We were lucky to catch up with Tiesha Williams recently and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Tiesha, thanks for joining us today. We’d love to hear about when you first realized that you wanted to pursue a creative path professionally.

I have always known that I wanted to pursue a creative and artistic path professionally. There wasn’t a time in life where I didn’t know that about myself. That is pretty insane because who knows at ages 4,5 and 6 who they want to be and then actually becomes that person as an adult?! As a child I was always fascinated with Artistic abilities; singing, makeup, drawing, coloring, fashion, acting, you name it. And I was naturally good at all of those things but what came to me the most naturally was Makeup application. I would watch my mom, my grandmother, and my aunt put on makeup, put together the most elegant, beautiful outfits, and their hair always looked so perfect and I just couldn’t wait to grow up to do that too! I always wanted to look as beautiful and elegant as they looked.
In middle school I would steal my moms eyeliner and go to school and apply it along with brown lipliner and clear gloss, which is my signature lip till this very day! Once I was considered “of age” and I was allowed to wear makeup to school, I would spend all of my spare money on makeup! I always made sure my makeup, hair and nails were on point in school. I was definitely known as that girl that was always on point. That’s when friends started taking notice of the fact that I could do makeup and unbenounced to me, this is when my career actually began…

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers

I officially started my professional career as a Makeup Artist in 2014 when I was hired as a Beauty “On-Call” for MAC Cosmetics inside of Nordstrom. It was during this time that I started doing makeup on the side as a side hustle to supplement my income. I had no idea that this little side hustle was going to lead to me building a sustainable business and career as a Professional Makeup Artist. So many people questioned whether or not I could actually make a living being a Makeup Artist.”Friends” wanted makeup for free because they said I charged too much and didn’t see my makeup business as a legitimate business or service worth paying for. I even had someone I thought I would marry, leave me, questioning whether or not I would ever make more than what I was making working at Nordstrom and if makeup could actually provide a “living” or what they considered to be a good living. All of this doubt was so hurtful but it fueled (excuse my french) the fuck out of me!
The doubt and lack of respect for what I do from the people who were supposed to be my biggest supporters, made me work harder, made me more disciplined and made me hungrier. After paying bills, all of my extra money went into building my kit with quality and luxury products, education,and business classes specific to my industry. I networked and connected with like minded Artists and people who understood my gifts who were willing to help me grow as an Artist and business woman in the Beauty industry.
Because of this discipline and amazing people who God strategically placed in my path to help me along the way, I have been able to become a full time Makeup Artist and businesswoman.
In 2020 I opened a Beauty Studio to service clients during COVID-19, I’ve worked with Disney, iHeartRadio, Lizzo, Dove Cameron and was featured in Munaluchi Bridal Magazine.
Throughout my career I have provided makeup services for Bridal and special occasion clients. As I continue to grow and strive to achieve new milestones, I have moved to LA to dive deeper into providing makeup services for tv and film productions. With my work on Disney Princess Remix Special being one of my proudest moments to date, I am excited and eager for this new chapter in a new city and getting into production work full time. Let’s see where this next chapter takes me…

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

The BIGGEST thing that society can do to best support Artists and Creatives is to PAY for our services and crafts. The most frustrating and hurtful thing as an Artist is to pour your heart and soul into something only for people to devalue it as being worth $0.00 just because it’s a product of Art.
The results of our gifts still require an investment on our behalf for materials and most importantly our time and years of experience and skill set.
It is not fair for what we do to be deemed worth nothing in a dollar amount just because it is something we love doing and are able to do naturally without an exerted amount of effort.
Just because Artists choose to follow the path that lights them up instead of the safe 9-5 route does not mean we do not deserve compensation for creating Art. Afterall, where would the world be without Art?

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

The most rewarding aspect of being an Artist and Creative, is FREEDOM!!!! I cannot tell you how miserable I was clocking in and out and not being in control of my life and schedule to be able to do what I am most passionate about full time. That does not mean that it is easy and smooth sailing. It still requires work, hustle, and there are times where the books are bleak, but still the freedom is priceless. I am so much happier being a fulltime Makeup Artist. Even during times of struggle,I am still so happy and there is no price in the world that one can place on freedom and happiness! Do what you love and don’t compromise on that, EVER!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.tieshawilliamsartistry.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theerealtiesha/
• Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/tiesha-williams-artistry-riverside