARS. Often imitated, this is the original and the best. Believe me, I've tried the knockoffs that other companies have produced and they fall short. While these shades aren't necessarily meant to be worn together, rock on if you want to take it there! This duo constantly reminds me that makeup should be fun and shouldn't be taken so seriously all the time.

9. Mediteranee is a stunning duo of burnt orange and gold. These colors are beautiful when applied sheerly but I love to apply them in a smoldering, vibrant manner. They are even more amazing on blue eyes!

Brushes

1. Eye Shader Brush is made from pure sable and is my go to brush for depositing lots of color on the eyes. It is one of the more expensive brushes that I own but it is so worth the price.

2. Angular Eye Shader can be used to define the crease but I like it best for sweeping color along the lash line. It is a must have for a well blended smokey eye.

3. Large Dome Eye Brush is a wonderful brush for blending. You can use it all over for a sheer layer of color or to create softness in a more dramatic look.

4. Botan Brush is a part of the Kabuki line of brushes that NARS has to offer. This brush made me fall in love with powder foundations. It is very large and seems awkward at first but once you see how comfortably it fits in your hand and how well it blends, you will be hooked! It's also great for bronzing large areas such as the chest and arms.

5. Ita Kabuki Brush is a small, flat brush perfect for apply and blending powders and blushes as well as contouring the cheeks. It can also be used to blend eye colors. The entire line of Kabuki brushes are exquisitely hand made in Japan in traditional Geisha methods. You won't find anything else like them on the market!

6. Yachiyo Kabuki Brush is a domed brush ideal for highlighting, contouring, and blending. The handle is flexible and wrapped in black wisteria. Because of this flexibility, it is great for applying some of the more dramatic blush shades such as Exhibit A. Simply hold the very end of the brush handle between your thumb and forefinger and tap the brush against the skin allowing the brush to bounce back. The movement should be all in the wrist as well as the kinetic motion of the brush. You'll know you have mastered this technique when the brush is bouncing rapidly against the skin.

To finish off, I leave you with some of my favorite NARS campaigns as well as the wisest words about makeup I have ever heard.
"Don't be so serious. It's only makeup"
Francois Nars

NARS throughout the years

Amy Gillespie, makeup artist, NARS, cosmetics, beauty, fashion, product recommendations

Makeup Forever Aqua Liner Review

2011-08-23T21:47:00.000-07:00

It seems like everywhere I look these days, I see gorgeous winged liner. Even better, I'm seeing it in a wide array of rainbow hued shades! You have no idea how happy this makes a color loving girl like me, sigh...

Upon the release of Makeup Forever's new Aqua Liners, I was sure I had found a match made in heaven. I marched down to Sephora to test out the colors - gold and fuschia and emerald, oh my! I noticed that the color was just as vivid as claimed and the colors came in a variety of finishes - some shimmer and sparkle, others look creamy and satiny. While each color is stunning and classic when worn individually, it is fun to stripe and stack them to create different designs and layers. I ended up purchasing shades 8 (Iridescent Electric Purple) and 13 (Matte Black).

After trying them several times here is what I found.
The color is extremely vibrant, rich, and beautiful and it lives up to the waterproof claim because it lasts and lasts and lasts. However, because it is waterproof, it has the definitive "wrinkly" and somewhat dry appearance that can be the hallmark of many waterproof products - it tends to cause your skin to not look perfectly smooth once it has dried down. While I'm no spring chicken, I do not have any crepey texture to my eyelids and this product did not do me any favors. In terms of application, the tip is great and overall the liner is VERY easy to apply. However, even after vigorously shaking the product, the color can be a little streaky. While I found that applying it in layers eliminated this problem, I wish it would glide on in one single stroke. I feel that for the cost ($23 each), you can probably find a better place to spend your money unless you are looking for some color variety beyond the usual black, brown, and navy.

Bottom line...
pros: long lasting, great colors, easy to apply
cons: sometimes uneven application, price, finished texture is not necessarily flattering

Good luck and happy makeup!!
xo

Amy Gillespie, makeup artist, fashion, beauty, makeup, product review, makeup forever, aqua liner

some days are way too easy

2011-07-25T16:06:00.000-07:00

Here's a quick little ditty to brighten your day. The fantabulous Brandon Witzel and I met up a while ago to discuss some ideas to mess around with and ended up going in an edgy beauty direction. Kelly, our amazing model, was a perfect fit for the project. In makeup terms this was one of my easier shoots as I kept things more simple and graphic; I didn't want to do her a disservice and burden her beautiful face with tons of makeup and therefore used minimal product - a tiny dab of foundation, blush, lipstain, and a brow pencil. The styling was a fun aspect too. It can be difficult to find a stylist to collaborate on a test so I often find I have to pull props and wardrobe and sometimes even make pieces in order to have a shoot come to life. It's amazing what can be accomplished with a little yarn, glue, and styrofoam :)

I kept the colors soft with punches of muted red on her cheeks and lips to bring out her beautiful blue eyes. In regard her eyebrows, I feel like the bleached eyebrow trend has been driven into the ground so I wanted to go in a different graphic direction. I've seen Groucho Marx inspired brows in two different magazines (although I'm sure there are more people doing this and I'm probably late to the game per usual) and this is my take on what I feel may be an upcoming makeup trend. Enjoy!!

photos - Brandon Witzel
makeup, hair, & styling - Amy Gillespie
model - Kelly, Q6

Amy Gillespie, makeup artist, hair, makeup, photo shoot, Portland, Seattle, San Francisco, LA, editorial makeup, fashion makeup, beauty makeup, Brandon Witzel, Q6

Part I - Estee Lauder, where it all began

2011-05-26T19:04:00.000-07:00

This is the first part in a series of articles I've been planning to write. Every job I do involves a certain element of small talk as I spend some very close and extended moments with my subject. Inevitably, the conversation turns to our careers and people always ask how I got my start in makeup. Through this series, I plan to go through my makeup career in chronological order highlighting the various companies I've worked for, what sets them apart from other brands, and my favorite products from each line.

Estee Lauder was my very first experience with a high end cosmetics line. I remember browsing a local department store in early 2003 while I was shopping for a fragrance to wear for my wedding. I saw a bottle of perfume at the Estee Lauder counter and felt compelled to test it out. I ended up falling in love! As the lovely lady at the counter wrapped up my purchase, she invited me back to an artistry event they were having. I felt so flattered and excited to have my makeup done by a "real" makeup artist and readily agreed. While I didn't love the way the artist did my makeup, I did make my first major cosmetics purchase. I nearly had a heart attack when my foundation and foundation brush cost me over $60! I never knew cosmetics could cost so much. However, I valued the products and treated them like gold. I still have and use my foundation brush too! (This goes to show that quality brushes, when handled properly, can last for years and years and years.)

Sometime later, I was laid off at my job. I ended up taking a position in men's apparel in the same department store. I hated my job to say the least and would look longingly at the cosmetics department, wishing I could be up with the rest of the girls selling beautiful things. I remember looking at some of the special products that Estee Lauder was offering and I told myself that one day I would work in cosmetics. About a month into my job there, I spoke with the lady who was in charge of the cosmetics division for my region and she told me I had to work for the store for at least a year before I could be promoted to cosmetics. My heart sank and I felt my dreams of makeup and beauty would never be realized. Amazingly enough, the Estee Lauder counter in my store had a sudden opening and a few weeks later, she called me and told me the position was mine if I wanted it. I couldn't believe my good fortune and I jumped at the chance!

As it turns out, I'm really not wired for the business of cosmetics. I didn't like the competition and sales pressure and fighting for commissions. However, I did realize that I loved doing people's makeup and this job was the perfect opportunity to hone in on that skill. I had an endless supply of women of all ages, backgrounds, skintypes, and personalities. It taught me how to properly match a foundation, do corrective makeup, enhance, and go for the drama. I ended up deciding to leave my position at the counter to do freelance work for Estee Lauder and get my esthetics training at the same time. Working as an artist was one of the funnest jobs I had ever had! Through this position, I was able to work with literally thousands of women (sometimes over a hundred in a week) as well as some really amazing national and celebrity artists. My ultimate goal was to be promoted to Estee Lauder's prestigious national artistry team so that was what I set my mind to every time I went to work and spoke with my bosses. I started to see that dream blossom into reality as they began sending me out on national assignments to exotic locales such as Salt Lake, Boise, Seattle, and Portland. Eventually, the economy slowed down and they began to scale back on the national artistry program and I never saw that dream become fully realized. However, it was an honor to have as many cherished national opportunities as I did.

