Meet Joanna Faivre | Makeup Artist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Joanna Faivre and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Joanna, how do you think about risk?
I think life is meant to be lived. So risk is part of the process. When I started doing makeup I was a waitress, going back to school at 25 to be an artist in an overcrowded industry was a risk, but I thought : worst case scenario, I will be a waitress again and I ll be fine. I was blessed to work at a good rhythm in Paris when I moved to America. It was a risk, because I had built a steady clientele in France, and like I said, it’s an overcrowded industry. But I thought again, worst case scenario in the US, I book a flight and I go home. I am someone that takes decisions based solely on my intuition, not logically, so risk is part of my everyday life. I think we have a short term on this planet, so just like a kid I want to play in the meantime!

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
What I am the most proud about is being able to get out of the 9hour shift for somebody else’s dream. Waking up everyday to be an artist, work for me and decide of my own schedule is a freedom I cannot describe. It was not easy to get there, I had to fight for my space under the sun and many times I wanted to quit. I provided a lot of hours and efforts for very little result, I can say I am comfortable now, but I am still miles away from my objectives.
The challenges are keeping the faith when you are rejected over and over again, until the door eventually opens.
The lessons I have learned are to be kind with everybody, because you never know who is going to open that door, and find that balance between working for your goals and loosing up from time to time. You gotta give the Universe some space to meet you halfway.
What I want the world to know is really be kind to yourself and do not loose your individuality. Many times we are tempted to adapt to every trend and every correct steps to climb professionnaly, but at the end when you are an artist it is the unconventional part of you that will make you shine and succeed! If you look at it closely, every star had a unique path to get where they are, they did not follow no rules but theirs!

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I would take them to unexpected places. I feel like people would instinctly go to Hollywood and Beverly Hills but there so much to see in Los Angeles. Like yes the Santa Monica Pier is iconic, but have you been to El Matador beach? I would definitely take them to Malibu first, the hikes, the sunset, the ocean are all incredible!
As far as food I would start by In&Out, then a classic diner like Mel drive’s In, and maybe a fancy bite at Ysabel in West Hollywood. I would also take them downtown in the art district area, the 6th street bridge and we would have to have street tacos and walk around! I would then take them to Hollywood Lake Park for the best view of the Hollywood sign, and to the iconic scenic view in Mulholland drive.
As far as visits, I think the Getty Museum, the Lacma and even a celebrity bus tour to see the beautiful mansions.
One of my favorite sunset scene is also Elysian Park in Silverlake, this neighborhood has such cute coffee shops and thrift stores!
And I think I would end the trip with a boat tour for whales and dolphins watching.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Oh so many people along the way! First of all my parents, who are ok with whatever I want to do and wherever I choose to live. My mother is my assistant, cheerleader, accountant and so on!

I have so many people to thank in the industry, but without the photographers my work would be misrepresented. So I will start with them, Margaux Rodriguez, Marie Rouge, Ami Colberg, JF Julian, Hernan Rodriguez are the ones I had great experiences with. They helped me get published, seen by the public and captured my work with an open eye, and an open mind to my ideas.

About mentorship, I would not be who I am without what I call my makeup mums! Other makeup artists with decades of experience that opened doors for me, showed me how it works and trusted me to be part of their team. The first one was my makeup teacher Asma Abid, then followed by good hearted Tina Rovere and Maya Benamer.

I cannot imagine my work without the models, I want to give a big shoutout to all the artists, actors, dancers and models that allowed me to work on them. I always say, because it’s true, it’s not the makeup that is beautiful, it’s how you wear it!

Last but not least, I want to thank all the people that opened doors for me without anything to gain from it, and I was blessed to encounter a lot of them, Haya Maraka, Helene Plissoneau, Talia Bella, Axandra Tuil, Ed Solanzaro to name some of them, but in reality it’s hundreds of people.

And If I am allowed to quote Snoop Dogg, I want to end by thanking me for doing all this hard work and never quitting!

Instagram: joannafaivre.makeup

Other: joannafaivre.makeup@gmail.com for inquires and booking!

Image Credits
Marie rouge Sarah Desti Margaux Rodriguez Vincent DeMarly Ami Colberg