Meet Sandy Springs Makeup Artist: McKenzie Mann

Today we’d like to introduce you to McKenzie Mann.

McKenzie, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
As far back as I can remember, I was always the girl all my friends asked to do their makeup. “It’s so easy for you because you paint.”, they would say. My interests have been spread all across visual fine arts for my entire life. Those interests led me to SCAD Savannah where I completed a BFA in Interior Design with a minor in Architectural History. While I was in school my side job was working at Sephora. There, I really began to delve into product and brand knowledge and my interest in beauty skyrocketed. It consumed all of the very little free time I had actually. My studio professor my senior year, begged me to quit Sephora and work somewhere more related to my major even if it was just for a few hours a week. But I refused. Amidst all the stress and studio work I was consumed with, that little bit of time I spent each week exploring the cosmetic universe kept me sane.

After graduating, I worked in a design firm for a year, during which I started a written beauty blog to share looks I created and favorite products. After about 6 months of friends begging me to start a Youtube channel, I decided to switch over from a written blog to making videos. It also became very apparent to me that while I would always love design and architecture, my passion for exploring makeup artistry was becoming paramount. I knew I had to leave the design world and make a new start exploring that passion to the fullest. That was over two years ago and now I am proud to say I have gained just shy of 24,000 subscribers and 2 million views. I am more proud of they type of community my channel has cultivated online; one that is open-minded to artistic expression instead of looking for robotic, overdone beauty content. They let me be myself and share with them the faces I see in my dreams, no matter how eccentric.

After leaving the design world, I went to work for RAW Bronzing Studio in Midtown Atlanta. Along with being the Lead Makeup Artist, I also did a host of other creative duties (social media & web marketing, store design, even building fixtures for a new location). It was a wonderful place to build my clientele and name in Atlanta as an MUA. Eventually the inevitable happened and we outgrew each other. While it was sad to leave the team, the owner and I both agreed it was time. Now, I am a full-time freelancer and owner of my own business. Which feels amazing, and I am even more inspired to push harder and further into other unexplored areas of my artistry.

Has it been a smooth road?
No road worth taking is always smooth. I have definitely encountered bumps. People that can’t see the dream I have for myself, internet trolls, the ups and downs of balancing a freelance lifestyle… but they are all worth it. I work endless hours to better myself as an artist and business owner. The work ethic that SCAD and my parents instilled in me has helped me over the hurdles, but the drive is something I have to keep alive myself. I do everything I can to never be complacent and to put new bends in my path.

Who, or what, deserves a lot of credit for where you are today?
The internet famous quote, “Art school taught me that my greatest tool is myself.”, really resonates with me for this question. While they did not teach me my current profession, I have to give credit to SCAD Savannah for showing me in the rawest form what I was made of. It wasn’t always a pretty process, but it was vital in my growth as an artist and professional. The building arts department (along with many others) is brutal, in the best possible way. They pushed me further mentally, physically, and emotionally than I have ever been. Because of the high expectations and alternative academic experience, I was able to stretch my mind and surprise myself quarter after quarter with things I never thought I could do. I also was able to experience other thought processes, cultures, and art forms.

It was the hardest four years of my life, and when it came time to make the scary jump in careers. I didn’t necessarily know how I was going to do it, but I knew I could because of my prior experiences there. But I also have to thank my experience at SCAD for introducing me to a core group of the most talented people I have ever met. A group who cheer me on and inspire me everyday to push myself and think bigger, a group I am proud to call my best friends.

What type of clients or projects do you look forward to most?
While I love my bridal and beauty clients, my favorite projects are always what is considered “creative makeups”. I can really push my concepts and explore alternative application processes with these looks. They also give me a chance to collaborate with other artists from various fields, such as film, photography, and fine arts. I love telling a visual story with my looks. My sketchbooks are full right now preparing for future endeavors; I have a self-produced digital magazine/concept book in my sights for the next big thing.

If you had to go back in time and start over, would you have done anything differently?
Nothing, I am happy to have experienced the mistakes as well as successes in my past. They have all shaped my artistry and who I am today.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.mckenziemann.com
• Instagram: @gnomebusiness
• Other: www.youtube.com/mckenziepmann

Image Credit:
Photo applying lip liner to a bride, and the bride looking in the mirror: these are both by Amber Cather Photography.