Working with Estee Lauder gave me my first glimpse into a luxury brand. At each training I went to, they impressed upon us the deep history of the brand. Miss Estee Lauder was a trendsetting groundbreaker in every regard. She personally shaped so much of the cosmetics industry as we know it, being the first to offer a gift with purchase and the first to create a product that repaired the skin (serums - now offered by almost every brand under the sun). She even featured a nude model in one of her first ads when the fragrance Youth Dew was released in 1953, scandalous!! The woman never gave up and constantly pushed herself, her business, and her products to new heights. She is famous for having employed the concept of competition in order to capitalize on her success. She took the concept of competition to the extreme by creating Clinique for the sole purpose of competing with herself. Her crazy notion still works to this day as the Estee Lauder Corporation now owns and operates a huge number of top lines including MAC, Bobbi Brown, La Mer, and Aveda to name a few.

The following are my favorite products within the three basic categories of cosmetics: makeup, skincare, and fragrance. All of these items are available at Estee Lauder online or in fine department stores.

Automatic Eyeliner Pencils: I love the soft, blendable consistency of these pencils! They are so easy to use for tightlining, defining, and can be used to create a beautiful smokey eye. The best part is the price and packaging! I recommend buying extra refills for half the price of the full pencil in different shades, removing the smudger tip on the end of the pencil and installing the extra refill in its place, thus having two eyeliners in one pencil. (Eyebrow and lip liner refills are the same size too so you can mix and match it up.) It saves money, space, and time!

Equalizer Foundation: This formula is an oldie but a goodie; I'm always afraid it will be discontinued one of these days. It's technically created for combination skintypes but has hydrating and oil absorbing properties that are activated as needed so anyone can use this product. I love the coverage and natural finish and the fact that it doesn't make my pores more obvious.

Bronze Goddess Soft Matte Bronzer: I like that this bronzer is pink based rather than orange; it is really flattering and doesn't look as muddy as some other bronzers do. It comes in a rather large compact and lasts a very long time.

Elizabeth Pink Pure Color Lipstick: Not only is this one of my favorite shades of baby pinky-peachy lipstick, a portion of the sale proceeds goes directly to Breast Cancer reasearch. The Estee Lauder company spearheaded the pink ribbon campaign back in 1992 and continues to donate millions of dollars each year to fund research and awareness. If lipstick isn't your thing but you still want to support this great cause, there is a collection of products available each year including lipgloss and limited edition powder compacts.

Idealist Duo-Action Refinishing Treatment: This product made the biggest difference in my skin when I first started using it. I have always battled large pores and even blackheads at times through my T-zone and this scrub completely eliminated all of that! It can be an intense product to use (it heats up when activated with water) so I don't recommend it for sensitive skintypes but I guarantee you will see results.

Daywear Sheer Tint Release: This is a really sheer tinted moisturizer that self adjusts its shade to your skintone. As you warm the product up on your skin, you'll start to see the color adjust. I like to use this for quick color and protection.

Re-Nutriv Revitalizing Comfort Creme: I love the texture of this anti-aging creme! It is so soft and moisturizing and your skin will feel like silk after using it. It is a deeply hydrating creme best suited for drier skintypes but combination or oilier types like myself can use it at night time.

Pleasures Intense Eau de Parfum: This fragrance was the first product I purchased from Estee Lauder and is what I wore for my wedding. I don't know that it's my signature fragrance (I'm too fickle to stick to only one fragrance!) but I still love how lush, intense, voluptuous, and romantic it is. The top notes are Green Lily, Le Charme Peony, and Cassis, middle notes are Moroccan Rose, Pink Tiger Lily, and Jasmine, and the base notes are Maple Wood, Benzoin Crystals, and Vanilla.

Bronze Goddess Soleil: While this is somewhat of a remake of a limited edition Tom Ford fragrance and the original was better, this fragrance still captures the amazing scents of summer and sunkissed skin. It literally smells like coconut suntan lotion in the best way possible. Top notes are Sicillian Bergamot and Mandarin, middle notes are Tiare Milk-Tahitian Gardenia Petals, Coconut Oil, Orange Flower Buds, Jasmine, Magnolia Petals, and Myrrh, and the base notes are Amber, Vetiver, Sandalwood, Caramel, and Coconut Cream, yummm!

Here are some of my favorite quotes from Miss Estee Lauder:

“Touch a face. Touch a hand. Say, 'This is for you, this is what I want you to wear.'"
“Look for a sweet person. Forget rich.”
“If there is a message at all, it's probably that we have to recognize in ourselves how we feel morally about certain things and make sure we follow that up with our actions"
"Beauty is an attitude. There's no secret. Why are all brides beautiful? Because on their wedding day they care about how they look. There are no ugly women – only women who don't care or who don't believe they're attractive."

And here are some of my favorite beauty campaigns from years past.

Amy Gillespie, Portland makeup artist, fashion, beauty, Seattle makeup artist, LA makeup artist, Estee Lauder, cosmetics, makeup recommendations, Oregon makeup artist

La Petite Magazine hair feature

2011-05-08T19:44:00.000-07:00

A while back I had the opportunity to team up with amazing photographer, Shannon Sewell, on a feature for La Petite Magazine. The assignment was to demonstrate fashion forward hairstyles straight from the runway in an easy to use format for kids with step by step instructions. Check out the feature here on page 252.

Here are some shots I grabbed from Shannon's blog, The Blank Page.

photos - Shannon Sewell
makeup & hair - Amy Gillespie
boys wardrobe - Knuckleheads
girls wardrobe - The Measure and Lillipops Designs

Amy Gillespie, makeup, makeup artist, Portland Oregon makeup artist, Shannon Sewell, childrens hairstyles, La Petite, La Petite Magazine, Lillipops Designs, The Measure, Knuckleheads clothing, hair, makeup, fashion

How to properly care for your brushes

2011-05-03T19:22:00.000-07:00

Brushes are a major and integral makeup investment. Follow these easy steps to protect them long into the future!

I recommend washing your brushes about once a week for solo use. If you are using brushes on multiple people it is essential that they be cleaned after each use. This not only removes product and bacterial build-up but also makes your blending easier resulting in more beautiful makeup on your face. It also extends the life of your brushes. Several of my favorite brushes are 7-10 years old and they are just as good now as they were the day I bought them.

There are two basic ways to clean brushes - with water and shampoo or using a brush cleaner that does not require rinsing - and each comes with its advantages and disadvantages. I prefer to use a combination of the two depending on how dirty my brushes are and what sort of time constraint I am dealing with.

When I use a brush cleaner, I prefer to use the brush cleaner from Cinema Secrets but there are other options that you can spray on your brushes (the method of cleaning is the same for both of these). The advantage of using a brush cleaner is the ease and how quickly it dries. The disadvantage is that some brushes may need to be cleaned several times to get all the product out. Additionally, some brush cleaners have really greasy ingredients in their formulas and it can makeup your brushes feel a little yucky so be sure to research products before you use them.

When using Cinema Secrets brush cleaner, I recommend using the metal tin they provide. Fill it with a half inch of cleaner and start by cleaning the smallest of your brushes to ensure that the product lasts longer. Dip the entire head of the small brushes or just the tips of large brushes into the cleaner and wipe your brushes on a towel until no more makeup is coming off of them and they are relatively dry. If your brushes are dirtier or if it is a nylon brush such as a foundation or concealer brush, you may need to repeat this.

When I clean with a shampoo, I like to use a baby shampoo. This is typically a very gentle product and won't strip the bristles. Make sure to stay away from a product with sulfates as these are very drying. The advantage of cleaning with a shampoo is the squeaky clean factor. My brushes always feel so amazingly soft once they've dried and I love being able to see all the brown liquid rinse away down the drain. The disadvantage is that it can take several hours for your brushes to dry. I like to shampoo my brushes at night time to ensure they will be dry by morning.

