Today we’d like to introduce you to Alicia Antenucci.
Alicia, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
My earliest years consisted of smeared lipsticks and eyeshadow applied with my fingers. I can remember being a little girl and sneaking into my mom’s vanity to play with her makeup. I was fascinated by the notion that a person could be a canvas. The older I got, the more I began to teach myself techniques and practice makeup application. When I would go out with a full face, I was receiving compliments and eventually friends began asking me to do their makeup for them. It’s ironic because the older I got the less makeup I started to wear, but I’ve come to realize it was never about making myself look better. It was my preferred outlet to express my creativity.
I worked for years as a waitress and bartender, all the while obtaining my Bachelor’s degree from Salem State University. In college, I started experimenting with special effects makeup and my love for makeup grew greater than it ever has. Turning people into characters by the means of face paint and/or prosthetic application was a new skill I’d gained. That’s the cool thing about the makeup industry, there is no limit for growth and creativity. I wanted to keep expanding my artistic abilities, continue to learn, and thrive. I became certified to do makeup professionally under the assistance of one of the most inspiring makeup artists in the Boston area, Debra Macki. Today, I work at a health insurance company while maintaining a small artistry business for myself. I am passionate about my ability to create something with my own hands that a client can feel good about and wear proudly.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
I think many artists experience self-doubt. Sharing something that you created with the world puts you in a vulnerable position. Your confidence can be rattled sometimes. The beauty industry is ever growing and changing. It is a competitive field, and you constantly have to keep up with trends and new products. I always wanted to be my own brand as an artist. I wanted to give my clients the care, creativity, and integrity that they all deserve. But in some moments, I felt like it was pointless to try. Why bother when anyone could go on YouTube and learn how to do a solid makeup application? There are so many talented and creative women who do makeup, what makes me so special? The most important lesson I’ve come to learn is that if you are creating something and it makes you happy, then you have to do it. You don’t have to be the best and you don’t have to be perfect all the time. And if you can make other people happy by doing what you love, that makes it all worth it for me.
So, as you know, we’re impressed with Alicia Marie Artistry – tell our readers more, for example what you’re most proud of as a company and what sets you apart from others.
My business handle is AliciaMarieArtistry. The makeup applications I create range from natural glam to special effects and everywhere in between. I wouldn’t say I specialize in anything, because I am always trying to expand my artistic abilities which allows me to further develop my skill set. What makes me the most proud of my business is the integrity I put into my work. How I see it, each application is a custom creation. I thoroughly discuss with every client any allergies, their skin type, product preference, daily skin care routine, and the reason they are getting their makeup done. I think what sets me apart from other artists is my ability to really listen to my clients. I will guide them in the right direction as far as color theory for their skin type or corrective application to enhance their features because I am professionally trained to do so. That being said, I pride myself on the idea that I can give every client exactly what they are looking for. Seeing a smile on a client’s face when I hand them the mirror after I have finished is what fuels my passion to be a makeup artist.
So, what’s next? Any big plans?
One of my best friends is a hair dresser and we’ve always had this dream of opening up our own glam team. Recently, we’ve had the opportunity to work on some of the same jobs together and it makes us love what we do that much more, hopefully one day we have the opportunity to turn that dream into a reality. In the meantime, I am working on developing a permanent workspace so I have a location for my business. I also have a few opportunities to collaborate with other artists in the future which I am super excited to do!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://aliciamarienucci.wixsite.com/aliciamarieartistry
- Email: Aliciamarienucci@gmail.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aliciamarieartistry/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/aliciamarieartistry/
Image Credit:
Some photos by Lauren Harrison (some) hair by Laurina Cappello
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