We recently connected with Amanda Cook and have shared our conversation below.

Amanda, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. I’m sure there have been days where the challenges of being an artist or creative force you to think about what it would be like to just have a regular job. When’s the last time you felt that way? Did you have any insights from the experience?

I am the happiest I’ve ever been in my life!! I very recently quit my full time 9-5 banking job to take my makeup business full time! It’s exciting and rewarding and I am doing what I love the most. It feels good after doing this as a side hustle the last ten years to finally be in a place where I have enough business and support to go full time with it!

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I have always loved art! Even as a child my favorite things to play with were my crayons and coloring books. In school I adored Art Class. Fast forward into adulthood, I was looking for a career to get out of the food industry. I had been a career server for many years and it was time for a change. I had always admired the makeup counters in the department stores and how pretty and shiny things were so I thought I’d give it a go. I then worked in cosmetics for the next decade of my life. I worked for many different retailers, in New York, Maryland and Virginia. For brands such as Dior, YSL, Laura Mercier and Clinique. I was proud of my work and took advantage of all the amazing training and education I was receiving from these big companies. I didn’t go to Cosmetology school so I needed to be trained and certified in the field, so that’s what I did. Learning about products, tools, artistry and skin makes me the happiest. I absolutely love sharing my knowledge and educating my clients about each of these things. Sharing with them the little tips and tricks or the right way to hold a brush or the perfect foundation shade helps them to achieve their own beauty goals and gives them confidence. I also love People, so being this close with my clients, fills my heart with Joy. I get to be their support system on their Wedding Day. I get to help this single mother get back into Makeup and love herself again. I get to teach young children their first makeup lesson! I get to show the aging woman how to change some things in her routine to make her feel just as beautiful as she was 10 years ago! All of the things each client teaches me and shares with me, I hold with me in my heart and I never forget them. I actually become friends with most all of my clients! It’s a beautiful experience and I feel lucky to have this gift. My mother told me to always be kind to others and so did my grandparents. I have a lot of love to give, so I enjoy making people feel loved and valued. Makeup can transform a person and how they feel about themselves!!! I just adore how excited my clients feel after they get their makeup done. They’re happy and it’s a beautiful thing.

Any resources you can share with us that might be helpful to other creatives?

I wish I would’ve taken the route of cosmetology school when it was offered to me at a young age. I went to a High School and it was an elective you could take, but I was taking other things like arts- which was fun but man to come out of High School as a licensed Cosmetologist would’ve been incredible with endless opportunities. Now that schooling is more than $20k!

Is there mission driving your creative journey?

My goal is to have a successful business of my own and expand my knowledge of artistry. Learning new techniques and doing more creative or editorial makeup. As well as getting work in the film and tv industry!

Contact Info:

• Instagram: Amandacookmua
• Facebook: Amanda Cook Makeup Artist

Image Credits
Audra Jones Photography Melanie Eaton Photography Soho Photos