We recently connected with Bailey Turfitt and have shared our conversation below.

Bailey, appreciate you joining us today. Can you talk to us about a project that’s meant a lot to you?

With every project I do, there is some form of meaning behind them. When I started doing makeup/creative directing for photoshoots as an 18 year old, I took inspiration from music which was a huge part of my life at the time, as I struggled with a lot of mental anguish over my disability worsening. My deafness gradually became unaffected by the use of hearing aids, thus slowly taking away joy and hope I had as a musician and music lover. To cope with this, I used art as a way to visualize and interpret what music meant to me, bringing it to life as beautiful, colorful characters. As a kid, The Beatle’s music kept me company, even in the quietest hours of my life. The unusual characters I imagined coming to life from these songs served as inspiration for later shoots and shows, but nothing ever came to a physical reality until I was in college and at the peak of my struggles. Due to an unusual happenstance, I met Ashley Reid (from a Whitby Production) out on the streets of Deep Ellum one night, doing face painting for a concert. In passing, my friend commented on her airbrush machine, as it was very similar to one that I had. This piqued Ashley’s interest, and she asked for my information, just to have as an connection. I thought that was that until two weeks later I was asked to be in a large art show, known as the RAW Artist Showcase. For the first time in my life, I was asked to demonstrate and display my work, in a way that made sense to me. So naturally, I chose characters that I knew I could clearly convey to an audience. These characters became Eleanor Rigby, The Walrus, Lucy in the Sky With Diamonds, and a beautiful creature belonging to Octopus’s Garden. All from songs that made me feel better when I was younger. They all got their own costumes, makeup, and personalities. As part of the show, I was given the opportunity to have these characters walk the catwalk, which was something I have never done before. I finally got to witness these characters come alive, walking down the catwalk to the music that they were inspired by,
To be given the rare opportunity to create these characters for others to understand and enjoy is something I will never forget. It catapulted me into where I am now, with the ability to dream up otherworldly scenarios and bring them into reality through different art forms.

Bailey, 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?

Hi! My name is Bailey, sometimes affectionately referred to as Bean. I am mainly a makeup artist, but I also do a little bit of everything. I enjoy creative design, especially when it comes to doing photoshoots. A lot of people I work with are people who are prepared to do unconventional things for the sake of the craft. I do a lot of D.I.Y and experiments to find innovative ways to bring something new to the table. And when it’s not makeup, it’s costume design, jewelry making, and crocheting. On the side, I am also the Director of Outreach at a non-profit called The Science Place Foundation. What we do is document and archive the history of The Science Place, a well-loved science museum located in Fair Park. We are currently working on a documentary about The Science Place and continue to expand our archive.

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

In my opinion, one of the best ways to support artists is by interaction. Whether this is by purchasing their goods/services, attending events, or simply sharing their art over social media and in person with friends. One of the newer tropes I have seen trending with these upcoming art experiences and communities is that they are advertised as being composed of local artists and actively supporting local artists when in reality, they hardly do. Some groups barely want to take a risk and leave their comfort zone to find new and talented artists! I believe starting a good support system early in your career is the best thing one can do. I would love to see more local venues have “college” nights, and give the opportunity to young artists to come out and see other artworks and network. It also gives them the experience of submitting proposals to galleries, preparing portfolios, and any other materials necessary to successfully advocate for themselves and their work.

Any insights you can share with us about how you built up your social media presence?

At the moment, social media is one of the few things I consistently use to display my work. It is an excellent tool to find and connect with other artists and build a solid network. Most people and companies are too focused on following trends and trying to be the next “viral” sensation, that the actual meaning of the post is usually lost. I gradually built my audience by collaborating with all kinds of people from different walks of life and picking up cool tips and tricks along the way. Doing things in a non-traditional way seems to be the key to catching the attention of potential viewers. If you ever have a bizarre idea that you think no one will understand but you, you should still do it. Just completing a project that is a product of your creativity can be incredibly satisfying and good for your mentality! Other people will pick up on it too when you share these moments through social media. One of my favorite things I like to tell people is that never compare yourself and your journey to others on social media. Sure, Becky over here has 10,000 followers and posts every single day, gaining thousands of likes. But for you? Even if just 43 people liked your post, that’s still a lot of people! Imagine if 43 people showed up at an art gallery and went to see your art. People who are interested in what you do will actively seek you out and actively support you.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://turfitt.weebly.com/
• Instagram: @deaf.dead.girl
• Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/bailey-turfitt-348961276
• Science Place Foundation: https://scienceplacefoundation.org

Image Credits
Blue Rhubarb Alien and Futuro House photographed by Madison Fox Lucy in the Sky With Diamonds, Burlesque, and Queen of the Undead photographed by Leah Wright Self Portraits photographed by me