We were lucky to catch up with Nicole Gonzales recently and have shared our conversation below.

Nicole, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Have you been able to earn a full-time living from your creative work? If so, can you walk us through your journey and how you made it happen? Was it like that from day one? If not, what were some of the major steps and milestones and do you think you could have sped up the process somehow knowing what you know now?

I’ve been a full time HMUA since 2016. It did not happen over night. I started as a makeup artist intern in Austin, Tx on an Indie horror film, then titled Boneboys. This was in 2010 and I believed the title since changed, I went on to work a couple of indie films with the head HMUA director for the next year and a half. In the meantime I was working local events like ATX fashion week and music videos with the friends in the industry. During this time I’m quickly realized it was imperative to learn styling hair as a lot of smaller set gigs needed and HMUA, and not 2 separate artists, if possible.. Most of my makeup artist experience is self taught along with attending workshops and artistry events to supoort MUA growth and education. We didn’t have the outpour of tutorials we do know from IG Youtube and other patforms. Also, most schooling that I came across was specific to the film indusrty and not local so that wasn’t an option for me. I had to rely on research, practice, and on the job experience. In 2012. I decided to enroll in the cosmetology program at the Aveda Institute to help me learn styling and understanding hair. Hairstyling did not come natural to me but today I love it!
Something to note and I think it’s important for other artists to hear if and when they stumble on to a road block, is half way through my certification my dad got really sick and I had to withdraw fro the program to be with him and my family. It was a no brainer for me. He didn’t make it and I took time to grieve and figure out my next move. By the time, I was ready to return to the program, the institute was only going to credit 10% of my 50% that I had already completed. I knew immediately I would not return and I would have to find another way to make it work and I did. I learned styling on my own and on the job. I started in the wedding industry in 2015 by subbing in for an artist and have been doing hair and makeup as a combo/dual artist since August 2016. I’ll never forget that date bacause I was SCARED! What’s freelance or an independent contractor. This was not part of my comprehension. I didn’t know how I was going to make this work. But we were in the beginning stages of social networking and supportive independent contractor platforms, so that’s what I did along with in person networking. Not an introverts favorite but you do what you gotta do to make it move and work.

Nicole, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

So I think I was in my late 20’s when a friend suggested I think about doing makeup professionally. I was loving head to toe looks in my 20’s which included hair and makeup. I had so much fun with that. And basically this was the inspiration to switch gears in my life. I’m pretty sure at the time it was every artists dream to work at MAC and reap the many benefits. Although I applied, I did not get hired. But I continued to work with local artists in Austin, TX doing events and eventually subbing in for an artist at a wedding and becoming a Bridal Hair & Makeup artist.
Something I think that sets me apart from other artists is having a background in Yoga and Meditation. I am a certified Yoga and Meditation teacher and offer sound healing. I have several certifications and have been teaching since 2015. My discipline comes from my spiritual practices and continued efforts of cultivating calm and light hearted work spaces wherever I am. Weddings, especially can be very stressful. There’s a lot of energy high stress frustration along with the excitement so it’s nice to have these skills to be able to diffuse and shift the energy when necessary. I also offer wedding day yoga and meditation services, which is a 45 minute practice prior to hair and makeup services. The practice includes slow flow Hatha yoga and meditation with visualization and sound healing to set the tone for the day and bring everyone to a grounded centered state together. What a way to start such a day.
Over the years, my niche has grown to be an expert in “soft glam makeup” and “professional makeup.”
My intention always is to use hair and makeup to elevate a person’s look and leave them feeling more energized than when we started. Whether they be female, male, they/them; it doesn’t matter. Leaving a person feeling energized and ready for their event is the goal!

What can society do to ensure an environment that’s helpful to artists and creatives?

Something I can speak to personally is when I was applying for a mortgage loan. Because I didn’t have w2’s to show my income, I had to dig in every way possible to show and prove my income. It definitely made me feel “othered.” I don’t have asolutions in this moment because it was over 2 years but money is money and the system needs to figure out ways to make it easier for people of all careers who earn an honest living to purchase a home. I am a single and a single income earner and I made it happen on my own.

Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?

My dad got sick in 2012 and passed away April 2013. When he got sick, it wasn’t looking good so I withdrew from the Aveda institution to be with my family. After taking time needed to grieve, I was ready to return to the institution. Upon my inquiry with the administration to return, I was advised i’d only received 10% of my credits. I left with 50% completed. there was no way I was going to start from scratch and have to pay an additional, whatever the cost was, to basically start over when I knew I didn’t want to be in a salon cutting or coloring hair. I wanted to style along with doing makeup.. I didn’t let that stop me. I learned on my own and with other artists on the job you name it and became an HMUA.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.nicolegmakeupartist.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nicolegmakeupartist?igsh=MXB5bjQwbjIxemtzZw%3D%3D&utm_source=qr
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/18obSen4g7/?mibextid=wwXIfr