I start with a small amount of shampoo in the palm of my hand and wet the brush I am about to clean with some warm (not hot!) water. Then I swirl the brush through the shampoo and massage the shampoo into the bristles to make sure they get really clean. I finish up by rinsing them thoroughly with warm water, repeating if necessary, gently squeezing them to ring out any excess water. Always lay your brushes flat to dry with the tips hanging over the edge of the counter rather than standing them on end. If you want to hydrate your brushes you can always work a little olive or jojoba oil into the bristles.

Good luck and happy makeup! xo

Amy Gillespie, makeup, makeup artist, makeup artistry, Portland Oregon makeup artist, makeup brushes, how to clean brushes, Cinema Secrets

Creative ways to save time and use less makeup

2011-04-28T14:38:00.000-07:00

Whenever I work with a personal client or real life woman, I tend to get one of two responses:

“Yeah, this makeup looks great but I’d never be able to do it at home” - or - “I don’t have enough time to spend on my makeup”.

So for those of you who are running on limited time and makeup skills, this piece is for you! I’m going to outline some of my favorite time cutting tricks, multiple use products, and must do steps designed to give you the most impact in your makeup regime.

Let’s start with a variety of multiple use and time saving products. You’ll be surprised at how many options you have with some very basic items already sitting in your bathroom drawer.

Lipstick: Depending on the color, use it on your cheeks and lips. Apply straight from the tube for more color or run your finger over the bullet and tap onto your lips and cheeks for a sheer stained look.

Lipgloss: In addition to using it to lacquer your lips try using it as a dewy highlight on your cheekbones. Squeeze the product onto the back of your hand, rub it with your finger to warm up the product, and pat it onto your cheekbones. Please note, this works best with sheer shades in a satin or pearl finish; I would avoid any formulas with glitter or opaque color.

Lipstick Pencils: These are a great product because they combine the softness of a lipstick with the definition of a pencil. These pencils are chubbier than a traditional lip pencil and are available in a wide range of colors and finishes.

Cream Blush: Again, color depending, try this on your lips, cheeks, and eyes.

Blush and Bronzer: Both of these items can be used as eye shadow and will create a warm, uniform look.

Dilute your concealer: While a lot of women choose to not own a foundation, most will have a concealer. Try mixing your concealer with a bit of your moisturizer if you want to use it for all over coverage.

Cream Eyeshadows: These are typically available either in a tube similar to lipgloss or in a compact. Regardless of packaging, cream shadows can be quickly applied with the fingers. Best of all, they dry down to a beautiful powder finish and have great staying power. As with many of the other products outlined here, these can be a great face highlight depending on the color.

Tinted Moisturizer: This is one of the best inventions of all time! Now you can moisturize, protect, and get sheer coverage all in one step.

Powder Foundation: This product gives you the coverage of a foundation with the finish of a powder all in one step. While powder foundations are ok for all skin types, they don’t always look the best on those with drier skin so take care when shopping for this product and be sure to moisturize first!

This list is not complete without one of my favorite products from NARS cosmetics: the Multiple Stick. This is a cream product that was created for the exact purpose we are discussing here – minimal product with maximum effect in an easy to use medium. The Multiple Sticks can be used on the eyes, cheeks, and lips and are available in a huge variety of colors, transparencies, and finishes. Apply these under or over your foundation or on their own.

Lastly, let’s go over some less thought of options and investments that will pay off in the long run.

Priorities, priorities, priorities: Always start by working on the feature you want to play up the most. This way, if you run out of time, at least your favorite feature is finished. This is especially efficient for the eyes, the feature most women are interested in accentuating. If you do your eyes before anything else, any residual fallout from your products can simply be cleaned up without wasting time on patching and redoing your foundation or concealer.

Primers: While priming may seem like an added step, it eliminates the need for more touch-ups in the day therefore saving you precious time. Foundation primers lock in hydration and keep your makeup looking and feeling fresh all day long. Eyeshadow primers allow your shadow to go on more smoothly with better pigmentation and they won’t crease or fade.

Quality Skincare: Better skin = less makeup. Using preventative measures and taking good care of your skin will make your skin look brighter and more youthful through the years thus eliminating the need to cover and mask many common skin issues. As a side note, if you don’t feel like you have time to wash your face, pick up a cleansing water or cleansing wipes for easy, water-free cleansing.

Practice makes perfect: there is definitely a learning curve when it comes to makeup and it might take time to catch up. Experiment with new products and techniques but do it when you have a little more time to invest in the venture. Master techniques and products while you’re relaxed and soon you’ll be able to incorporate special touches into your daily routine with ease and speed.

Get organized: take some time to go through your makeup collection and throw out anything you haven’t used in ages or that may have become discolored or developed an odor. Get little drawer organizers to keep things in order. I have found great trays at Ikea, Fred Meyer, and Bed Bath & Beyond for very reasonable prices.

Invest in duplicate products: keep an extra set of your powder or concealer or lipstick or blush (or whatever your favorite or most needed product may be) in your purse or at the office. This way you won’t be scrambling to put products in your purse as you leave in the morning. Also, if it’s one of those days where you didn’t finish your makeup to your liking, you can complete things as you sit at a red light or in the bathroom at work.

Good luck and happy makeup!

Amy Gillespie, makeup artist, makeup tricks, makeup tips, makeup secrets

Dior Electric Tropics

2011-04-26T22:07:00.000-07:00

Anyone who has spent time with me recently knows that my favorite trend this spring is orange lipstick. Orange is such a fun color to wear - bright, versatile, and just plain fun. I like wearing it as a stain by tapping it into my lips or more boldly by applying it directly from the tube. It really does wonders to brighten the gloomy days we've been experiencing here in the Pacific Northwest.

This brings me to Dior's new collection, Electric Tropics. It has one of the most beautiful shades of orange lipsticks I have seen in quite a while - bright yet soft, full color yet glossy. Anyone can rock this color! There is even a beautiful orange nail color to match. The rest of the collection is full of beautiful neutrals, the perfect compliment to the dazzling lipstick.

Check out the collection here or visit your local Sephora or Nordstrom to play with it in person; you won't be sorry!!

Amy Gillespie, makeup artist, Portland, Oregon, Dior, makeup, makeup trends, new makeup, Pacific Northwest, Seattle, Los Angeles

Citizens of Beauty

2011-04-08T20:43:00.000-07:00

This is a quick post to offer a plug for my friend and fellow makeup artist Kendra Stanton's blog. She puts me to shame in the blogging category and covers a great array of topics.

Check out her blog www.citizensofbeauty.com and like her Facebook page too! Her website is great too if you want to take a look at her amazing artistry, www.kendrastanton.com.

Why Purple Eyeshadow is so Awesome

2011-04-07T11:20:00.000-07:00

Today I am presenting a case for one of my favorite products in the entire world: PURPLE EYESHADOW. Every woman needs at least one shade of purple for the following reasons:

It is just as versatile as the common shades of brown

Available in a wide array of tones - neutral, cool, and warm; anyone can wear this color

It brightens virtually any eye color

I can't think of another color with as many options - jewel tones, pastels, soft, bold, shimmers, mattes, satins, sheer, opaque - there is something to fit every mood and personality

It works for every season - try the richer, deeper or jewel toned shades for fall/winter, pastels or brights for spring/summer

It is a timeless color and the only updating necessary is trying new techniques and ways to wear it from season to season

There are so many amazing color combinations that can be created with purple as the focal point or an accent - pair it with golds, bronzes, coppers, turquoise, yellows, pinks, oranges, silvers, whites, wines, burgundies, greens, etc. The list goes on and on!

It is an overtly feminine and empowering color symbolizing nobility, riches, sensuality, and sacredness

Some of my favorite purple eyeshadows:

Jolie Poupee and Violetta duos from NARS

Shade 092 from Makeup Forever

Palettes 804, 809, and 808 from Dior

Lavender Ombres Quadrilumieres from YSL

And just for fun, try Everlong mascara in Ever Violet from YSL

Most of all, have fun with it! It's only makeup and it washes off just as easily as it was applied - you only live once!!

Good luck and happy makeup. xo

Amy Gillespie, makeup artist, makeup artistry, eyeshadow, color, Portland, Oregon, advice, tips, tricks, techniques

easy brightened eyes

2011-03-28T18:07:00.000-07:00

I can't tell you how often I hear women say they want to play up their eyes with minimal products in a limited amount of time. To some this may sound unachievable but when armed with the proper products and setting aside a little extra time to practice beforehand, you'll be able to quickly pull off these tricks with relative ease in no time at all!

