PIA’s Guest Blogger for the month of March is make-up artist, Arianne Meade. She shares her recent adventures with us!
Hey there everyone!! I’m Arianne F. Meade and I’m a Certified Master Makeup Artist and licensed Esthetician (skincare specialist), I’ve been in our industry for the last 10 years working on independent film, print, editorial, fashion shows and major motion films traveling between Los Angeles, New York and now my home town of Denver.
What I want to talk about is the most exciting part of my makeup career came from the amazing opportunity I had when I became one of Christian Audigier’s preferred makeup artists almost 5 years ago. Working with such a super-star of a designer like Christian Audigier and Audigier Brand Management has taught me so much and given me so many great opportunities to display my skills in a fun and very creative environment.

Christian Audigier performs
Just in case you’ve been under the proverbial “fashion rock” Christian Audigier is the designer of clothing lines such as Ed Hardy Tattoo Wear, Christian Audigier the brand, Crystal Rock, Paco Chicano, Rock Fabulous, SMET and C bar A just to name a few Christian’s new lines.
So now that I’ve filled you in on some background lets get down to just how cool our Trade show, “When I Move You Move” at Caesar’s Palace, Las Vegas this last Feb. 16-19, 2009 really was…. This show is one of the biggest events of the week, if you’re familiar, there are two other Trade shows in Las Vegas at this time as well. Project and MAGIC these are all shows were buyers from around the world come to buy their favorite name brand and exclusive couture clothing from only the best designers and companies. However, my boss has his own agenda to be the most fabulous designer EVER and as a company with all of our brands we have created our trade show to rival those other silly shows as our brands truly stand alone and we, BRING IT!

Christian Audigier
This February our theme for the fashion shows at the event were dubbed “Cowboys and Indians, 2012” (by my makeup team mind you) So being the Key Makeup artist it’s my job to organize a team of 12 of the most talented and amazing makeup artists from around the nation to deliver to Christian one of the most fabulous fashion shows we’ve produced thus far. Another job I do for my shows and as a second career is branding and product placement so for this show so I acquired full sponsorship for my entire makeup team thanks to Benefit Cosmetics out of San Francisco, CA and for our amazing hair team Alterna Hair-care came in as another great sponsor, as well Ziba Beauty graciously provided my team with the Swarovski crystals we need to create our “Cowgirl” looks.

Our shows consisted of 25 female models, 15 male models (some of which were flown in from the Czech Republic!!) and we had performances by the Pussycat Dolls Lounge Dancers who were too sexy for their own good!! Now the “Cowboy” look had to be my most favorite look we got to do… Basically we arranged the gems around the eyes creating the illusion of designer sunglasses around their eyes, it really was money baby!! The “Indian Girl” looks consisted of very natural bronzed makeup with just a few touches of war paint on the cheeks and some “warrior” masks on our boys, but the best part was our amazing body painting team, Denika Bedrossian and Rob Rumsey who fully bronzed our “Indian Girls” from head to toe, as well as body painting two of our models in a full corset on the girl and a vest with a tie on our male model, truly two very talented artists I’m proud to call friends and fellow artists.

Pussycat Dolls Lounge Girls
Our shows were live each day and they kicked off with our DJ spinning for the Pussycat Dolls performance which led us into our amazing fashion shows (I was proud to say the least) and for the finale Dave Stuart (guitarist for Annie Lennox and designer of Rock Fabulous) and our VIF, Christian Audigier himself performed the “American Dream” song together. The shows were truly so high energy and I have to say it was one of the most satisfying moments in my career, to be a part of the phenomenon that is Ed Hardy and Christian Audigier has been and honor and an opportunity I will forever cherish, he’s the kind of boss that never stops inspiring you to do greater be all you believe you can be.
As for what is happening after all the glamour of these high profile fashion shows I’ve had a few weeks off the prepare to start an Independent movie here in Denver, Colorado called “Serpent Rising” with Asgard Entertainment… It’s a fun Tech-thriller with lots of action and great fight scenes that will blow your mind!! Directly after that movie I will be heading back to Los Angeles to start production on my next movie, “Milo” with The TCS Productions. Please keep your eyes open for my first major theatrical release this September 11, 2009 of my fight movie called, “The Red Canvas” in which I was Key Makeup and SFX, slated to be released in 500 theaters across the nation!!
Thanks so much hope you enjoyed my stories!!
Arianne F. Meade
Master Makeup Artist

Arianne and her make-up crew