Today we’d like to introduce you to Kathleen Padgett.
Hi Kathleen, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I have also had a curiosity about makeup. It started in middle school and I would wear bright blue eyeshadow on my eyelids. Growing up in my teens, it was always about eyeshadow. My senior year in high school I asked for a set of MAC makeup brushes for Christmas. I used to watch YouTube tutorials on how to create the perfect purple smokey eye. I started picking up tips and tricks and began collecting makeup products. While I loved my makeup and creating eyeshadow looks, I proceeded to go to school for my Marketing Degree. I attended a community college first to receive my associate’s degree and that is when I became distracted with cosmetology schools. College wasn’t easy to me and I didn’t enjoy it, however, there was no way my parents going to let me pause my pursuit for my marketing degree to attend another school. So fast forward, I graduated from Kennesaw State University with a degree in marketing. I was working different sales and event marketing-based jobs. Everything still seemed really hard, like I still didn’t fit in. I waited tables in between jobs and finally connected with an old classmate who brought me in to interview at a 3D Printing company where I was hired to do inside sales. It was my first time working in an actual office, all my previous jobs were on location or out in the field. It was TERRIBLE, I didn’t fit in at all, I had blue ombre hair and was so shy on the phone. I couldn’t relate to anyone else in the office.
I would cry in the mornings before going to work and that is when I knew I needed to live my life accordingly. I called the previous restaurant I worked at to see if they would hire me again. I had enough money to put myself through Makeup Artistry School, so I attended Studio Crush School of Makeup. I would wait tables while learning about makeup. I finished Studio Crush’s program and received a certificate Makeup Artistry in 2015. The school provided great opportunities and I was able to network and work with others in the industry. I started out doing mostly test shoots for models and a few weddings for close friends. My style has always been a very natural style of makeup. My tagline speaks to my style, “Simple, Subtle, Stunning Makeup”. I was still waiting tables while taking on makeup jobs and made a lot of contacts through the restaurant. I developed a great relationship with regulars of mine who also worked for a production company, ECG. They reached out to me one day to work on a music video with them and ever since then I have worked on a handful of projects throughout the years with them. In the beginning, I was nervous to work in the bridal industry, however after doing a handful of my close friend’s weddings, I really grew to love weddings. Weddings are so precious and it is such an honor to help a bride prepare for such an event. My main focus now days are weddings and commercial work.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
I think my biggest struggle as an artist has always been me, lol, my confidence. I think it is easy to get caught up on social media and compare yourself to other artists. When I have done that, I just felt like I was never doing enough or my work wasn’t good enough, I have to realize though, everyone has a different journey. I started my makeup career after working in a career that didn’t serve me. I was a little older than alot of my other artist friends. In the beginning, it was a little hard. I owned a home and had what I refer to as big girl bills to pay for, so I wouldn’t want to lose a shift waiting tables which I feel like in hindsight held me back from getting more practice.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I am a makeup artist specializing in bridal makeup and commercial videos. My tagline “Simple, Subtle, Stunning Makeup” sums up the style of artistry. My specialty is helping my clients look just like themselves but enhance the features that compliment them. Some of my favorite bridal looks are when I have used minimal makeup to make the bride feel her most beautiful.
Any big plans?
I have some big changes coming my way but will not disclose until it comes closer to the end of the year. I’ve started on learning more hairstyling techniques to really offer a great hair and makeup package. I still love learning and experimenting with different techniques for makeup.
Contact Info:
- Email: kathleen.artistry@gmail.com
- Website: https://www.kathleenartistry.com/
- Instagram: @kathleen_artistry
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kathleenartistry
Image Credits
Katee + Caroline Photography Mel Marie Photography Cinthya Zuniga Photography Andy Calvert Photo
