Author Archives: cs136198

By: Crystal Simbudyal

Listen: Francisco Catedral, the man of many trades

Whether he was working part-time at a Verizon store or providing client services at Sephora in his hometown in Virginia, Francisco Catedral was always day-dreaming about painting faces in New York City. He didn’t know when it started, his passion for makeup. But by age 12, he knew he loved playing with color and cosmetic products. His mother only curled her lashes, from what he can remember, but it fascinated him. Intrigued, he would practice his choice of art on his cousins.

Catedral demonstrates to participants during his private smokey eye seminar.

Despite having three degrees in Science, Applied Science Computer and Information, and Information technology with a minor in Business, Catedral had been juggling two jobs during college and wasn’t happy. It wasn’t long before Catedral was laid off from Verizon. He still had Sephora under his belt. He had been working there, four and a half years. Catedral being laid off, was the push he needed to risk it all and move to New York City to follow his dream. Ever since then, he has been hustling, grinding and working non-stop. He is now a full time makeup artist, skincare esthetician and lash artist.

“Whatever field it is you have a passion for. If you have a vision make it happen, and bring it to reality,” Catedral said at his studio.
“It doesn’t feel like work to me because I love what I’m doing,” says Catedral.

For about two years, he also taught at Christine Valmy, an esthetics school that’s has been around for 60 years. Although he loved working there, he felt that there wasn’t much growth opportunity for him.“That is part of the reason I wanted to move on. I now have a little more freedom to do more than what I was doing at the school,” he says.

Catedral now owns his own studio, Francisco Catedral Lash and Beauty Studio. He also trains at JB Lashes in his free time. He is the only trainer on the east coast for JB Lashes. At his own space, he has been giving one class a week. They are small, three-hour seminars and they are free.

A recent participant in his smokey eye seminar was eager to go home and practice what she had just learned. “I’ve learned so much. Just from the basics of how to shadow the eye, prime the eye. I’ve been totally clueless about lining the eye. I didn’t even know the whole function of it. Looking like a raccoon for a very long time and coming here and getting the proper technique on how to do a smokey eye, please, I’ma be ready for the party tomorrow,” said Mia Bounsell, wearing a bold eyeshadow look, applied by another participant of the seminar.

Walking around the room, Catedral gave individual feedback to the woman applying makeup on each other. “When I started I wanted to give back. Whether it is a newbie or a former student that wants a refresher,” Catedral said.

His classes touch on a variety of different subjects. They are meant equally for aspiring makeup artists and people looking to practice applying makeup for personal use.

“2014, this was one of my focuses, here at the studio. I’m working towards something bigger,” Catedral says.
A former peer, who worked with Francisco during his Body of Art internship, decided to take advantage of attending his smokey eye seminar to brush up on her skills.

“Today’s class was great. It was my first class with Francisco. He is a very informative, experienced educator. I thoroughly enjoyed it. I have to take lots more and I can’t wait to come back,” Karina Rich said.

Catedral gets his clients through word-of-mouth and he has recently started to rely on social media. At first he was against promoting his work online because he didn’t feel he has the time for social networking. He later changed his mind because of his fellow peers demanding to see his work.

“Social media is very important. It helps you to stay relevant. I use those social media platforms to promote my work, show people what I’m doing. Whether I’m working on set, the type of products I’m showcasing. A lot of people are interested on what products are being used. I’ve been getting some great feedback. I get students that come back that have known me since the time I started teaching at Christine Valmy,” Catedral said.
Three years have gone by in what feels like the blink of an eye, he added.

“What I’ve accomplished, it hasn’t hit me yet, having my own studio. But I see the reaction that I get from some of my students in the past. I hope that what I do inspire others. This is just the beginning for me,” Catedral said. “I have so much more to accomplish.”

CLICK HERE TO SEE:

 https://vimeo.com/94985901

Slideshow of the seminar, hands-on

Sitting behind a white, wooden desk, cluttered in paper, Nicole Robinson 28, CEO of Gloss and Glam works with her team of makeup artists and hair stylists at her office in Uptown Manhattan.

For this assignment, I am interested in doing a podcast featuring makeup artists who work freelance jobs such as bridal, runway and photo shoots. I want to do get in on the inside of the business. How it works, whether artists need to get certified or not, building their kits to use doing their projects. I hope their is some sort of difference because I want to focus of those three types of artists. I would also like to talk with photographers and learn more about how they work with makeup artists and reach out to them. What do they look to achieve when taking photos for the makeup artists.

https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1-b-zUzQBf2tM4kd9lIoHz5OlQZ7SXE3ZGP9RruQh5W4/pub?start=false&loop=false&delayms=3000

For the photo essay assignment, I am interested in doing “a day in the life of” of a professional makeup artist. To see how they prepare, what it’s like helping people prepare for special events. I have a few people in mind. A professor of mine that I had classes with when I went to Christine Valmy. He has recently opened up his practice where he conducts Spanish and English classes to artists wanted to learn how to perfect their makeup artistry skills.

I am also thinking in getting in touch with a local artist that has to cover a big event and asking them to cover them during their journey, the experience will be very visual especially in a field like this so this is Definitely  exciting. It’s just a matter of time for me to get in touch with the right people.

I am interested in writing about makeup artists. I currently work as a artist freelancing and part time at Sephora. Apart from painting faces, I have came across a lot of talented artists, who also have a creative side to them.

Artists have to have soft skills in order to engage with clientele. That sometimes entitles listening to other peoples problems, lending an ear and sometimes just making them feel good about themselves by enhancing their beauty. I have recently met some amazing artists who are entrepreneurs trying to establish their own businesses in the media. They are trying to build a reputation for themselves in the world. I think they all have a story to tell because of their struggle, the competition out there and the skills they have to offer. Interviews can vary from hair stylist and makeup artist.

I remember researching makeup artists and there was not much on them online which made it difficult for me to learn anything about them. Hopefully my research and reporting will be a gateway for someone else interested in learning more about makeup artistry.