What you'll need:

dark eyeliner in any form but liquid - gel, cake, powder, or pencil will all do the trick but make sure you have a lining brush for the first three mentioned

a brightening wand such as Touche Eclat from YSL, SkinFlash from Dior, Skinlights from Revlon, etc.

mascara

optional: a shimmering white or cream colored eyeshadow

First, I will go over a technique called tightlining. This is one of the best makeup tricks of all time and will do miracles for your eyes. You'll be wondering how you made it so far in life without it.

Tightlining is a technique that has been used for ages in professional circles for TV and film because it defines the eyes without weighing them down or closing them in. The idea is to line not on the lid nor on the membrane (the wet part under the lashes next to the eye) but rather right in between the two - you are essentially lining on the roots of the lashes. I tell clients all the time that you'll know you're in the right place because your lashes will move around a lot while you do the application; if your lashes are stationary you're doing it wrong. For an even brighter look, try doing this with a dark cobalt blue shadow. Much like how a red lipstick with a blue toned base makes your teeth look whiter, a cobalt will brighten the whites of your eyes. My favorite is China Blue by NARS.

Here is a shot from a shoot I worked on. The model does have eyeshadow on as well, but you can see where I tightlined her upper lashes. In her case, I used Aqua Creamliner from Makeup Forever. (photo - Lavenda Memory)

How to do it:

You'll want to close your eyes and relax them. You can not do this trick with your eyes scrunched closed.

Gently pull up on your eyelid. This not only exposes and opens the lash line where you want to apply your products but also tightens the skin making it easier to deposit your color.

If using a pencil, make sure it is nice and sharp. Starting at the outer corner, draw on your eyelashes in feathering strokes, back and forth like you're sketching. Don't try to draw a single, continuous line; use short strokes and allow a line to naturally build. Work from the outer corner towards the inner eye and gradually use less pressure to ensure that the line tapers away softly.

If using a brush, you can apply a cake, gel, or even powder. When working with powder, simply spritz your brush with a little water, wipe off any excess moisture, and dip into the powder, tapping off the excess if necessary.

As before, close your eyes and relax them. Gently pull up on the eyelid. Place the brush on the outer corner at the lash line and wiggle it horizontally to place the product - please note, as you wiggle the brush, it should be stationary; you are not moving or blending, you are firmly setting the liner in place. Lift up, move in closer towards the center and repeat. Do this all the way across until you get to the inner eye. Unlike the pencil, you won't have to vary the pressure because you'll be depositing less and less product as you move across your eye.

Open your eyes and compare the lined eye to the other. You will not look like you are wearing eyeliner but you will notice that the lined eye looks brighter and more defined and your lashes look thicker and darker.

To finish off your eyes, take your brightening wand and apply a stripe on the brow bone following the shape of your eyebrow. Concentrate the most product at the arch of your eyebrow. Don't wipe to blend it; I like to take my finger and tap it out until it disappears into the skin. You may also use your brightening wand under the eyes to brighten any dark circles or on the lid to even out any skintone issues such as visible veins or discolored skin.

Give yourself a few coats of mascara and you are done! As another option, you may add in a shimmering white or creamy colored shadow appropriate for your skintone (even a peachy or pinky shade can be nice). With a small brush (or even your finger!), place a dot of shadow on the inner corner of your eye and tear duct area as well as a dot under the arch of the brow. This will add a soft touch that will reflect and glow when caught in the light.

There you have it - Fast, defined, and brightened! Good luck and happy makeup!!

Amy Gillespie, makeup artist, makeup tricks, makeup tips, eyeshadow, beauty, Portland, Oregon

and the beat goes on

2011-03-21T13:17:00.000-07:00

Just a quick post today. Here are some quick grabs from a shoot I did with photographer Matthew Brush about a month back. We shot in The Dalles, OR, a town about 80 miles east of Portland on I-84. It is known as the windsurfing capital of the world and therefore quite windy. It was extremely cold all day long but thankfully sunny. Many kudos to Cora and Kate, our awesome models, for sticking it out so long in their short shorts!

photos - Matthew Brush
hair - Shamus McClellan
makeup - Amy Gillespie
styling - Nikki Brush and Michelle Clabby
miodels - Cora and Kate, Q6

Amy Gillespie, makeup, makeup artist, Portland, Seattle, LA, fashion, photo shoot, editorial

when HD goes wrong and how to make it right

2011-03-17T18:36:00.000-07:00

By now, several of you have seen images of Nicole Kidman walking the red carpet with what appears to be a terribly blended white powder on her face.

I also found this shot of poor Zachary Quinto who has suffered a similar fate.

So what's the real scoop here? I've seen discussions where all sorts of ideas were tossed around such as a bad makeup artist to the possibility that the celebrity quickly doused their face in rice powder prior to exiting their limo to problems with cocaine. However, none of these options, no matter how sensational, hold true.

It turns out the culprit is HD powder, most likely the beautiful fine white powder from Makeup Forever.

As I mentioned in my last post, I recently spent some time in LA. One of the reasons for my trip was to attend The Makeup Show, a really great trade show and conference put on by The Powder Group. In a world that grows increasingly more digital and where HD is becoming a popular format, much emphasis was put on HD makeup. The theory is to have a finer makeup that appears invisible on the skin so as to minimize the appearance of makeup on the skin on the large screen TV most people now have sitting in their living room. Some in the industry feel that older styles of foundation and powder are not appropriate for this format and therefore the age of HD makeup was birthed.

HD makeup in it's truest form is not the culprit in these photos. As with all new trends, there is a learning curve and it can be trial by error. Many HD powders contain light reflective particles that can have an adverse reaction under some camera flashes, similar to a sunscreen containing titanium dioxide. If it is used too heavily or not blended enough, you will get a result similar to the photos above. As it turns out, HD powder is not the best product to use as a traditional blot powder (setting makeup, controlling shine, etc.) The real purpose and beauty of the powder is to to blur and smooth. In this case, it is amazing on large visible pores, lines and wrinkles, or anything else that can cause uneven texture resulting in an "EEK!" moment when it is broadcast to the masses in all it's HD or digital glory where ones eyeball can take up a substantial amount of your 60 inch flat screen.

For best results, apply your foundation and concealer. Use a traditional powder to set and control shine where needed and if needed. Just dab and blend it through the T-zone and make sure to hit the corners of the nose. Adequately blend it in a circular motion with a fluffy powder brush. Follow it up with a dab of HD powder (a little goes a very long ways so be light handed, you can always add more if need be). I prefer to use a duo fiber brush for this. These are the brushes that have black bristles at the base with lighter, fluffier white bristles at the ends. Buff, buff, buff in a circular motion on any areas you'd like to blur - lines, wrinkles, large pores, etc. Buff, buff, buff, and buff some more in small circular motions - don't whisk it all over the face as you might with a traditional powder but be very targeted with your placement.

Don't be scared of these products! They can have a beautiful effect for brides or anyone having their photo taken. An HD powder is so light that even a man would feel comfortable wearing it so I highly recommend it for grooms, actors, or male models and even a client needing corporate head shots. However, if you are concerned, snap a quick picture with a flash camera to see if it is blended enough. You'll really only run into this issue with night photography or if there is a harsh flash being used. Under normal circumstances and natural light, visible powder will not be an issue.

Good luck and happy makeup!

Amy Gillespie, professional makeup artist, Portland, Oregon, Makeup Forever, HD makeup, Nicole Kidman, Zachary Quinto

oh, the times, they are a-changin'

2011-03-16T12:09:00.000-07:00

Up until now, I've basically used this blog to offer quarterly updates (although I feel this estimated frequency may be a tad on the generous side) on some of my gigs and to toot my own horn a little. Basically, I've maintained the blog because I've been told that is what the modern day entrepreneur should be doing. However, more frequency is required for it to be of any beneficial use to myself or any of the fabulously talented individuals to whom I link.

After a random, completely scientific poll on facebook in which the following reading options were offered - updates on my jobs, latest news, etc.; tips & tricks; product recommendations/reviews; current makeup and style as seen in magazines, on the runway, etc. - the results are in! And it seems each of the topics were equally requested meaning this blog will soon be featuring tidbits on a plethora of topics. Please stay tuned and check back regularly! I feel that a goal of blogging once a day is far too lofty for a procrastinator such as myself but I will do my best to be compiling a myriad of topics to discuss and will faithfully (i.e., more than once a quarter) post these things here for your reading pleasure.

