Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Andrew Velázquez. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Andrew, appreciate you joining us today. Coming up with the idea is so exciting, but then comes the hard part – executing. Too often the media ignores the execution part and goes from idea to success, skipping over the nitty, gritty details of executing in the early days. We think that’s a disservice both to the entrepreneurs who built something amazing as well as the public who isn’t getting a realistic picture of what it takes to succeed. So, we’d really appreciate if you could open up about your execution story – how did you go from idea to execution?
I am born and raised from Los Angeles, California and naturally was immersed with the entertainment industry and arts. I have been a cosmetologist and educator in the fashion and beauty industry for over 23 years now. Six years ago I was a contestant on a beauty reality completion show called “American Beauty Star”. I was tested on so many levels, not only with the shows episode challenge’s but within my own psyche and craft.
We were quarantined and had no access to our devices or communication with our loved ones. I did yoga, meditated, and began to journal and draw for peace of mind. At the end of the three week production I did make it to the finals and although I did not get the winning title, I walked away with knowledge, growth and a memoir. It took me a year after the show to take my journal and compose it as a book, titled “Amor es Arte | Arte es Amor” aka “Love is Art | Art is Love”.
The next year I also created the artwork for the book’s cover and inside chapters covers as well. It was an homage to my Mexican heritage and a bingo game we played with my mom and brother’s growing up called “Lotería”. This game has 58 cards so I chose 10 that resinated with the timeline of my life. Each card has a meaning and description which I listed in my book. I designed body makeup on 10 model’s and photographed them to turn them into my version of the cards for example; “La Rosa”, the love story of the parents. “La Sirena”, the story of the transformation queer. ”La Muerte”, the story fearing the end and the beginning of life changes.
While creating the body makeup designs I noticed a lack of pigment in the bright colors, so I also decided to create my first makeup palette called “Mí Corazón”. The palette consists of nine highly pigmented shadows, all vegan, animal cruelty free. The pigments are safe for eyes, cheeks, lips and can be used wet or dry. Each shade is named after the book chapters. Additionally I created three clack fan’s with the art of the book to keep yourself cool.
I am very passionate, about my craft and sharing my life victories, defeats, and the associated mental health journey.
The last week of August 2022, my husband and our four dogs picked up all our belongings in two cars and drove through the hottest part of North America to move across the country to Orlando Florida in search of better real estate opportunities. Our chihuahua terrier “Tripper” turned 13 on 9/1/22 the day we moved in and 9 days later it was his time to cross over the rainbow bridge. Naturally I dedicated my vegan makeup palette to Tripper.
This move allowed me to really set the intention with my brand. As a Marketing tool, during launch prep, I also created my first song, it’s a latino house dance track named after the palette “Mí Corazón”. Its available on all music streaming platforms, which I dedicated to my mom Chepa Ornelas. My mother passed away three month’s later on June 12th, 2023 due to a heart attack.
I am grateful my dog Tripper guided us in our move to arrive safely to our new home and that my mother was able to witness me accomplish my recent goal’s.
Do not take the beauty of our universe for granted. Life and death are illusions. We are in a constant state of transformation.
My mission now is to level up as a human and a brand to continue to spread the message of love, light and beauty for all, offering mentorship and education for the future artist’s of the world. You can find my book, makeup palette and fan’s on amoresarte.com and andrewvelazquez.com
Andrew, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?
Andrew is a born and bred Angeleno who always knew he was meant for a life in beauty. He is the founder of Love is Art | Art is LoveTM cosmetics and a finalist on American Beauty Star.
In a star-studded career, Andrew has worked as a makeup artist with major celebrities, from Lady Gaga to RuPaul to Demi Levato, along with countless others on major film, TV and music video productions.
Growing up in Boyle Heights on the eastside of Los Angeles, in the closet and raised in a macho environment, he turned to his faith in God and the support of his mother, who encour- aged him to attend the Los Angeles Music and Art School. After earning his G.E.D., he attended LA Trade Tech at the age of 16 and graduated with a degree in Fashion Merchan- dising. Shortly after, he attended cosmetology school at West Valley Occupational Center, graduating with honors and re- ceiving his license.
While rising through the ranks of MAC and Anastasia Beverly Hills, he built a loyal following in film, TV, music and fashion before being selected for American Beauty Star and launching his own cosmetics line.
Andrew currently lives with his dogs and husband Johnny Debut in Orlando, Florida. Andrew continues to educate touring his book and art nationally.
Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?
After watching Bjork at her concert in downtown Los Angeles, we rode the scooters in the bike lane on Main Street. I looked back often to see if my husband Johnny was keeping up with me. He sang me Bjork lullabies.
I suggested we stop for some fast food, but Johnny re- minded me we had food at home. We navigated our way through our neighborhood streets. I made a right, then a left onto our street where the top of a hill begins and where there are several dips on the pavement.
This is the last thing I remember. Johnny sped up next to my broken body face down on the concrete. Blood gushed from the sides of my head. Johnny tried waking me up, but I was unconscious. He wrapped my bloody head with the Bjork sweater I had bought him. He called 911 while he tried pumping on my chest. I seemed not to be breath- ing. When the paramedics arrived, they took over.
I remember waking up as the ambulance pulled up to the hospital. Then I’m in a bed and have a neck brace on. I have no feelings or sensations on my face or left shoulder. I only remember flashes at the hospital. I sensed needles being stuck in me.
I had MRIs and brain CT scans to see if anything was broken. I was scared but grateful to be alive. I thanked the nurses for their help and complemented their nails and hairstyles. One of them had removed my contacts and my jewelry.
I am in and out of consciousness. I see Johnny, and he has this look of anguish. I thank him for saving my life.
At 4:30 the next morning, the doctor walks in with test results. “Listen, young man,” he tells me, “you must have an angel watching over you, because the fact that you hit pavement at 20 miles an hour face first and survived is amazing. Now I have good news and bad news. The good news is that you have nothing broken and you’ll get to go home. The bad, shocking news is that you have eleven skull fractures mostly near your or- bital bone, neck artery and shoulder. You will need stitches, and you will have to be on bed rest for a couple of weeks until you follow up with your neurosurgeon to see the progress. Now let’s get you cleaned up so you can go home and thank your angel.“
I am overwhelmed, grateful for the chance to live. I know it could have gone down much worse, but I still don’t know why this happened to me, and I guess it doesn’t really matter.
All that matter’s now is that I will never take the beauty of this universe for granted. Life and death and illusions. We are in a constant state of transformation. Through trauma you can triumph!
Are there any books, videos, essays or other resources that have significantly impacted your management and entrepreneurial thinking and philosophy?
Reading book’s such as Trauma-Inspired: 50 Survivors, One Shared Path Through Trauma, Transformation and Triumph… With a Twist by Linda Spellman, Everything Is Here to Help You: A Loving Guide to Your Soul’s Evolution by Matt Khan, and podcasts The Mindset Mentor by Rod Dial as well as On Purpose by Jay Shetty have been extremely resourceful for my self development and business succession plan.
Mostly the take away from all of these amazing human’s are to be of service to other’s. To be authentically vulnerable and share your own story you can create community.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://amoresartearteesamor.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/andrewvelazquez_
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/andrewvelazquezcom
- Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/andrewvelazquez1
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/andrewvelazcom
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/andrewvelazquez
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/andrew-velázquez-winter-garden-2
- Other: Press Page: https://linktr.ee/drewenvy
Image Credits
Geraldine Moreno mode on stage