Seeing The Future

Guest Creative Direction | Photo Editing

Make-Up Artist Magazine and IMATS have long shared a singular mission: to elevate and recognize talent across the film, television, and fashion makeup industries. From Special Make-Up FX to beauty and editorial work, both platforms championed artists at every stage of their careers through global events, competitions, and editorial features. One of the most notable initiatives, IMATS’ Battle of the Brushes, helped establish a pipeline for emerging artists, many of whom would go on to shape the future of the industry.

Through these efforts, strong partnerships were built with leading makeup schools worldwide, including MUD (Make-Up Designory). For Issue 135, a group of MUD students pitched a conceptual editorial feature to Managing Editor Cory Stoddard and me. The idea, Seeing the Future, was a tarot-inspired visual narrative designed to showcase emerging talent through a highly stylized, story-driven lens. Recognizing both the creative ambition and industry relevance of the concept, we greenlit the project as a platform to spotlight the next generation of artists entering the professional space.

The project was brought to life in collaboration with longtime Make-Up Artist Magazine contributor and photographer Deverill Weekes, whose two decades of experience and commitment to mentoring rising talent made him an ideal creative partner. Led by key artists Shelby Michael Patton and Sasha Glasser, an all-women team of artists developed a series of characters inspired by the Archean Tarot, blending technical execution with narrative depth.

Serving as Guest Creative Director, I traveled to Burbank to lead the one-day shoot at Illusion Industries. Working closely with Weekes, I directed the visual storytelling, ensuring each look translated cohesively from concept to final image while aligning with the editorial standards of the publication. The result was a striking, narrative-driven feature that not only elevated the students’ work but also reinforced Make-Up Artist Magazine’s commitment to fostering emerging voices in the industry.