The Weekend

This weekend saw two major events in my 2012 calendar. The first being the International Make-up Artist Trade Show. Now in its 11th year the show has grown to practically fill the main hall at the Alexandra Palace in North London and as ever I was working on the educational segment of the event. This entails introducing the speakers to the guests and ensuring that they arrive on stage relaxed and ready with all their needs met.

My journey to the venue began at 6.00am and whilst it was freezing cold it was heart-warming to see one of the MAC Cosmetic boys on the Piccadilly Line on the way there. Resplendent in two fox furs to compliment his leather jacket and diamante studded boots and gloves this Piccadilly Line Peacock must have woken at at least 4.00am to have applied the full, Boy-George eye make-up including immaculately arched eyebrows. The MAC crowd always make me smile as somehow their passion for individualism renders them to all look the same.

Over the years I have had the privilege of meeting hundreds of artists at IMATS and they remain a fascinating and disparate group of people from salon workers keen to pick up the latest trends to Academy Award winning designers ready to share their knowledge with keen students. IMATS attracts an eclectic mix from the monster-makers looking at the latest innovations in silicone moulds to lipstick divas of either sex. Make-up appears to be the great leveller. It is also true that I have seen LOTS of make-up designs over the years so it is always reassuring to notice pieces that still have a spark of originality about them.

The piece below kept catching my eye - and not for the reasons you are thinking. I felt that this body paint used an interesting colour palette reflecting old tattoos and features amusing and detailed design. The artist was Ava Belle.

The current downside of IMATS is that in terms of location, it is in the arse end of nowhere. You are left to the mercy of public transport and there is nowhere close by to escape to for lunch or a drink after the show, away from the crowd. This year, I had to head off quickly anyway, as I was meeting Sean back in Crystal Palace and in the way I chatted briefly to an IMATS visitor as she was walking to the station. Apparently she had travelled for the weekend from Ghana, where she is a make-up artist - London being the nearest big trade show to her country. Wow! Suddenly Crystal Palace didn't seem so far away after all.