Showing posts with label London School of Beauty and MU. Show all posts
Showing posts with label London School of Beauty and MU. Show all posts

Tuesday, 9 August 2011

its my tuesday day-off and i can rant if i want to

hello, i am ragen chelo and i think i am pre-menopausal.. little things irk me and irritate me lately to which i do not normally blow my top off until now.

i can feel simmering expletives coming out in my chest, but i hold it in, thinking 'who would give a toss?". but recently, maybe the lack of chocolates (according to my great friend Aileen Siroy,who would put it that way) and the increase of gremlins in my peripheral view that just made me a little bit on the opposite side of the happy scale.

thank goodness, a sight of my favourite chocolate cake got hold of my top (sounds like a toupee,lol) before it totally flew a hundred miles away...

you know what blew it off the last few days?

1) rioters who pretend they are rioting because of protest but are actually opportunistic thieves to loot merchandise and wares in the city shops (then sell the items the next day for cheap price due to no warranty and no return policy).

i absolutely am disgusted with people who use other people's hard-earned money and honest living for their pleasure to destroy or for personal gains. and using a protest as a leverage. bloody scums.

annnd, if you are protesting, you dont need to hide your face under balaclavas like robbers do. England is one of the most humane countries that let people protest for any reason at all, so hiding your face just shows a totaly different intention..the thieving kind.



2) people who enquire and so eager to book me (last minute) for my services (knowing full too well that i am working too!)then cancel due to (??), sounds like they have gone out of they way to get to me yet once you tell them how much, there is some problem..whats crazy is,i go out of my way to agree to it because they are friends of friends..what's crazier is i am dirt cheap for a NVQ trained make-up artist. BECAUSE I LOVE the bloody art of make-up. i do not do it as my main occupation..but i also need it to cover my expenses for the materials and my travel cost, right? not only that, i am forgoing a day at work, so that needs compensating too right? now if you're only paying half of what it should cost normally, then you are not really 'lugi'.



here are some text and email exchanges that went on the past few days..









and the email exhanges..






***

the conversation and the agreement goes really well, until you tell them that they have to pay for it..and that, the friend who recommended me got a really (almost free) price because we are good friends... its not like theyre paying heavens,too..for a UK trained make-up artist, i am dirt-cheap, because i only need to cover travel and material cost (i give Shu Uemura false lashes, for crying out loud!!!, they get to carry with them to the event a pack of Body shop facial powder papers,and a give-away clinique lipstick/lipliner depending which items i have many of)..

i went to school for this..I was trained by BAFTA and movie make-up artist Lucretia Foley-Train and went to do a two week-NVQ two week training in London School of Beauty and Make-up. (since i can remember, i was doing family and friends/classmates make-up since i was in elementary programs to university productions til i was working in radio, and cousins' beauty pageants and proms). i did not just wake up one day, and was tld i that i do good make up by friends (friends always say they like your make-up because they are friends..you need teachers or colleagues who u are not friends with, to tell you the truth..and believe you can really do it).

i have had quite a few makeup clients and so far, they have been recommending me by word of mouth, and so far, all said, they have learned a few tricks (i teach them how to maintain it,while im at it), and i also recommend products (cheap ones) that are good which they can get thru grocery aisles if they want to.

really, a half price, for 3 people, and for me to travel all the way to the outskirts of God-knows-where (fuel prices are expensive you know),and to take a day-off paid work to do it, i think (know) i have asked right.


our time is valuable. esp if you are not doing it for 'hobby' or just 'playtime' either. when you are using serious tools and material of the trade. (saying that, i did one for free-of-charge two months ago for my uni classmate, because she was honest and told me ahead of time, that she didnt have much money, and she wanted to be beautiful for her daughter's wedding because her ex-husband was there with his new gf,and i am never one to turn down a good chance like that..serious revenge make-up face,hahaha..success btw, the gf and the ex-husband broke up,and she is getting back with the husband)


if i have to do three faces for free to people who buy expensive champagne to get sloshed from,and are earning more money than i am , id rather go to the market and enjoy my day-off on friday, and use up and enjoy my time with my the husband who rubs my feet every night and who tirelessly support me in my endeavours.

..and fyi, champagne is spelled with a G, not a Y.

Wednesday, 2 June 2010

Special one-to-one Make up class with Teacher Lu

Because we had Teacher Lu during our tailor-made two-week turned 5 fullday session,and 3 of that special one-to-one and was really satisfied with her tutelage, Ana and i thought we needed to specialize more with cinematic and photographic make-up (which we needed for photography).

