We recently connected with Leslie Simon and have shared our conversation below.

Leslie, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. What did your parents do right and how has that impacted you in your life and career?

My parents did many things right in encouraging me to follow my dream of being a makeup artist. My dad owned and operated his own painting business back in the day. After the recession hit in 2008, he closed his business and went back to teaching full time, but he never quit creating art. When I showed an interest in being an artist, he supported my dream and encouraged me to expand my knowledge and explore my craft. He understood what it was like to make a living from a creative passion. When I moved to LA he sat me down and told me that pursuing makeup would be a difficult journey. It was my first time living on my own and he knew a time would come when I would want to quit. He told me to stay strong and reminded me that the difference between artists who make it and artists who don’t boils down to who has the grit to push through rejection. That conversation has gotten me through many creative slumps and hard times.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

I’m a creative makeup artist with experience in designing and applying makeup for stage productions, short films, and client projects. I am a graduate of Arizona State University with a Bachelor of Arts in Art Studies and a minor in Musical Theatre Performance. Additionally, I am a Master Makeup Certified graduate of MUD Makeup Designory and I love bringing to life colorful, beautiful, crazy makeups. Originally from Phoenix, Arizona, I relocated to Burbank, California in 2024 and I am now based out of LA. My unique background as a color pencil portraiture artist and conceptual designer gives me a unique approach to shading, color, and symmetry. My favorite part of being a makeup artist is meeting new people and collaborating with fellow creatives to bring their visions to life. I adore what I do and love to share my passion for makeup with the world.

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.

In my experience non-creatives struggle to understand the need artists have to create. They view artists as hobbyists and are quick to label us as delusional for pursuing non-traditional career paths. I wish non-creatives would be slower to judge and quicker to seek to understand why we create. Artists are empathizers and change-makers at heart. Recognizing the impact artists have through their creations has the power to move the needle of human progress in a kinder, gentler direction. A direction that accounts for all of our differences and all of our individual quirks and leaves room for creatives to do what they do best…create.

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

Art is not a luxury, it’s a necessity. Artists are necessary and they deserved to be paid what they’re worth. When you pay an HMUA for makeup services or hire a mold-maker to produce a positive or enlist a concept artist for design work, you’re not just paying for the cost of materials and the artist’s time. You are paying for their skill, knowledge, and years of practice. Understanding this is key to creating a thriving creative ecosystem.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.makeupbysketchingperfection.com
• Instagram: @Sketching_perfection
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@sketchingperfection

Image Credits

Deverill Weekes- Images 1,2,3,4, & 6
Derek Althen- Images 5,7, & 8