by Vianey Perez
Some people think that makeup is a bad thing, or that too much is unpretty, but others feel they’re at their best when they show off their makeup skills. Many students at The Chicago High School for the Arts (ChiArts) show off looks that are works of art: eyeshadow palettes nicely blended and eyeliner sharp as a tack. Makeup is a way of expressing yourself, and it doesn’t have a limit in terms of creativity.
Meet three ChiArts students who have made makeup into a major part of their personalities.
Taila Ross, senior
Creative Writing
Do you always know how your makeup will be?
Nope. I sometimes wing it.
What do you base your makeup looks on?
I don’t base them off of anything, but sometimes the colors do have to do with things that I watch.
What do you feel you makeup says about you/ can you describe your look?
My makeup says about me that I’m very glamour, high glamour, and I’m a baddie. This look (today) is simple. It’s a crease with red in my corner.
What or who inspires you to do these makeup looks?
I don’t really have any inspiration.
How do you think makeup can benefit people?
It can help people’s creativity skills.
Do you always do your makeup?
Yes.
Do you think being at ChiArts has affected your makeup look? Does it make you want to be more outgoing or more subtle?
Yes. My makeup looks are more outgoing because I go to an arts school.
Does your mood affect your makeup looks?
Yeah. When I am happy, it’s monochromatic. But when I’m relaxed, it’s a lot of cool tones.
Angelina Victoria Angulo, senior
Musical Theater
Do you always know how your makeup will be?
I never really know how my makeup will turn out. It usually depends on how I’m feeling or just what ends up happening as I go, you know?
What do you base your makeup looks on?
Usually I base my makeup looks on my outfit and sometimes other looks I see on Instagram.
What do you feel you makeup says about you / can you describe your look?
I would describe my look as very glam, but in that specific look, more of a natural glam.. Usually for a super beat look I use eyeliner and highlighter, but since in the photo above, because it was for TV, I wanted it to be more of a natural glam.
What or who inspires you to do these makeup looks?
I’m usually inspired by my outfits, but celebrity-wise, I love all of Ariana Grande’s looks, and I’m also inspired by Amber Scholl, Kylie Jenner, and Kim Kardashian.
How do you think makeup can benefit people?
I think makeup can benefit people in many ways. For many people it helps their self esteem, or to feel better about themselves, but people also do it for fun or it’s a hobby or a job.
I love doing my makeup for fun, I love getting to do different looks on my face and getting to create my own looks depending on my mood or the way I’m feeling.
Do you always do your makeup?
I do my makeup almost every day.
Do you think being in ChiArts has affected your makeup look? Does it make you want to be more outgoing or more subtle?
I think ChiArts has helped me to be more creative with my makeup looks and it gave me the ability to experiment with my makeup freely.
It makes me want to be more outgoing.
Does your mood affect your makeup looks?
My mood completely affects my makeup looks, unless it’s for a show or a certain dress, then I have a set makeup look.
Jack Nader, junior
Musical Theater
Do you always know how your makeup will be?
I definitely do not know how my makeup will turn out every time I do it. Most of the time I go into it not having any clue of what kind of look I want to do.
I usually do the same base makeup, but the eyeshadow is where I get creative and switch it up. So I never really know what I’m going to do until I get to that part.
What do you base your makeup looks on?
Most of my makeup looks are based off my own imagination.
Sometimes I’ll see a look that someone else did that I really like and put my own spin on it, but most of the time I just lay out all my palettes in front of me and see what colors call to me.
What do you feel you makeup says about you / can you describe your look?
My makeup tells people that I am a confident creative person who loves to make art in unconventional ways.
I would describe my “look” as very glam and pretty, with a super colorful edge that definitely stands out.
What or who inspires you to do these makeup looks?
A lot of things inspire me to do makeup looks. I could look at a flower, specific color combination, pattern, or really anything, and think to myself, “Wow, I want to create that on my face.” That may sound weird to others, but to me it’s just another art form to express my creativity.
A lot of people also inspire my makeup, most influencers and people I follow on Instagram.
The most prominent are Jeffree Star and Mario Devonivic because they are candid and unafraid to be themselves and they both create such beautiful work in such different ways.
How do you think makeup can benefit people?
Makeup can benefit people in many ways. To me, makeup is like magic. If there’s something I don’t like about my face or something I want to enhance, I can change both with makeup.
I think makeup is super powerful and it’s amazing that it has the ability to make you feel beautiful and like your best self.
Do you always do your makeup?
I usually only do my makeup if I have a lot of time and I’m in the right mood, I hate rushing.
I love turning on music, getting in the zone, and watching my face change from tired and uneven to smooth, contoured, and highlighted to perfection.
Sometimes it can take me up to three hours.
Do you think being in ChiArts has affected your makeup look? Does it make you want to be more outgoing or more subtle?
I think ChiArts has definitely made me more confident and creative with my makeup because I surround myself with extremely supportive and non-judgmental people.
I used to have to hide doing makeup in fear of being bullied at my Catholic middle school, but now I can freely and openly express myself and my art.
Does your mood affect your makeup looks?
My mood definitely affects my makeup looks. If I’m feeling super feminine and happy, I usually do more of lighter look with bright colors.
On the other hand, if I’m in a more dark or grungy mood I do heavier contours, sharper eye looks, and use darker colors.
