Contessa 2019: Q&A with Makeup Artist of the Year, Marika D’Auteuil

We spoke with Marika D’Auteuil, who took home the Makeup Artist of the Year award at the 30th annual Contessa Awards.

What does winning this award mean to you?

I had been coveting this Contessa for a few years, now! It started becoming ‘personal’ (laughs). I’ve been challenging myself for a long time to win a major award, such as this one, and I’d been a Contessa finalist for three years in a row. We all need challenges like this to motivate you in your career, and to keep building a strong portfolio.

Do you have a mentor or someone you look up to?

One of the people who has influenced me the most in my career is Guylaine Martel. Her creativity is hugely inspiring, and I find I’m extremely lucky to be able to work with her. She makes me want to collaborate on different projects with her, time and time again.

Guylaine always give me free reign, to do things as I see fit, and to let my creativity flourish. She trusts me to do my best work when I’m working on her collections. As a makeup artist, this is a very important aspect of what we do. She’s always extremely trustful and helpful when working with others. You have the impression that you’re working with her — and not for her — which are two very different things.

How would you describe your style when it comes to photo shoots? Any special rituals/how do you stay on track/what’s in your kit?

I’m always very prepared before I come on set, and I also have a mood board. But as soon as I see the model, that’s when the magic happens. As much as I like to arrive knowing what to expect, it’s very important for me to be able to change things up in the middle of a photoshoot. Knowing how to improvise is as important as being well prepared.

If you weren’t a makeup artist, what do you think you would be doing?

My first career dream was to become an archeologist, because I’m so curious of what happened before we were here. I also have a big passion for the history of makeup. But my plan when I retire is to build an animal shelter for farm animals and others. I’m vegan, and I’m deeply committed to animal welfare, so this is a step up. I really want animals to have a happy life, and I want to create that environment for them.

What’s next for you after your win? Anything you’re working on or any goals you have that you are hoping to achieve?

As an artist, I think we always strive to accomplish more, but it’s also important to take a pause and to see everything you’ve achieved to get to where you are. The master classes I’m now giving are going well. So, right now I just want to savour what I’ve accomplished.