Thanks for reading and feel free to submit requests or ideas on anything you'd like to see more of or learn about!

Amy Gillespie, makeup, makeup artist, freelance, fashion, beauty, commercial, editorial, Portland, Oregon, Pacific Northwest, photography, photo shoot, wedding, bridal

busy bee

2011-03-14T21:40:00.000-07:00

So my life has been crazy, hence the delay in new posts.
I've been busy with tons of shoots, traveling to LA, and cramming in hours working for Dior (one of my side gigs). More updates on all of these things, especially my trip to LA, to follow. For now, here are a few quick grabs from a shoot I did with amazeballs (her words, not mine) photographer, Shelli Wright.

photos - Shelli Wright
makeup & hair - Amy Gillespie
models - Option Model and Media

Amy Gillespie, makeup artist, hair, fashion, photo shoot, editorial, wedding, Shelli Wright, Portland Oregon, Seattle Washington, LA, Los Angeles, west coast, Option Model and Media

Kate is lovely...

2011-02-25T16:15:00.000-08:00

...and that's simply all there is to it.

Some new photos from fab photographer Brandon Witzel and stylist extraordinaire Rebecca Westby.

photos - Brandon Witzel
styling - Rebecca Westby
makeup & hair - Amy Gillespie
model - Kate, Option Model and Media

Amy Gillespie, makeup, hair, fashion, beauty, editorial, bridal, photo shoots

Happy Christmas!

2010-12-22T12:11:00.000-08:00

Some holly, jolly, holiday inspired photos to warm your day...

photos : Brandon Witzel
styling & wardrobe : Rebecca Westby
hair & makeup : Amy Gillespie
model : Alexandria, Option Model and Medial

The English Dept. Rose/Dust: Fall 2010 Editorial

2010-10-21T18:20:00.000-07:00

Last month I had the fantastic opportunity to team up with The English Department (a Portland bridal boutique) and some other fantastic players. We really lucked out on the weather, grabbing one of the last warm, sunny days of late summer/early fall; perfect for a golden, fall inspired photo shoot!

Since it was a fall editorial, I created a look with golds, russets, oranges, browns, and reds. Some key products I used were Dolce Vita Velvet Matte lip pencil from NARS, Exhibit A blush from NARS (careful with this color, just a teeny-tiny dab will go a loooong ways!) and True Gold pigment from Bare Escentuals. **Please note, I'm not a huge fan of mineral makeup in general for photo shoots or brides but this particular eyeshadow is a shade too pretty for even me to pass up!** Hair was kept loose and messy, almost as if Thalia, our stunning model, had just taken a good roll in the hay.

photos - Brandon Witzel
makeup & hair - Amy Gillespie
wardrobe - The English Dept.
styling - Rebecca Westby
flowers - quince
model - Thalia, Option Model and Media

And, just for fun, here's a picture I grabbed off of Rebecca's site that really lets you in on all the behind the scenes action. You didn't really think all that glorious dust was by chance, now did you?

Amy Gillespie, Portland makeup artist, fashion, beauty, bridal, editorial, commercial, events

Idle Glow

2010-09-27T11:52:00.000-07:00

A few more from the Peter Van Beever archives.

photos - Peter Van Beever
hair & makeup - Amy Gillespie
model - Hailey, Q6

Amy Gillespie, Portland makeup artist, fashion, beauty, print, bridal

New Designs from Claire La Faye

2010-09-16T11:41:00.000-07:00

I recently teamed up again with Claire La Faye, one of my all-time favorite Portland designers, to shoot her new line-up of clothes. Claire's clothes are seriously magic and full of whimsy and I think that really comes across in all of these pictures. She is truly inspiring to work with; everything is perfect and executed without flaw. No detail goes unchecked and everything is thought and planned out in advance. I wish every shoot could be this perfect! Definitely check out Claire's shop on Etsy too!

Makeup was simple, hair slightly messy, to capture a childlike feeling of playing dress up. I used soft tones and stained the lips. I also revived an old love affair with glitter towards the end. What little girl doesn't love glitter when she's playing dress up??

photos - Lavenda Memory
wardrobe & art direction Claire La Faye
makeup & hair - Amy Gillespie
models - Natalie, Q6 and Amelia, Muse Models

Amy Gillespie, makeup artist, fashion, bridal, wedding, editorial, Oregon, Washington

she has flowers in her footsteps and ponies in her hair

2010-09-08T23:02:00.000-07:00

Another set of images from a shoot with Peter...

photos - Peter Van Beever
makeup & hair - Amy Gillespie
model - Michelle, Q6

Amy Gillespie, makeup artist, hair, Portland, Oregon, Seattle, Vancouver, Washington, wedding, bridal, fashion, commercial, photo shoot, special occasion

On the Run

2010-09-07T22:29:00.000-07:00

oh.my.gosh.
I can't freaking believe I didn't post these pictures! All this time I have been mentally lamenting the fact that I never remember to update this blog and I've been sitting on a veritable goldmine of photo shoot fantasticness. The only reprieve I have is the fact that I have several shoots that I haven't posted and therefore will have quite a few days worth of new material.

OK, so after a slap of the palm to the forehead (I still can't believe I forgot to post these!), here are some recent shots I did with the amazing Mr. Peter Van Beever.

This series is called On the Run. Ashley, the model, literally ran the entire time in order to capture images with lots of action and movement. My job was fairly easy - natural makeup, grind dirt into her skin every now and then, add a sweat sheen to make her look really tired, rat and tease the hair from time to time. Enjoy!!

photos - Peter Van Beever
hair & makeup - Amy Gillespie
model - Ashley, Q6

Amy Gillespie, makeup artist, Portland, Oregon, fashion, photo shoot, editorial, bridal, commercial, special occasion

Cookies laced with love

2010-09-01T13:59:00.000-07:00

Here are some stills from another shoot with Ty Milford. We mainly focused on video for this shoot but these at least give a little insight into the spirit of the shoot. The video will be posted here once available.

photos - Ty Milford
makeup & hair - Amy Gillespie
models - Morayma and Alexandra, Option Model and Media

And a shot of me doing my thing. FYI, the bold pink item I am holding is one of the new, limited release multiple sticks from NARS. I purchased all three shades and will probably be stocking up on all of them before they go away completely. I literally can not survive a shoot or wedding without these now! They are so sheer and beautiful but because they stain they last and last without getting dry, even when you add more layers. Unlike most other stains, they are very creamy and can easily be blended rather than staining immediately upon application. Use them on their own on the cheeks and lips or layer them on top of bronzer or other blushes for a subtle glow.

Amy Gillespie, makeup, artist, photography, commercial, wedding, bridal, lifestyle, Portland, Seattle, Oregon, Washington

If Huckleberry Finn had a sexy twin

2010-08-26T14:25:00.000-07:00

She might look something like this.

Here is another gorgeous series from photographer Brandon Witzel and stylist Rebecca Westby! The three of us teamed up with model Hailey from Q6 to do a shoot with Old Man River. The styling is so simple and almost tomboyish so I wanted to keep that theme with simple, almost masculine, makeup and somewhat messy hair but still have a touch of tousled elegance. I have to give a shout out to Hailey for being such a good sport between all the mosquitoes (they were terrible!) and the cold swim she took at the end of the shoot. She is a dear soul and always such a joy to work with.

Enough of my jabbering and on to the beautiful pictures!

photos - Brandon Witzel
styling - Rebecca Westby
makeup & hair - Amy Gillespie
model - Hailey, Q6

Amy Gillespie, makeup artist, hair, bridal, wedding, Portland, Oregon, Vancouver, Seattle, Washington, beauty, fashion, editorial, photo shoot

Night at the Drive-In

2010-08-20T23:09:00.000-07:00

A few weeks ago I fulfilled a rite of passage that probably should have happened 13+ years ago: The Drive-In. But better late than never, right? I joined one of Portland's nicest photographers, Ty Milford, and a great group of models at one of the local drive-in movie theaters for some photo shoot fun. Oh, to be 16 again...

photos - Ty Milford
makeup & hair - Amy Gillespie
assisted by - Jessica Belknap
models provided by - Sports + Lifestyle Unlimited, Option Model and Media

Many thanks to Katie Terrill at Sports + Lifestyle Unlimited and to Jessica Belknap, my awesome assistant for this shoot!

makeup artist, hair, Portland, Oregon, Seattle, Washington, commercial makeup, fashion, special occasion makeup

a house is not a home

2010-08-16T21:06:00.000-07:00

I recently worked with Ty Milford, a really great Portland photographer. He specializes in fresh, peppy, commercial/lifestyle work which is something I am always looking for more of. Ty was also shooting video at the same time which I will also post here upon its completion.

