We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Elea Wright a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Elea, thanks for joining us today. Has your work ever been misunderstood or mischaracterized?

In my mind, knowing who someone is and who they want to be is more important than knowing what is trending. Trends are pointless to people who don’t live in the world of fashion, and most Image Consultants work with people outside of that world. That is why these people hire us. After talking to him about how when I work with people I take a holistic approach first using color psychology to address their needs and consider style secondary he was impressed. He ended up booking a personal color analysis with me. I still keep up with him. He is living that ideal life he wanted to and is in his first long term relationship. Do I think I’m the reason? No, I think he is the reason. That is what I try to instill in my appointment with my clients. I’m giving them the tools they need to make powerful changes in their lives, but they are the ones who have to implement the changes.

I grew up seeing my mom do this very thing. She always seemed to be ahead of the trends because she was dressing for who she was not for others. This is what my work is. We empathize with a person. We focus on helping people actualize their ideal selves. To me this is the most rewarding and powerful part of my job. I treasure every moment a person has told me they would have never done this makeup look or chosen this blazer without my guidance. They tell me they feel confident in their abilities to make decisions. To me that is the reward for having to always be at my best. I get to see other people change their lives for the better.

Elea, 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?

I grew up in the business I now work. Over 26 years ago, my mother Darin Wright, started elea blake cosmetics. She named the business after my twin sister and I. At the time I was a child. In fact, I didn’t start wearing makeup until college. My mother’s color analysis system ebhues is what attracted me to work at the company.

Before working at elea blake, I was a graphic designer in web design and marketing. To be honest, while I was good at the job, I didn’t feel emotionally fulfilled in it. I have always been interested in helping others. While I did have many wonderful opportunities working with University Agriculture department and Extension Offices, I also had a traditional ad work job working for brands I didn’t like and didn’t believe in. Being able to work for my family’s company gave me all the things I loved about graphic design and also fulfilled the emotional piece I was missing.

My job is never the same. Every day is different and I love the people I get to work with. I meet interesting people every day and get to help them. Whether it is through my job as a custom makeup artist where I consult with people to craft custom products for their unique skin, style, and routine. Or working with Darin to find even more sustainable, healthier, beneficial ingredients to our makeup. I also get to inspire people to embrace every color of the rainbow with our color system ebhues whether they wear makeup or not.

This system gives people the tools to dress holistically and intentionally. Intentionality is at the heart of what I do every day. I truly enjoy my job. I think I’m incredibly lucky to work with such amazing people and help them go after what they want. Essentially I give people pep talks and products that help them accomplish their desires. I get messages and letters every day from people telling me how much they appreciate their makeup, how they have changed how they dress, how they love color and love their lives. I’m getting emotional typing this up. I’m a very analytical person so often people don’t think I’m sensitive, but actually I’m a big softie. Nothing makes me happier than a handwritten letter telling me how impactful working with me was. I’m proud to say everything I am, I learned from my mom. I’m proud to work with her every day. I never thought I would love makeup, clothes, or color the way I do. Now I can’t imagine my life without it.

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

Everyone had to pivot during the early pandemic. No one more than makeup artists and image consultants. Overnight the world totally changed. During the first day of the pandemic shut down, I met with my mom and told her that I felt that this was going to last a long time. My mother is very savvy and has withstood many downturns and setbacks. She agreed and we decided to move our entire business in two weeks and totally change up how we worked.

We cut our aesthetic services, diy lip bar, and stopped taking on weddings. Instead we got online and just talked about our routines. We talked about webcam makeup and we let people know this was the perfect time to reset their interiors and wardrobes. Our business was already all about being intentional, but the pandemic made us hyper focus on that. Instead of seasonal colors, we focused on year round makeup. We created new skin care makeup products and we perfected our mail order DIY color analysis kits.

Instead of suffering, we started living more fulfilling lives… well after the first month of moving hell. We got the chance to change up a business that had already been around for almost a quarter of a century. We have more balanced personal lives, which allows us to help others even more successfully. All the little stressors that were making us miserable were gone. I’ve never been happier in a job.

Is there something you think non-creatives will struggle to understand about your journey as a creative? Maybe you can provide some insight – you never know who might benefit from the enlightenment.

People often think my job is just fun and games. While it is very fun it can also be tedious and have many headaches. Because I work with people, and I love people, I care deeply about every one I work with. I often joke that people will forget me the next day but I’ll wonder about them for years. As I’ve said before we can’t have bad days. My responsibility is to always be sharp. Even when I’ve been in incredible pain due to health issues I have, I have to show up and pretend I’m fine. I worked a wedding the morning before I myself got married.

We put our entire being into what we do. I’m not saying it’s always healthy but that’s how this world is. I wish people understood the mental anguish we feel when we have to rush because they showed up late or didn’t consider their timeline carefully. We truly care. If you can’t care about a person as if they were your best friend, you shouldn’t create products for people and you shouldn’t give them life advice. I so strongly believe that. Our job means that you sometimes need to be firm with people when all you want to do is make them happy. It takes a lot out of you, just like all creative jobs do.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.eleablake.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/eleablake/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/eleablakecosmeticstudio
• Youtube: https://www.facebook.com/eleablakecosmeticstudio

Image Credits
Blake Blamalam, Me