Kabuki

Born in the North of England, Kabuki, got his first textile design job in New York in his late teens, and became a regular at the NYC club scene. His flamboyant makeup caught the eye of Patricia Field and she asked him to become the primary makeup artist on Sex and the city. 

He has worked with everyone including, Lady Gaga, Katy Perry, Rihanna, Madonn, Uma Thurman and photographers including Steven Klien and Terry Richardson. His work has spanned all the fashion magazines as well, such as American, Italian and Paris Vogue, Elle, Harper's Bazaar, and Marie Clare. 

I really like his early club kid makeup, as it is very over the top, and quite boy George-like. 

Kabuki Starshine 1

Kabuki Starshine 2

I think that it is interesting how he creates these characters, and isn't afraid of what he looks like. I think this is a very valuable to me as it reminds me that sometimes, it is good to go a little bit crazy. He also said in an interview with makeup forever that, 

    'I fell in with this theatre group, and got cast as a fish. That fish makeup then ended up on Karen Elson in Italian Vogue years later.'

      He then went on to say 'these things that you do for yourself, it's all worthwhile. It's good to have a work ethic, even when you don't have a job. Because you'll have a job eventually.'  (Makeup Forever, 2014)

I really like how Kabuki uses his past influences and experiences to create high fashion looks that are current today. It is something that I think is very important as a makeup artist, as anything and anyone, including yourself can influence your work at anytime.

1.Kabuki Starshine 1. (2014). [image] Available at: https://www.google.co.uk/search?biw=1366&bih=643&tbm=isch&sa=1&q=kabuki+starshine&oq=kabuki+star&gs_l=img.1.0.0l3.308610562.308614248.0.308615711.11.9.2.0.0.0.180.690.7j2.9.0.msedr...0...1c.1.58.img..3.8.460.3YO0R9XlOBE&dpr=1&cad=cbv&sei=zOiFVOHDCYuBU43MgvAP#facrc=_&imgdii=_&imgrc=-DZcXspGoNzP8M%253A%3BKcy3aCRNAt25NM%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fmedia-cache-ak0.pinimg.com%252F736x%252Fd1%252Ff9%252F96%252Fd1f996a564f38ec549b67513efcc1362.jpg%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fpixgood.com%252Fkabuki-starshine.html%3B307%3B400 [Accessed 4 Dec. 2014].

2.Kabuki Starshine 2. (2014). [image] Available at: https://www.google.co.uk/search?biw=1366&bih=643&tbm=isch&sa=1&q=kabuki+starshine&oq=kabuki+star&gs_l=img.1.0.0l3.308610562.308614248.0.308615711.11.9.2.0.0.0.180.690.7j2.9.0.msedr...0...1c.1.58.img..3.8.460.3YO0R9XlOBE&dpr=1&cad=cbv&sei=zOiFVOHDCYuBU43MgvAP#facrc=_&imgdii=_&imgrc=0mCVEGk_jXaiOM%253A%3BsGLY9mvg2wHZdM%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Ffarm8.staticflickr.com%252F7172%252F6538581055_d1715e1462_b.jpg%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fwww.puticlubq.com%252F2011%252F12%252Fkabuki-starshine.html%3B362%3B500 [Accessed 4 Dec. 2014].

3.Makeup Forever, (2014). Kabuki: Pro Makeup artist interview with MAKEUP FOREVER. [image] Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rTVMNpz5XHI [Accessed 4 Dec. 2014].

4.Mole, T. and Mole, T. (2010). The Interview – Kabuki. [online] The Makeup Mole. Available at: http://www.makeupmole.com/the-interview-kabuki/ [Accessed 4 Dec. 2014].

5.swingin'sam.designs, s. and swinginsam, s. (2014). kabuki magic - biography. [online] Kabukimagic.com. Available at: http://www.kabukimagic.com/biography.php [Accessed 2 Dec. 2014].

6.SWINGIN'SAM.DESIGNS, S. E. AND SWINGINSAM, S. E., (2014). Mood board images. [image] Available at: http://www.kabukimagic.com/ [Accessed 4 Dec. 2014].