MEET THE ARTIST:
Natalia Thomas
WHERE DID YOU GROW UP: Miami
WHEN DID YOU FIRST BECOME INTERESTED IN BEAUTY/MAKEUP/HAIRSTYLING: I was always fascinated by the beauty world, watching in awe as my very glamorous grandmothers applied their signature red lipstick are some of my earliest memories. My grandmothers and mother delivering advice punctuated with perfectly manicured nails. My great aunts in Cuba were the first female photographers, they ran a burgeoning business taking portraits in sepia tone, developing the photos and hand-painting the details of the person’s features in color, bringing it to life. I sat in as their subject and watched as they photographed others’ and developed the film. Teetering on a step stool to “assist” them as the solution washed over the paper, magic creeping over the sheet before my eyes. My mom dabbled in photography as well, dressing us in vintage gowns she had found from an antique fair and taking photos of my siblings and I on the rocks by the beach as the waves crashed nearby. I suppose I never had much of a chance in sustaining a love for creating beautiful images, dabbling in photography myself and doing the makeup and hair for the subject to polish the result. As a child, I became interested in ballet and theatre as well, which supported my love of makeup. I grew to become the friend who would go with you to buy makeup at the mall, teaching you later how to use your sparkly new product with only my innate knowledge and audacity guiding me. Looking back at my formative years, it seemed the obvious career choice and dream to follow but of course I did not realize that until 25 when I chose to leave a career I was building behind and follow my dreams of being a full-time artist in NYC. 17 years later, here I am!
WHAT INSPIRES YOU: Humans with a positive moral compass that love what they do and carry a storied past, the energy of the city and being in nature.
WHAT ARE ONE OR TWO OF YOUR FAVORITE MOMENTS FROM PAST SHOOTS: So many incredible pinch-me moments! Being on the team to shoot the album art and video for Kimbra & Dawn’s single was so special. Creating a safe environment for them to be able to be free in their bodies was truly a magical experience I will not forget. Another incredible afternoon was when I groomed Lawrence Schiller for a documentary in which I was able to be a fly in the wall hearing about his experiences being one of the photographers who worked with Marilyn Monroe.
IF YOU WEREN'T A MAKEUP ARTIST WHAT WOULD YOU BE DOING INSTEAD: I absolutely love estate sales, I imagine in my twilight years I will source beautiful things for people.
WHO ARE YOUR FAVORITE HISTORICAL FIGURES: Jane Austen, Maya Angelou and Princess Diana.
WHAT SONG GETS STUCK IN YOUR HEAD MOST OFTEN: "Beam Me Up" by Midnight Magic.
WHAT IS YOUR SPIRIT ANIMAL: A cat.
IF YOU COULD ONLY EAT ONE FOOD FOR THE REST OF YOUR LIFE, WHAT WOULD IT BE? Pasta.
WHAT IS THE ONE ITEM OF CLOTHING THAT YOU WEAR MOST OFTEN: My mom’s motorcycle boots.
WHAT WOULD THE TITLE OF YOUR AUTOBIOGRAPHY BE: Leading with kindness and the law of attraction: a story about luck and perseverance.
WHAT IS THE HARDEST THING YOU'VE EVER DONE: Leaving the life that I was building behind in Miami to follow my dreams of being a Makeup artist in New York City. I wouldn’t change any of it.
WHEN'S THE LAST TIME YOU LAUGHED SO HARD IT HURT: Too often to note! I am very grateful to have an incredibly silly partner and friends with wicked senses of humor.
WHAT IS YOUR SECRET TALENT: I can sing, I was in choir my whole life.
WHAT IS YOUR GO-TO DANCE MOVE: A little shimmy and a hip wiggle.
WHAT IS THE STRANGEST THING IN YOUR REFRIGERATOR: Maybe not so strange but I keep my eye cream in there.
WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE WAY TO UNWIND AFTER A BUSY DAY: Hang with my husband and two precious kitties.