Many thanks to Ty, Lesley, and Maddie for a great evening! You were all fantastic to work with.

photos - Ty Milford
makeup & hair - Amy Gillespie
models - Lesley and Maddie, Option Model and Media

Amy Gillespie, makeup artist, fashion, commercial, editorial, lifestyle, Portland, Oregon, Pacific Northwest

Kate Towers editorial

2010-08-07T22:49:00.000-07:00

This last week I found out that a shoot I did with photographer Peter Van Beever and designer Kate Towers was featured in a magazine. Take a look at these beautiful tear sheets! Click for a larger image; it's a great editorial on Kate and her work.

We actually shot the majority of these images at the Oregon coast in the middle of a crazy storm; you can scroll further down through this blog for my rant on the weather that day :)

photos - Peter Van Beever
wardrobe - Kate Towers
makeup & hair - Amy Gillespie
models - Hailey and Tineke, Q6

Amy Gillespie, makeup artist, Portland, Oregon, makeup, fashion, design, editorial, beauty

Feeling quite Painterly

2010-07-25T23:01:00.000-07:00

Here's a fashion story I shot with photographer Brandon Witzel.
I kept the hair and makeup looser and freer to go with the character we were creating.
photos - Brandon Witzel, www.brandonwitzel.com
styling - Rebecca Westby, www.rebeccawestby.com
hair and makeup - Amy Gillespie, www.amygillespiemakeup.com
model - Stacy, Mode International, www.modemodels.com

Amy Gillespie, makeup artist, Portland, Seattle, fashion, editorial, makeup, hair, model, photography, photo shoot, Pacific Northwest

Commercial Beauty

2010-04-26T20:53:00.001-07:00

Lately, I have been trying to amp up the commercial side to my portfolio in addition to adding more beauty shots so what better way to do that than create some commercial beauty images?

I teamed up with one of my favorite photographers in Portland,
Quavondo Nguyen , and Maddi (Option Model Management) and Alexandra (Q6).

Here are some great picks from the shoot. All makeup, hair, and styling by Amy Gillespie.

Amy Gillespie, makeup artist, Portland, Oregon, Seattle, Washington, commercial, fashion, beauty, editorial, spring makeup

2010-02-28T22:11:00.000-08:00

This last weekend presented a bit of an impromptu photo shoot but it proved that with the right team, it always comes together and goes smoothly.

Matthew Brush and his designer wife, Nicki, approached me and asked if I would be interested in working with them on a shoot for some of the designs Nicki had created for Adidas. Matthew is great to work with and Nicki is as sweet as she is lovely so I was excited to be a part of this project.

They wanted natural makeup for the guys and some brighter colors for the girls. Men's grooming is pretty basic and straight forward although I think one of the models, Chris, got a little more than he bargained for. Not only did the hairdresser give him a hair cut on the spot but I took one look at his eyebrows (YIKES!) and pulled out the big guns on the tweezers and set to work. Poor guy, I don't think he knew he was getting a makeover that day! For the girls, I kept the skin a bit more natural with light foundation, a little highlight, and lots of bronzer. I played with some bold colors and graphic shapes on their eyes. I did one makeup change on Kate, transitioning her eyes into a smokey look. I'm pleased with how blended it turned out as I was given just a few minutes to change it and it was literally done in the dark!

Photos - Matthew Brush
Wardrobe - Nicki Brush
Makeup & Grooming - Amy Gillespie
Hair - Nicola Corl
Models - Alex, Kate, and Diana from Q6 and Chris from Sports Unlimited

Amy Gillespie, makeup artist, hair, makeup, photography, fashion, beauty, editorial, advertising, Adidas, fitness, shape, sports

Head in the Clouds - a spring editorial

2010-02-18T09:09:00.001-08:00

I took a quick jaunt up to Seattle a few weeks ago and had the pleasure of working with Michelle Moore while there. My original plan was to go to Seattle and work with another photographer for a few days but due to circumstances that fell through. Since I was already booked on Sunday with someone else, I wanted to get another shoot or two in to make it worth my time and not have to drive up 3 hours, shoot for 8+ hours, and drive 3 hours back home that night. Michelle and I have talked over email for at least 3 years now but the stars never aligned for us to shoot. I ended up emailing her on a whim, knowing it was a really slim possibility of organizing a shoot but figured it never hurts to ask. It definitely paid off! We threw a bunch of ideas back and forth and eventually settled on doing some looks for spring focusing on matte neutrals and some magenta here and there. Michelle wanted to shoot everything on a blue background and use a fog machine and experiment with the lighting.

This was a more challenging shoot for me hair-wise. I have definitely been trying to learn new things and build up the confidence to execute a style that uses more than a flat iron. The first look involved a smooth bun on top of her head with lots of little wispy flay-away hairs around her face. The other look involved zig-zagging the hair onto foils, adding heat and allowing them to set and using a curling iron here and there to add a few other textures. We wanted softness, volume, and texture, a messy look that still had a lot of control and method to it. For the last look, I tamed down the volume and added a braid on the side.

Makeup was the easy part--lots of pretty browns, soft blending, and punches of magenta here and there. We experimented with a little gloss on the eyelids for the second look to change it up a little. I also used no mascara and just tinted her lashes for a softer, less made-up look.

I love the final effect! I think we definitely achieved what we set out to do.

Photos | Michelle Moore
Hair & Makeup | Amy Gillespie
Styling | Michelle Moore
Model | Paisha at Heffner Management

Amy Gillespie, makeup artist, hair, makeup, photography, fashion, beauty, editorial

A few more from Scott James and Claire La Faye

2010-01-19T15:20:00.001-08:00

Just a few more edits from my shoot with photographer Scott James and designer Claire La Faye.

Claire La Faye

2010-01-19T00:18:00.000-08:00

I've been anxiously waiting on these images for a few months now. Scott, the photographer, finally got my edits to me tonight and they do not disappoint! These were shot for Claire La Faye's Spring 2010 collection. Claire has a gorgeous selection of clothes and accessories available at Etsy if you want to go check them out.

I drew up several looks based on the sample designs Claire sent me. I kept things simple but tried to add pops of interest here and there with a nice lip color, a little metallic on the eye, interesting hair. On the hair note--I'm usually most comfortable when I work with a hairstylist since hair is by far not my strength. However, for this shoot, Claire didn't want to book a hairstylist so I had to do some extra planning and try to figure out how to make it look like I knew what the heck I was doing! I was actually pleased with how the styling turned out and feel I can now proudly advertise myself as being hair competent (watch THAT one come back to bite me in the future...) I do have to give a shout out to the amazing Kira Pinksi; she is one of my most favorite people ever and I always feel better having her hair expertise with me on a shoot. She has taught me so much in the way of hair and I wouldn't have been able to do this shoot without all the advice she has given me along the way. Kira, I love you! Your bun trick saved my hide on this one :)

Photographer - Scott James
Models - Hailey R., Q6, Andres C., Option Models
Wardrobe, styling, and set design - Claire La Faye
Makeup & Hair - Amy Gillespie

Many thanks to all involved! It was an honor to work with you!

Amy Gillespie, makeup artist, hair, makeup, photography, fashion, beauty, editorial, Claire La Faye, Scott James, model, collection

Kate Towers collection

2010-01-18T23:48:00.000-08:00

I can't believe I never posted these here! I guess when you get out of the habit of blogging you forget epic photo shoots altogether!

We did these in Manzanita, OR right as a storm was rolling in. It was a mad dash to try and get everything shot before we were completely rained out. I don't think I have ever been so wet other than bathing. Plus, it was freezing to boot! Hailey was such a trooper standing out there in the freezing wind and rain; you can see her hair getting progressively wetter through these shots. In the end though, pictures like these always make the stress and craziness worthwile.