Because Ana was leaving in a few days time, and we had no more days left to enroll in a class to do so, we decided to hire Lu for an extra whole day session just to specialise in the matter.


The whole day was used in great detail as Ana and i knew the basics already so we skipped that and just went straight to the nitty gritty of the two most popular make up which is constantly asked by brides and models for photoshoots which are the Retro Look and Glamour). We started at 9 Am and ended at 5 pm.


We also asked our friend Jenny (our classmate in the previous class, to be our model. We paid her with lunch and champagne at the fabulous restaurant in the hotel we were staying in. She readily agreed as she could sit in and look at what was being done to her, but she knew she should not interrupt during the session and she cant even touch the brushes to participate on the session r ask questions as she will just be 'hired' model for the day. )


It was great because while Teacher Lu did the demonstration on Jenny, Ana would do the entire thing on Jenny after cleaning out what Lu has done, and i'd do the ritual of cleansing again and do the same thing on Jenny. It was nervewracking too as Teacher Lu would stand behind and tell us off every time we've done a wrong move.


The best thing about it? Lu told us how much we should price our make up service afterwards inspecting our work. She told Ana and i that we could price it at £85-£100 session. Ana and i laughed as we knew people in (cebu) will not pay for the equivalent of that amount.


Here are some photos taken on a wonderful hotel Ana and i stayed in for two days and night for the sessions.


(all photos from the canon digicam)




teacher Lu showing us the tricks





the retro look..red lips, a must!





her finished look




my turn..






Jenny's base..Jenny is a flight attendant for British Airways.
She was supposed to be working in Athens that day, but when i called her on her phone a few days before, she rescheduled and swapped with one of her colleagues, as she said she didnt want to miss it for the world.






i was bedazzled and a little bit nervous because the teacher was being very critical






i was also explaining things for the teacher





im so intent and serious






intense and nervewracking





you can tell by her stance and her hands in the backpocket she's a bit of a madam,haha..but she's now a good friend of mine..we promised to see one another in Brighton and have a girly night out.





finishing touches





showing off my work..the teacher gave a pass mark,haha..


***

Ana did her job afterwards, but i dont remember taking pictures of her work. But i did for her afternoon work.


***

We had lunch at the hotel's popular restaurant REFUEL.

We didn't take pictures because Ana and i we were scared being told off as it was a popular hotspot for celebrities and artisits and musicians,we didnt want to be kicked out.

We enjoyed lunch and compared lives between the UK and the Philippines. Teacher Lu and Jenny were so interested to know the differences between the UK and the Philippines, and how we've come to love make up.



***

The afternoon session was easy and smooth.


It was glamour look this time.





The demonstration




Ana went first. (I had to make phone calls)






not even half done





a pose with her model





My turn





She's pensive again..in the middle of doing the eyes




Its hardwork when youre so "busog" and doing make up on a tipsy model,haha..




She's a happy bunny





show me the eyes






My work done..


***

Ana and I went to have dinner at Covent Garden after this, and watched The Lion King.

(i know, the sequence of my blogs are here, there and everywhere).

Sunday, 25 April 2010

yesterday/last night

Yesterday was overkill.

Ana and i were back to London at very early in the morning for our personalised training with our make-up teacher Lu. This was the third day of our training.

I thought because we were just the only two students, it would have been shorter and much less strenous. Boy, was i wrong. she made sure we got our money's worth and just after 5 pm.

Lu is absolutely lovely, (especially when she likes you.which i'm thankful that she does, because when i got home, i had an invite at FB to become her friend,yayy! starstruck!). And thats not the only thing too, she and i were chatting the whole time during the class, and obviously more yesterday when it was just her, myself and the sis. she was asking me questions about my life and whether i should continue to do make up as a profession). She encouraged us to continue it, and said that Ana has beautiful strokes for glamour and fashion make-up (the eyes her forte, and mine, getting the foundation spot on and the eyebrows "exquisite"--and funny enough, doing the "wedding make up" LOL).

She also gave us tips on how to price our work and gave us wonderful funny anecdotes about the celebrities she's done faces for (plus insider tips on the 'kit' to start us off--and not everything is designer brands).

The best thing was: she trained us how to do 'false eyelashes' the proper way (not drag queen way). But of course, the drag queen eyelashes were taught in context to when to use it (for cinematic/photographic look).

