Today we’d like to introduce you to Somica Spratley.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Somica. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
There were a few factors that sent me down this path, my aunt showed me how to do my makeup and my father bought my first camera. But it was mostly my mother’s influence. She did some catalog modeling when she was younger. I would flip through fashion magazines, copying the models’ poses and facial expressions. She also loves films and how they are created especially horror. If I was not dancing or pretending to be on a runway, I was watching a scary movie (lots of sci-fi too). It was no surprise to her that I was fascinated with “weird” kinds of art, considering we often watched “The Making of Thriller” documentary together. In high school, I participated on the dance team, mixed chorus, and art club. I attempted theatre (that didn’t last long) and was in fashion shows and our high school pageant. I loved being able to change my look and express myself in other ways. I was probably about 15 or 16 when I decided I wanted to be a makeup artist. I became engulfed with everything makeup and performance. For years, I practiced on myself & friends and took the most amateur photographs on my Kodak Easy Share.
I went to Florida when I was 23 and took a program available at Toxic Image Studio. I didn’t have much luck getting any work after completing it, so I continued to practice on myself and tighten up on the basics. I had always loved film & photography so I took a certificate program at a community college. I wasn’t sure if I wanted a degree in the film but I wanted to get better with a camera. After completing it, I enrolled at the Aveda Institute for my esthetician license. I maintained a 4.0 GPA, perfect attendance, and was a member of the student council. I even provided photographers to assist with portfolio building. Despite being top of my class, the school did not allow me to complete my hours. It was devastating. But I was resilient on my path.
Between the programs, I came across the Birmingham Media Networking Group (BMNG). I attended their first meetup almost entirely of photographers and quickly built an official portfolio, I was the only makeup artist present in its first year. From BMNG, I met a photographer with an aesthetic like no one else in the area and teamed up with him in the alternative scene. I did makeup on his shoots, then started modeling with him and promoting his music events. That helped to expand my work, but I wanted to work at a beauty counter again. I finally got on with MAC Cosmetics after they lifted their two-year hiring freeze. I will never forget that moment. Artists know that working for MAC is like hitting a gold mine. I was there for three and a half years. During that time, I spoke at Paul Mitchell Academy twice, trained at a James Ryder boot camp, was the beauty editor for Prysm Magazine, and the makeup designer for a dark circus themed fashion show held at the city’s historic Sloss Furnaces. After MAC, around 2013, I can recall myself and several people within my circle, struggling to find jobs. I spent my time volunteering at the Sidewalk Film Festival, making my own personal “makeup stories” and writing my first film outside of school. It later debuted there and was recognized on the Horror Noire Syllabus. Things seemed to be coming together, but I was only doing makeup part time until a lead position landed in my lap. I threw caution to the wind and quit my steady retail job with its predictable income. 4 months later, it paid off. In September 2017, I was accepted into the IATSE Local 798 Union. That snowball continues with more publications and credits under networks I could have only dreamed of working with and now teaching workshops for Sidewalk. I feel like I am just getting started. I have yet to reach my most desired goals, but I am so grateful to be where I am.
Great, 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?
It has not been a smooth road starting out or even now. Growing up in Virginia, my biggest obstacle was finding the right resources and hands-on training. The most reputable schools at the time were either in New York or California, with few in between. I spent much of my time in libraries’ books. The internet was not as vast as it is now. Eventually, around 2005, I found a short program that fit my needs. It was only a month long, but it covered exactly what wanted to learn, and it was a fraction of the cost compared to other programs. But, it was in Florida. I stayed in contact with the instructor anyway and a good thing I did. The universe intervened, I moved to Alabama in 2006 and took the program a year and a half later.
I finally had some training under my belt, but then I came back with another set of issues that I still encounter to this day: that being, the discrimination and racism of the South. Not to say that there wasn’t any back home in Virginia, but I live near a military base. It was a melting pot. It made no difference whether it was before or after I was an established makeup artist, or if I was working makeup at all, I experienced my share of exclusion. During the years when I was only doing makeup part time and supporting myself with a retail or service job, I had been let go from quite a few employers because of my race. In the film world, I’ve encountered directors that would only bring me on board because they liked my physical traits. That happened on the first feature that I ever worked on. I was so naïve going into it because I needed and wanted the set experience and film credit.
After that, I focused on small short films and collecting fashion tear sheets. That film left such an impression that I did not work on another feature full time until 2017. I had built up some interesting credits at this point and had worked on enough sets to get a better view than what I had initially. I was offered the lead makeup position for an A24 movie. It came with some other lessons as a first-time key, but it created a new momentum in my career. That same year, I received Union membership. Working under Union contracts provides protection, but I frequently speak about the lack of diversity on sets. Union and indie. Since that key position, I have worked on 11 features and a TV pilot. The pilot was the only production that had predominately African American cast and crew. I’m not sure if it is a lack of experience or relatable content, but the representation of people of color is extremely low. This industry, like others, will always have its politics. It doesn’t get smoother, but it does get a little easier to navigate through by being vocal about it.
Please tell us about your business.
I freelance as a makeup artist for commercial, print, and film. I specialize in corrective, beauty, editorial, and prosthetic applications. I think having a range of skills has made me stand out and I am quite proud of that because I love working with different mediums. I love the technical aspect of perfecting the skin and also making prosthetics, but I love to experiment with colors and textures and work organically. I would say that people know me for clean skin, avant-garde looks, and trauma effects. I do a fair amount of small special effects, but it is not where I intended to stay in terms of prosthetic work. I wanted to make monsters and fantasy characters. What I miss doing is combining elements and creating something different. I do make some things like horns and cheekbones (Maleficent) but I mainly produce injuries to mimic cuts and swollen eyes. I also fabricate props, masks, face decals, and nails. I once had a client request a piece to cover some scarring. Outside of makeup, I have had some character roles in shorts, music videos, and dance performances. Mixing media has always inspired me. I look forward to getting back to my creative conceptual roots and seeing how my artistry & business will unfold and evolve this year.
Is there a characteristic or quality that you feel is essential to success?
I think I can attribute my success in the beginning to the advice from my instructor while I was in Florida. He explained that it was about being mindful of your reputation. Mistakes and accidents will happen, but how you handle yourself during those times is what people will remember most about you. Taking direction well, being open to learning, recovering when things do happen and being easy to work with would get you referred again. His words have stayed with me throughout my entire career and are a constant reminder for where I need improvement. Every interaction or job is a learning experience and a chance to show your growth in the next one. I think my success now continues from being persistent and having the support of my friends and family. Particularly my mother’s inherent belief in me, I want her to be proud.
- Website: www.somicaspratley.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/somicaspratley
Image Credit:
Jaysen Michael, Liesa Cole, Eric Dejuan Evans, and Josh Counsel.
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