Meet SouthWest Atlanta Artist and Body Painter: Christina Gibbs

Today we’d like to introduce you to Christina Gibbs.

Christina, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
I have always had a passion for drawing, Comic books, video games and Art since I was a child. Cartoons and Anime were always my favorite growing up. The amount of details and imagination that goes with it, was amazing to me. I especially love movies with Special Effects makeup. Im the type that always looks up the behind the scene footage online and on DVDs. I still feel the 80’s had the best things when it came to makeup and Special effects because everything was washed away with CGI like it is now. I feel that takes away from the artist work. And its truly some great artist right now. Jim Henson was just awesome. I loved everything he did. He had such an imagination. My favorite movie ever was Labyrinth. I love Fantasy art and movies. But, I could go on about that.

Life just has a way of changing things, and I stopped drawing or enjoying anything pertaining to art or things in general for that matter. I honestly thought I lost my craft. Because so many years passed. A past relationship actually helped me gain some of what I thought I lost back when It came to my art. I’m forever grateful for that. As years went on I slowly started to find me again. Watching YouTube videos and reading books, inspired me to try a lot of things. That’s how I got into sculpting. I saw quite a few pics and videos online on face painting/ makeup and thought “Hmmm I can do that”, So I did. Practice was my new besti. A lot of my work was a major fail in my eyes, but my cheerleaders kept me focused encouraging me to try this, or say I’ll be good at that. Friends on my social media pages would tagg me in different pictures and videos to inspire me or they just knew without a doubt I could so it. So that helped a lot.

I never really thought I would be into Makeup because I didn’t wear it. But I learned you can do so much with makeup, you just need imagination. Plus its a good stress reliever too.

Has it been a smooth road?
No, I had things happen to me that was out of my control. So I suffered a lot from Depression and Anxiety. I surprise my self sometimes on how I manage to get through things. But, I’m still making it, despite everyday struggles no one knows I’m dealing with. Even now.

When you look back, can you point to a period when you wanted to quit or a period that was really frustrating?
Yes. I mean we all have that image in your head as to where we want to be. Especially when we get to a certain age. Life has been difficult for me. When I get to that place of “Up” I fall back down 5 more feet. So its a number of times I wanted to just give up completely, including on Life. Sometimes its the smallest things like watching cartoons that help pick me back up and be inspired to try again. Me keeping in mind “Everyday isn’t a bad day” or “This is just temporary” Kept me going. With the love and prayers from my mama, brother, and close friends. Which is a blessing, because some people have no one to turn to. So I’m blessed. More so my desires to be able to make my own money. Buy myself something to eat when I want to. A lot of people don’t think about how much of a blessing it is to be able to do that. Making a living enjoying what I love, is something that keeps me going always.

Let’s change gears – is there any advice you’d like to give?
Be yourself. Sure, its a lot of people in the world who can draw, cook, sew and do same things you can do. But the difference is YOU. You’re your own brand. You can get your makeup done for $150 from Amy down the street, but people would come two states over just for you and you charging $250 because what you bring to the table when it comes to your craft. We are our own worst critic. I’m guilty of that. But I also know I’m good at what I do. When you stop comparing your gifts to the next, that’s when the problem start. Be comfortable enough to be you, even when you surrounded by people who can dance, cook and draw like you. Reality is, they aren’t you.

Is there something you are particularly excited about or working towards?
Having my own business when it comes to selling my art. Working in a movie studio doing special effects makeup. Just living knowing I’m waking up everyday working doing what I love embraceing my Talents.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.etsy.com/shop/mzchriscreatez
• Phone: 678-914-2337
• Email: mzchriscreatez@yahoo.com
• Instagram: mzchriscreatez
• Facebook: Mz Chris Makeup Creationz
• Other: Mz Chris Art