UpClose with aspiring teacher and makeup artist … Maryse Camille “Art is a big part of my life and it will always be” |07 February 2017

Maryse Berina Camille is a Taurus who is not afraid to express herself through art. This self taught artist is a confident and creative 20 year old with big dreams and a knack for living outside the box which society has created to be the norm.

She grew up in Belvedere, a sub district of Plaisance and attended Mont Fleuri primary and secondary school.

She currently lives in Perseverance 2 with her mother Doris Freminot nee Morel and two siblings Kiesha and Samuel Morel.

Education

 “I attended the National Institution of Health and Social Services (NIHSS) for a diploma in nursing, but after a semester I made a transfer because I discovered that nursing wasn't my calling.

In the year 2014, I started my studies at Seychelles Institute of Art and Design (SIAD) following the fine art course for 3 years. I did my advanced certificate for two years followed by a diploma and A level in the same domain which I completed in 2016.

I aim to further pursue my studies so I’ve enrolled for a course at the Seychelles Institute for Teachers Education (SITE),” she says.

Her love for art

“I started to have interest in art at a young age, I remember before going to crèche my mum taught me how draw basic little drawing like houses, cars trees and how to colour my drawings properly.

And from there on I developed a love and a passion for visual arts. I would draw all over my bed room walls, or anything that I could grab just for the sake of drawing, doing it every day helped me to develop my skills and discovered new techniques on my own,” she says.

Inspiration

“The person who has inspired me the most is my beloved aunt Josta Wood. She's a personal stylist and fashion adviser at John Lewis shopping retailer organisation in the UK.

She always advised me about learning to accept myself, be different as a person and as an artist, discovering who am I and not to be afraid of expressing myself in my work, be it in my paintings, or even my taste in fashion,” she says.

Apart from make up

“I'm attracted to anything which involves art. Apart from being a makeup artist I'm also a fine art artist, specialist mostly in portraits,” she says.

Being a makeup artists

“Since my colleague and best friend Natalie Lavigne, and I had created our own fashion line known as Violet Design we decided to also involve the makeup business in it too.

I’ve been in this business for the past two years and I must say working with Natalie has been really amazing.

We’ve been getting contacts out from nowhere, and places we never thought we would be exposing our work at the end of the day we always gain some good feedbacks from our clients,” she says.

Self taught makeuping

“During those two years, I've been doing some research and learning more about makeup and new techniques mostly by watching tutorials online. Whatever I learn I try to put it in practice although it might not be perfect at first but eventually it gets better in time.

Sometimes when I'm bored I would just sit in front of my mirror and just put my make up on I know it may sound ridiculous (laughs) but during these experimentations I discover some pretty good stuff.

Basically I follow a lot of makeup artist online such as its MyRayeRaye, Sonjdra Deluxe, Bretman Rock, La Cindina, Manny Gutierrez ect...they are mostly male makeup artist but I love them, they are simply fabulous,” she says.

Her work

“I do makeup for different events and occasions as well as face paintings. I've had the chance to work with Kempinski hotel for a talent show they organised last year and got a chance to make up and face paint the children from two foster homes for the Christmas show last year. For those interested they can contact me on 2594114, or on Violet Design Facebook page,” she says.

Her personal taste

“For my own personal taste I love nude make ups and gothic makeups. I'm more into glam punk, emo and grunge style but with a little dash of classiness into it.

My favorite brands of makeup are Jefree star cosmetic, L’Oreal, Nars, Sleek, Nyx and Kylie cosmetic,” she says.

Goals

“For the future I really wish my partner and I could have our own little makeup saloon.

I'm not planning to be a full time makeup artist, or a fine art artist it would be a small business on the side while being an art teacher because I also love kids and I would like to pass on my knowledge about art onto them, and help them to discover and express themselves through art,” she says.

Advice.

“Even though people might criticise me about the way I carry myself, mostly about the way I dress or my makeup, honestly I feel confident and I feel free knowing that I am not living inside of a box, because that's the way an artist should be. Art is a big part of my life and it will always be.

Others, especially the youth shouldn’t be afraid to pursue their passion, they should motivate themselves even if there's no one around to support you, learn to overcome fear, fear of showing who you truly are and what you’re capable of doing. Learn from your mistakes and failure and move forward, and also learn to accept criticism because that’s the only way you will know where to improve or to perform better,” she says.

By Ralista Hortere