During the breaks, Ana was busy facebooking on her phone (while munching her muffin,and i was just too hungry to concentrate on anything else).



***

London was extremely hot yesterday, and i was sweating like pig. It felt like i was in the philippines back again. Ana said, she regretted bringing her coat as it was boiling.

At the end of the day, we headed straight home, so unusual to our nightly stroll around Picadilly circus and Bond street for some (mini) shopping for cosmetics. (Ana's make up kit is getting pretty full!).

Last night, we headed straight home to catch some nap (looong day) before a boozy barbeque at cheryl's garden in honour of her sister Pam.

Unfortunately, the nap didnt happen. Adrian was in the garden toiling, and said us girls should make the most of Ana's last week in the UK. So Ana and i decided to do some girly bonding (again!) at Lakeside as per A's orders.


***

some photos from the alcohol infested night at Cheryl's and Glenn's. (They thought of having a barbeque as Cheryl's sister is leaving for South Africa a week after Ana )

they are like my family here in the UK and we just enjoy one another's company so much.


***

some photos...

(iphone)

the sister was tipsy..we blame cheryl for instilling the sister with a taste for expensive champangne, because everytime we go to their house, thats all they serve Ana as drink. they said one boring sister who doesnt drink is enough.lol.

*
we love the outdoor fire..sure kept us warm last night.






okay, thats just pretend drinking..someone has to carry Ana's drink while she takes the photo,LOL.

*
were such a strong group. they might visit us in the Philippines some time soon.







**

(canon digicam)

dancing to some South African song..=)





i wanted a photo with a Vsign. i was indulged.




***

i have so many stories to tell. the spell has gone.

Mai was right. just write, then things will flow.

**

have a beautiful evening..

like you always do.x



love,laughter, and positive chakras,

Rx


Thursday, 22 April 2010

for tonight

my plate is full. i am ever grateful and tired.

the sister (who we enrolled in january to a make-up course in London--you need time for the paper preps which is needed to prove health and eligibility to study in the country) and i have finally started our make-up course today.

after all the drama of changing the times and schedules from 2 weeks to 3 full days, because of my embarassing cough and lack of voice, we couldn't start as planned. (they are very big on health and safety,lol).

thank goodness, the school was sympathetic of changing our times and put us together with the fulltime-2day people and a 1 whole day 1-to-1 with a lecturer (special consideration only,LOL), as they cannot refund my/our two week payment.

the scary thing is, we didn't know what we put ourselves into. it is full on! (we only wanted a small scale makeup course but we didnt realise we ended up doing a 30 credit points/foundation NVQ)

the projects and the assignments are big (as its a 30 credit points/NVQ level) to get the MAKE-UP ARTIST degree from a prestigious London college.

Ana will have to do her exams in two years time, while i do mine, probably next year--(ambitious, considering its my OT thesis due next year).

Apart from the practical exam, we have to submit a portfolio assignment of 30 make-ups. (10 wedding look, 10 day make up, 10 night make up, of all skin colours: light, medium,dark/and all ages too/young,mature..) and a written assignment/project before you can qualify to come and contact them and do the exam in the school.

Our teacher is BAFTA make up artist, and generally works in films and magazines. Quite strict and meticulous. i was shivering in my brogues,lol. She was unashamedly promoting her latest film to us, (with Sean Bean--of Lady Chatterly's Lover fame), which is due next week, and urged us to watch it.

I will post more photos tomorrow as we weren't allowed to do photos today. I took a few when the teacher wasnt looking.


i hope you guys enjoyed your day like i did mine.

(although, i wish it wasnt as hectic ..the only downside to this course: being squashed in london tubes very early in the morning to get to Oxford Circus. and not having enough breaktimes.).

here's a link to the school :



***


photos taken by my iphone



cleansing,toning,moisturising..we were partners today,but tomorrow we will be paired with other girls.
*
the classmates are in pairs too




London Aesthetiques' complete make up brushes. We were not allowed to use our own make up and old brushes due to contamination. Ultra clean is the motto of the day.
*
Ana talking to some classmates about foundation.






we were taught all types of skin tone, skin colour and colour correction..
choosing the correct foundation, concealing, day and night make up
the sis, being cleansed, and prepped

*

evened-out skin using a combination of different skin colour foundation




the vast array of makeup
*
all for us to use..






tomorrow, it will be wedding and glamour make-up look...on at least two different skin/colour tones

oh girls and their toys!