Today we’d like to introduce you to Samantha Fernandez.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Samantha. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
My makeup journey started in the most random of places, Miami Dade College. I was in the middle of a math test when I realized that this wasn’t the route for me. I got up in the middle of that test and left, called my mom n told her I was dropping out. Like any mom, she flipped and said I better have a plan B by the time she got home that night. So I went to the MDC library to think about what I really wanted in life. While I was thinking what do I wanna do? Makeup was the first thing to pop up in my head. I loved Halloween and gore makeup so I started researching makeup schools. All the best ones were in California. Little did I know a year later the stars would align and my mom would get an amazing job opportunity in Northern California. I moved to California in 2013 and down to LA in 2014 where I completed the master makeup course at Cinema Makeup School. When I started my makeup company my goal was to do only special effects makeup so my company stated as Eyes Lie Makeup After a couple of years in the industry I expanded to all types of makeup and in 2019 changed the company name to better suit our new brand. Thus Tarrago Studios was born.
Has it been a smooth road?
It definitely has not been a smooth ride. I’d have to say my biggest obstacle has been myself. Living in a social media age I got caught up in the “if you’re not trending you’re not winning” mindset. I started gauging my work by the numbers I saw on Instagram. It took me down a weird path of self-doubt, at the time I also lived in a very conservative community so my conceptual work was not welcomed. I had to get out of my head and truly trust in my art and my craft. Once I knocked down those walls of self-doubt and stopped worrying about offending those around me my art flourished.
We’d love to hear more about your business.
At Tarrago Studios we offer every type of makeup for any event. From elegant bridal looks to full-blown character prosthetics. We are dedicated to offering the highest quality work to our clients. I specialize in special effects and makeup for TV and Film. Our out of the box looks and dark art definitely set us apart from the crowd. I use makeup as my medium to create live art installations that make the audience think. I want my art to make people look at whatever image I’m portraying in a different way than they normally would. I often say “ if my art makes you uncomfortable I’m doing my job right.”
Is our city a good place to do what you do?
Miami is definitely a great place for makeup artists. Yes, it’s saturated with other artists but there is plenty of work to go around! Miami’s cultural diversity is amazing, you get to work with people from all walks of life here. I work freelance so I travel to my clients being a mobile company allows me to better service my clients. Miami is such a beautiful place I’ve been blessed to see the beauty this city offers through my work.
- Website: Www.eyesliemakeup.com
- Phone: 7863158452
- Email: samanthafernandez@eyesliemakeup.com
- Instagram: @Creatingartnothavoc
- Facebook: Facebook.com/TarragoStudios
- Yelp: Tarrago Studios
Image Credit:
Carlos gallego, Marianna Chambard, Timothy Mcbroom.
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