Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Athena Mathews. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Alright, Athena thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Can you talk to us about how you learned to do what you do?

As an artist, I constantly work to learn new and exciting ways to do the things I love. I started learning special effects makeup remarkably young. The theater was an inspiration as my parents raised my sister and me in the opera world. I finally decided to take the leap into makeup and skincare, where I became an Esthetician and professional makeup artist; before that, I got my certification as a pastry chef. I’ve been fortunate to learn from some of the top people in all my passions. Chef Foran taught me pastries, and Tim Gore taught me extraordinary airbrush skills. I was able to transfer all these glorious passions into teaching as a special effects teacher and an esthetics teacher. I love passing on these to other people!

Athena, 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?

My life has been an adventure. My inspirations are many, including to see all the amazingly talented people. Wow, I can’t even; I feel I only have a smidge of what others have. However, I’m humble and grateful for every ounce of talent and abilities I have. I’ve covered a lot of time and space as I’ve had a challenging past, but I’m grateful for my children, my unique experiences, and my fantastic, exciting future.

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

I know, as most of us have experienced hard, stressful times, I would never say mine was less or more, but it was hard. I was having my kids early, starting at age 16, which was challenging but worth it! I have three amazing, strong, beautiful, and resilient woman. Marriages from a horror story and heartbreak that makes you question the worth of people and this world. I hid away, ran, and spent most of my life agoraphobic, afraid of everything and anyone. In my mid-thirties, something changed. I realized I could live a life of my choosing, my passions, mine! I studied, I got help, I moved forward, and even though I thought I wasn’t enough, I realized I am everything. Always forward, never backward.

What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?

My mission in this life? To give, to provide, to care, and to love. When I teach, I love to give. To pass my knowledge to those who want it. To provide for my family to the best I can. To care for every kind, needing, wanting, person or animal. To always love from the hardest to the easiest. My motto is to love, live, and live a life of kindness and honesty. Take what you need and give what you can.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://instagram.com/athenasculinaryescapades?igshid=OGQ5ZDc2ODk2ZA==
• Instagram: https://instagram.com/mubyathenagunter?igshid=OGQ5ZDc2ODk2ZA==
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/athena.gunter.58?mibextid=ZbWKwL

Image Credits
Athena mathews