We recently connected with Felicia Linsky and have shared our conversation below.
Felicia, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Have you been able to earn a full-time living from your creative work? If so, can you walk us through your journey and how you made it happen? Was it like that from day one? If not, what were some of the major steps and milestones and do you think you could have sped up the process somehow knowing what you know now?
Making a full time living from the day I made the decision to become a Professional Makeup & Hair Artist wasn’t on a fast track, not because I didn’t have the talent, skill and training, it was about entering a career that I had no connections, there were no “job placements” as a freelance artist and making a living was about planting seeds, building my portfolio, working free to create “know, like & trust” with photographers, agents & agencies and working with many different talent of all ages and ethnicities to show how I could be an artistic solution and execute responsibly and creatively a vision until people started calling and hiring me consistently and where I could go from Fashion editorial/catalog work to filming Commercials to being recommended to HOD movies.
It took years actually to create a steady income and I began my career in Chicago and 7 years later moved to Los Angeles to basically start all over as I had no connections in LA either but I did have experience and work ethic, a resume, a portfolio and I continued my discipline to cold call, meet people as social media didn’t exist so I had ro put the effort in showing my work and create a work relationships and be considered for jobs whether fashion editorial, commercials, helping models build their portfolios or photographers become established…we all were raising one another up, and it took belief, it took perseverance and still does, from one’s heart, eyes and hands to create and deliver , stay current, curious and offer all of my clients a sense of excellence and that they don’t have to worry about the outcome because my focus is to over deliver being able to do many parts of what I do creatively.
The truth is when I began my career it took me over a decade to make a steady living and a decade plus to make a living that started to begin to make sense to me for all the hours and efforts putting forth and by that time I was aligned with many A-list talent as their Personal Makeup artist and Department Head (HOD) on many films and television series.
There are many people who are talented artists and the reality is there is no guarantee of making a living as a Freelance Artist, simply because one loves doing makeup and or hair…
You have to be disciplined, you have to keep networking, you have to be willing to give value and when beginning work for a rate that creates long term opportunities.
My observation is you have to always be willing to pivot in this career.
I always share that Makeup artists are not licensed and Hair artists are.
A license gives more opportunities in certain business opportunities even if you aren’t doing hair and instead choose to work with skin as an Esthetician or a Nail artist.
In todays world with Social media many people claim to be Professional Makeup artists and that is wonderful, what is important to remember it isn’t about how well you can transform your own face but how well you are prepared to work with others and deliver what you’ve been hired to do for the client and campaign you are entrusted to deliver and your ability to see the job through, be an asset, offer your clients solutions when problems arise, be prepared for any scenario that can present itself and that truly can make the difference for those who succeed and those that wonder how…also no one career is like another, each individual has their own signature journey.
My motivation to succeed in my career began becsuse i had college loans to pay back from my Fine Art, Pre-Med and Film studies and i wanted ro take all of my educsrion and experiences into a Profession as a Visual Artist/Storyteller and why I went to get my license in Hair so I could legitimately work in the Creative Arts as a professional Artist and be a responsible adult, self sufficient, build my career and eventually see the results of my hard work and dedication.
My greatest advice is always stay curious, be willing to pivot, always expand with education, communities, self-development, business investments so you can deliver more for those seeking what you have to offer because it’s a big world and yet a small world all at the same time!
Felicia, 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?
I am an Award winning Celebrity Makeup, Hair & Spray Tan Artist based in Los Angeles.
My background is Fashion, Fine Arts, Pre-Med and Film & Photography, Licensed Cosmetologist, Certified Mindfulness Intuitive Mentor, Podcaster, own a Private Studio in Los Angeles, Partner/Artist with an online Makeup & Lifestyle brand.
I have won 5 Makeup and Hair Guild Awards and nominated for 8 Emmys.
I grew up studying Art, Music, Performing in Theatre & Dance, and loved Design and Science… being exposed culturally to “live” performances, travel, design, history, architecture, artists, thinkers and people who were changing the world and I wanted to be an entrepreneur in the Arts and be a leader in any world I choose to align with and collaborate with the best of the best!
I grew up surrounded with family who had work ethics, values to be of service, work in careers they were passionately committed to and overdeliver with consistency, discipline, dedication, leading from the front and being considered the best in their fields so my foundation in my environment was a positive influence and education was expected to be achieved and always expanding was a part of my DNA.
What sets me apart I believe is I have always chosen to stay engaged in my personal growth so I can be a positive example as a leader, business woman, artist, speak from a position of authority and experience, and committed to never stop learning, understanding the power of inclusivity, diversity and raising people up collectively.