Photographer - Peter Van Beever
Model - Hailey R., Q6
Wardrobe - Kate Towers
Makeup & Hair - Amy Gillespie

Thankfully, Olivia, the other model we were working with, had a beach house that her parents were gracious enough to loan to us. It ended up being a valuable base camp where we could dry our clothes and try to warm up. After the debacle on the beach, we shot some images for Peter's personal portfolio. Models Hailey and Olivia.

Amy Gillespie, professional makeup artist,beauty, fashion, editorial, Portland, Oregon, Pacific Northwest

Jillian 2010--The New Model

2010-01-11T00:06:00.000-08:00

Wow, it's been far too long since I have posted here! I've been working but either haven't gotten all my images back yet or haven't had anything interesting enough to warrant posting. However, with this shoot, that is not the case!

My dear friend, Quavondo, approached me a while back about doing a shoot together. We used to work together quite frequently until he moved to NYC to delve more deeply into his photography career. However, we still kept in touch and discussed the option of doing more shoots. This past month, I actually had the privilege of working with him on two occasions in the space of one week! One is a top secret project, to be revealed at a later date. The other was a shoot with Jillian Rabe, Quavondo's muse. I had seen Jillian all over Portland but had yet to work with her so it was fun to finally meet her.

Going into the shoot, all I knew was that we would be shooting with a mannequin in a warehouse with cardboard boxes and packing peanuts. Poor Jillian knew even less--all she knew was to show up and that she would not be requiring any wardrobe! A few days before the shoot, Q told me he wanted Jillian to be bald and to look like a mannequin herself. All the places in the Portland area I called did not have bald caps so I frantically ordered one from a supplier I often order through based in Manhattan. I put a big, fat rush ship on it and hoped for the best. Well, it got to be the day before the shoot and still no bald cap even though they assured me it would arrive in time. I nervously informed Q that it had not yet arrived, fearing that he would have to cancel the shoot. He talked to another makeup artist in town who knew of a place to get a bald cap and drove furiously across town in rush hour trying to get to the store in time before they closed. He made it in the nick of time and the shoot was back on track!

This was my first attempt at a bald cap and it was a typical learning experience--make it up as you go, hope for the best, don't be afraid of trial and error. All in all, between the makeup and some photoshopping, I think the final images turned out beautifully! Q is a master at editing; I can't even begin to know how he made all of this possible. The shoot is so seamless and perfect!

To research, I did an image search on mannequins and studied the mannequin Q brought with him to the shoot. He wanted me to highlight Jillian's large, beautiful doll-eyes. I went to work with lots of pink, a little purple and silvery-grey, and some white-gold to highlight. I also used a lot of highlight on her face in addition to a gloss to give her skin a plastic look. All in all, I think it turned out great!

Side note: my bald cap finally arrived, 3-4 days later. So much for that rush shipping! At least I'll be well prepared for the next time I need to make someone bald!

Photogapher: Quavondo Nguyen
Model: Jillian Rabe
Makeup: Amy Gillespie

Amy Gillespie, professional makeup artist, special effects makeup, beauty, fashion, editorial, mannequin, Portland, Oregon, Pacific Northwest

Mariel Zagunis

2009-09-29T22:53:00.000-07:00

I met with photographer Benjamin Reed this past summer to talk about doing some test shoots in the future. His jobs don't normally require the assistance of a makeup artist but I liked his work enough to try. He has some really cool portraits of some of my favorite people (note to Beck--we are now only separated by one degree!)

Ben did contact me for a shoot the other week. His subject this time around was Mariel Zagunis--7 time world champion fencer, winner of the gold medal in Athens and Beijing. She's training for London too and I wish her the best!

Ben has apparently been watching quite a bit of Kill Bill as of late and the films were a big influence on this shoot. He wanted Mariel to be surrounded by bodies and to have a cut on her forehead a la Uma Thurman.

Mariel's skin was really beautiful and I kept her makeup more natural with a bit of a smokey eye. Her cut was a latex prosthetic and molding wax with a little stage blood for good measure.

makeup - Amy Gillespie
photo - Benjamin Reed

Amy Gillespie, makeup artist, film, commercial, editorial, fashion, Portland, Oregon, Pacific NW

48 Film Project

2009-09-29T22:26:00.001-07:00

I'm sooo far behind in posting things here.
Better late than never, right?

My lovely model/actress friend Caitlyn asked me this summer if I would join her team on their entry for the 48 Hour Film Project. I am always looking for more film experience so I jumped on the opportunity.

Here's how the 48 Hour Film Project works.
All films have to be completed in their entirety in 48 hours or less--casting, script, filming, editing, everything. In order to level the playing field the following is set in place:
Your genre is drawn out of a hat at the beginning of the 48 hour time line.
Each film had to include a specific prop (a picture frame), character (a lab technician named Brian or Briana Merryweather), and line of dialog ("For crying out loud!").

As luck would have it, my team who specializes in comedy drew the thriller/suspense category. However, they didn't allow that to get them down. They stayed up all night working on the script and we started filming the following day. Everything went very smoothly and our entry made it into the competition on time. I don't think we won anything but it was a fun project nonetheless.

My job was fairly easy here--natural makeup, keep everyone shine free, add some dark undereye circles, mix up lots of blood, etc. I did get to create a very realistic gunshot wound out of makeup, fake blood, and oatmeal but the final cut didn't show a close up. Oh well, it was good practice, right?

Enough of my jabbering; on to the film!

Many thanks to the awesome team!

Amy Gillespie, makeup artist, film, commercial, editorial, fashion, Portland, Oregon, Pacific NW

Not as pretty as a test but it pays the bills

2009-09-29T22:02:00.000-07:00

Usually I post my fun, pretty test shoot images up here since they are what I get the most pleasure out of doing. I do get other jobs too! They just aren't always near as exciting to look at and I don't always get images out of them either.

I've been working with Chad Brown from Chado Advertising & Design here in Portland. He is a really great guy, super talented and driven unlike anyone else I have ever seen. His firm is basically a one man show and he does it all, literally and figuratively; I don't know where he finds the time. Every time I talk to him he has a new client or project to work on. In an economy where most are spinning their wheels Chad keeps going stronger and stronger! I'm so pleased that he is a client of mine!

Here are some shots for a few of the companies we have worked with.

Honey Mobile Salon
Portland, OR

photos: Chad Brown
lighting and photo assist: Sanders Anderson
makeup, hair, & grooming: Amy Gillespie
makeup assistant: Megan Root

Cascade Village Shopping Center
Bend, OR
photos: Chad Brown
lighting and photo assist: Sanders Anderson
makeup & grooming: Amy Gillespie

Amy Gillespie, makeup artist, commercial, editorial, fashion, Portland, Oregon, Pacific NW

Persistence can pay off

2009-09-10T21:05:00.000-07:00

Sometimes when I contact photographers or agencies I feel like my emails and phone calls are swallowed by a black hole out there in cyberspace. I hit the send button and my email is never made mention of, never to be heard of again almost as though it never existed. Then there are times when I am lucky enough to score a meeting usually consisting of them leafing through my portfolio in under 30 seconds and thanking me for my time as they show me the door. I usually send a follow-up thank you email or phone call never to hear from them again; must be that pesky black hole again. However, every now and then, someone comes along who I absolutely have to work with and I won't let it end with a "don't call us we'll call you" meeting. Such was the case with Brian Stevenson, underwater photographer extraordinaire. I felt his work was too special and uniquely beautiful for me to let my meeting with him last winter go to waste. Thus, I mercilessly emailed the poor man until at last, this summer, success! In this case though, I don't think he was putting me off. We just don't have enough swimming pools and nice weather in Oregon to be able to do work like this year round therefore we couldn't really put anything together until the stars were aligned--we both needed time in our schedules and needed to have the sunshine on our side.

Our first shoot was with Kirsten from Q6. This was my first time doing makeup for underwater purposes so I was a little more conservative in colors since I wasn't sure what to expect. Kirsten's skin is flawless so I didn't do much in the way of foundation other than a little concealer and brightener under her eyes. I used a supposedly waterproof liner on her eyes and that turned out to be the biggest mistake of the day since it was anything but waterproof. I ended up doing more touchups than were probably necessary but better safe than sorry. In hindsight I wish I had used a little more color on her lips and cheeks since the water tends to wash everything out (no pun intended). Ah, the learning curve. Here are a few of my favorites from this shoot.

