I was privileged enough to meet the founder of The Powder Group, Michael DeVellis. Michael, a 14-year veteran of the makeup artist industry, was responsible for developing the MAC PRO product line and Artist Relations department for MAC Cosmetics. During his 10-year period as a MAC executive, he experienced the passion of the pro artists he was working with.

Based in the beauty capital of the world, New York City, The Powder Group consists of a collective of talent that spans the makeup artist industry and the globe. Their artists and presenters are working experts from the areas of film, television, theater, fashion, and editorial. Their seminars, lectures, workshops, and special events cover every aspect of makeup artistry. For a traditionally close-lipped industry, a resource of this nature has simply not been available in the past. New artists (or even experienced ones) had to learn and grow the hard way, by trial and error. Organizations like The Powder Group make it easy for artists to be successful. Michael was kind enough to answer a few questions for me…

JC: What advice would you give the average woman?

MD: Know your face. Know products and what looks good on you. You don’t need a salesperson to tell you if a shirt or dress is flattering on you. You certainly don’t need a salesperson to tell you that the newest orange eye shadow is your must-have color of the season – if you feel it looks horrid. A great artist will always try to understand YOU first, and then build a look around you and your needs. Not what’s on the new product display. Trend and style are completely different from each other, you should always suit your makeup to your style, not the fashion trends – unless you happen to look great in, and your style suits the newest trend.

JC: What do you think is one of the hardest lessons for a makeup artist to learn?

MD: I think the hardest lesson any pro makeup artist has to learn is that the job is not as creative as they imagined. No matter what part of the industry you work in, commercial, film, television, bridal, even fashion…most jobs require simple beautiful makeup, not feathers and glitter and bright colored swatches of product across the eyes. The creativity is built in to your role when you create those opportunities for yourself and find passion in the craft that you have chosen.

For more information, visit The Powder Group: www.thepowdergroup.com