I also believe that as a Freelance Artist or in any business one must have multiple streams of opportunities/incomes and I’ve chosen over the years in my expanding to be of service in my industry of choice and as an artist to provide many sectors of communities my professional expertise that many seek both in Hollywood in Film & Television, Red Carpet and other Special Events as well as offer my Private clientele who are successful leaders in their own lives and desire the opportunity to be aligned with my services as I love helping both women and men look and feel like the leading women and men they are in their own lives!
The fact that I am trained to care for my clients from head to toe, all ethnicities, all ages, all genders and have traveled the world doing my work is an asset.
I love being able to help each individual feel like the best version of themselves and that has always been my goal, treat others as you want to be treated to feel confident, beautiful, handsome, fearless and unstoppable and if I can mindfully and physically care for my clients that leave them feeling amazing I have done my job!
I believe all people (especially women) need to be seen, heard, valued and celebrated and that offering them value to see themselves transformed into the best version of themselves as they may never have experienced or lost site of through life and health challenges even as someone who may be hugely successful in all other aspects of their life, my commitment and approach is that of empathy, compassion and commitment to have everyone feel like a shining star!
What I’m most proud of is my career has been a journey, a long game, a “living sculpture” of many personal and professional experiences that provide authority through a place of understanding, being able to listen, observe, contribute from that which I’ve personally trained and or thrived through as someone who has always loved connection, community, bringing people together, seeing the beauty in each individual, sharing my vulnerabilities to help others feel safe to do the same and as a woman who has lived and experienced the chance to embrace the opportunity to have a voice, use my talents and have a career, be an example of what is possible as a surviver in my personal life through cancer and a professional career that has been a “man’s world” and be welcomed to sit at the table as a collaborator and problem solver matters not only personally but as someone that understands the history of where I come from, the shoulders I stand on and the gift going forward to create a legacy for many generations to come.
Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?
Being a professional artist in a “world” that is all about business and making money which I personally understand can have many twists and turns one may experience especially collectively with many years experience that requires being resilient.
No one can share a crystal ball with anyone to say” here is your future and follow the yellow brick road!”
The business associated with the Arts goes back to the beginning of time…
Artists and the Artist patrons, and because this business is paved by creatives wanting and needing to express themselves and continue to design and influence the worlds we individually experience and live in it is layered with those who serve and those who like to be served, so resilience has to run deep in each individual who chooses or is chosen for this path!
The Arts around the world are built on and created by a diverse community of individauls who come from many point of views with different levels of exposure, education, opportunity, self-development, beliefs, whether limited or entitled, and surrounded and engaged with many individuals wirh emotions, beliefs, acceptance or rejection, power, personalities and the list goes on!
My response to this question is if if I knew what I know today since beginning my career and I was showed a crystal ball of my future, professionally and personally, frankly I don’t know how I would have prepared myself for everything I’ve seen, experienced, heard, been aligned with, both positive and painful and the truth is my mindset has been my greatest tool that has protected me through many things over these past 30 plus years which has been a journey.
Had I known what I have witnessed thus far the question about resilience and sharing a story, resilience is apart of the job and the journey, mentally, physically and spiritually and you have to be tough and resilient even if you are “sensitive” to your art and surroundings…its a must!
My focus is that I show up for my clients…no matter what I have experienced that has been life affirming, exciting, challenging, with no guarantees from day to day, year to year knowing for me it all begins wirh my mindset and my point to resilience that no pun intended this business is filled with a cast of characters and I love what I do and no one has the power to take my gifts, and I have control over what I offer, I dont have control over others…I can only envision the most positive outcome for all!
No one knows what anyone thinks and our job is to show up with kindness, committed and share our talent, be an asset.
My advice is you have to be enrolled in your belief of yourself and the good you bring and that you can do your very best, people are people, its a big world and that change is inevitable and one must be able to bob and weave to thrive and teach from a place of wisdom, as a victor of inspiration!
Is there mission driving your creative journey?
My journey professionally and personally has always been that of service, how can I empower others, how can I be an example of inspiration, artistry, business ethics and methods and knowing it is a journey of always improving oneself to make a difference in others lives for the better and if I can help inspire women to create their own financial security for their loved ones and the foundations that they want to give to that I want to be a source of how it is possible by making a decision, have a vision, be dedicated and disciplined to create your life path and that no matter what one is faced with; divorce, loss of income, domestic violence, addiction, health, death, caregiving, education that anything is possible, to dream big and go for your dreams with integrity, belief in oneself and the many lives you can and will positively effect for the better.
Contact Info:
- Website: FeliciaLinsky.com
- Instagram: @felicialinsky
- Facebook: Felicia Linsky
- Linkedin: Felicia Linsky
- Youtube: Camp Fifi Uncensored
- Other: https://felicialinsky.seintofficial.com/en/shop/party-457587/107/makeup Savvi.com/Redlips
Image Credits
Patrick Ecclesine/Dennis Quaid as Ronald Reagan Patrick Ecclesine/Felicia Linsky professional image