Onto day two...
Brian asked if I knew any models who might be good for this sort of shoot so I recommended Lindsay, signed with Ryan Artists here in Portland and Heffner in Seattle. She is super pretty and very athletic so I thought she might be a good fit for this type of shoot since stamina is very important in this case. She did amazingly well and I am so in love with these pictures. I feel like I did a stronger job as well since I figured out a few underwater tricks (ditch the "waterproof" eyeliner!) Her skin wasn't quite as clear as Kirsten's so doing a heavier foundation was a little more of a concern for me. However, my Cinema Secrets foundation with a primer held up amazingly well; I couldn't be happier with how her skin looks. I'm wading through these pictures trying to pick out my favorites and so far I can't so here a lot for your viewing pleasure.

Amy Gillespie, makeup artist, fashion, beauty, style, editorial, Portland, Oregon, west coast

Kyle Goldie is golden

2009-08-08T20:42:00.000-07:00

A few weeks ago I had the great pleasure of working with the talented Kyle Goldie. I have long admired his beauty work and was excited to add some of his images to my body of work.

We knew pretty much from the start that we wanted to do a campaign style series using bulky sweaters, blankets, scarves, etc. I was on board to do styling in addition to my usual duties of hair and makeup so it was up to me to find these articles in the middle of summer. Our first thought was to do neutral makeup with bright colored clothing. However, it was too early in the season to find a great variety of anything along the lines of outerwear. After much frantic shopping I finally struck gold with a few clearance racks and some yardage at a fabric store; the shoot was still on track! I will say, though, this was probably the cheapest shoot I have ever styled. I was able to purchase everything for under $30 and I have some great knit pieces to boot. Stay tuned; I'm sure they will be making an entrance in my wardrobe once our wonderful, crisp fall days arrive.

Since we were working with a much more neutral palette in terms of styling Kyle wanted bright, bold, editorial style makeup. We ended up working with 4 basic color schemes and color placement, some more bold than others but all equally beautiful and artfully blended.

All hair and makeup by Amy Gillespie, Photos by Kyle Goldie, styling by Amy and Kyle, Model Kelby from Heffner.

Amy Gillespie, makeup artist, Portland, Oregon, Seattle, Washington, beauty, editorial, fashion, commericial

Some new favorites

2009-07-12T22:34:00.000-07:00

I'm slowly starting to get some pictures back from a week in May when I worked with the ever fabulous Peter Van Beever again. Check out his work at www.petervanbeever.com at your first possible chance. Do it. I promise you won't regret it.

We went for a flower child feel with Kirsten from Q6. A lot of work actually goes into making it look this minimal! Enjoy.

We also spent a few days at the beach and were joined by Anna and Sam of Option Model Management for one of the days. Since these shots were for their portfolios the styling was a little more basic but the pictures are still awesome. This married duo is as sweet as sweet can be and one day will be parents to the world's most gorgeous children.

All makeup, hair, and grooming - Amy Gillespie, photos - Peter Van Beever

Amy Gillespie | makeup artistry, Portland, Oregon, makeup artist, beauty, fashion, editorial, commercial

Mark Owens is rad

2009-03-23T22:48:00.001-07:00

About a month and a half ago a photographer named Mark Owens contacted me via the internet. He is publishing a book of influential people, mostly musicians, and was traveling to Portland to photograph Bibi McGill who is currently on tour with Beyonce. Bibi is one of the hottest guitarists on the music circuit so I jumped at the chance to be able to work with her, not to mention Mark who is pretty talented and has worked with some of the biggest names in the music industry.

The weather was pretty spotty that day and we spent a lot of time setting up the shot, covering all the equipment from the rain, waiting in the car for the rain to pass, and starting all over again. We eventually gave up on the open air shots and headed for location number two -- underneath I-405 in north Portland. Mark had a vision of lighting one of his old guitars on fire and having Bibi channel her inner Jimi Hendrix.

I originally was only going to work one day with Mark but things went so well that he invited me back the next day to work with Jennifer, a local model. Mark wanted her hair in rollers (a first for me) with vintage inspired makeup and bubbles. A lot of the shots had a little too much bubble action but the end result is still pretty fun.

All in all, the two days of shooting were a ton of fun. It was a great honor to work with someone of Mark's caliber -- something I hope to do again in the future!

Amy Gillespie | makeup artistry, Portland makeup artist, beauty, fashion

It pays to wear high heels

2009-03-16T23:04:00.001-07:00

This shoot starts with a story from last summer. I had gone to the mall to get some prints for my portfolio and headed over to Barnes and Noble while waiting for them to be processed. I was standing in the magazines looking at Vogue when a man approached me asking if I was a model. I was a little leery at first and said no but remarked that I was a makeup artist. He told me he was a photographer and that I looked like I could be a model and he would test with me. I'm now thinking that this guy is off his rocker and has no clue what a real model looks like. I just laughed and said thank you (of course I was flattered; it also doesn't hurt that I'm close to 5'10" when I wear high heels!) We exchanged cards and I recognized his name and he recognized mine and we talked about doing a test shoot together at some point in time. Ever since then I have been pestering poor Doug with so many emails begging for a test shoot, sometimes getting a response, others not hearing anything in return. I thought for sure I was annoying him. I found a model I really liked named Lia and decided to give it one more shot with Doug and emailed him again. This time he responded positively and we organized the following shoot.

The first photos are an editorial set we did. We were trying to go for a darker, more mysterious feel with the beautiful Lia looking like she is up to no good. I tried a few new techniques and products as I wanted to make her skin look absolutely flawless like a mannequin and to dramatically lighten her eyebrows. The following shot was for her portfolio and her agency to use. All makeup and hair by me, photos by Doug Hoeschler, styling by Sarah Moskovitz, model - Lia Richardson.

Amy Gillespie makeup artistry, Portland OR

Perfect Mascara

2008-10-08T20:37:00.001-07:00

I think I've figured out the perfect mascara combination/routine. And it only takes three different products! Definitely not for the faint of heart :)

Here is what I've been doing:
Step 1. Prime the lashes with Estee Lauder's Lash Primer Plus.
Step 2. Apply a full, even coat of Diorshow mascara from Christian Dior in black (is there any other color??)
Step 3. Use the defining side of the brush from Clinique's High Definition Mascara to comb through the lashes. Start at the base and comb through to the ends.
Step 4. Repeat steps two and three 2-3 more times.

Voila! You will have amazing volume, rich black color, and perfect separation!!

Amy Gillespie | makeup artistry, Portland makeup artist, beauty, fashion

2008-09-09T23:22:00.000-07:00

I finally have all my images compiled from earlier this summer when Peter Van Beever was in town. I was able to do 4 solid days of shooting with him out on Sauvie Island, a little north of Portland.

A shoot with Peter is unlike anything I've ever experienced with other photographers. To put it mildly I don't have to feel guilty about not working out when he is in town!! We usually go to more remote locations where I do makeup in the elements, sitting on logs and rocks, rain or shine. I have gotten used to packing my makeup in a backpack and carrying it with me wherever I go, climbing over and under logs, traipsing across fields, dodging river water. The makeup on these shoots in and of itself is pretty simple and fast since the majority of what we shoot is for the agency and the model to use for comp cards and portfolios. However, once I am done with makeup and hair I help the models with their wardrobe, creating a makeshift dressing room by holding two reflectors. Once they are dressed and into place I assist Peter in whatever way I can, hold the reflector, grabbing his things, carrying camera equipment and wardrobe from one spot to the next, piece together new outfits and accessories, do touch-ups and at least one makeup change, etc. After a few hours it's time to get the next model ready so I'll head back to the beginning spot to start the whole process again. Do this three to four times over in a day and you've got a nice 12-hour, exhausting, sunburned day on your hands. Not that I'm complaining though, I really do love it. Plus, the images he delivers are nothing short of stunning.

Here are some great shots; they make it all worthwhile! All hair and makeup (and amazing reflector work!) by me, photos by Peter Van Beever.

Amy Gillespie | makeup artistry, Portland makeup artist, beauty, fashion

2008-05-04T22:13:00.001-07:00

This week I am working extensively with Delaware photographer, Peter Van Beever. We have some exciting projects and ideas for this week. Until I get images from this trip you'll have to be satisfied with these gorgeous pictures from last year.

Amy Gillespie | makeup artistry, Portland makeup artist, beauty, fashion