How growing up in Barranquilla, Colombia influenced me as an artist.

Today my hometown of Barranquilla is celebrating four days of Carnival. Barranquilla’s carnival is world renowned and second only to Brazil. I have to say that I miss these days. As Carnival approaches the people of Barranquilla start the party early! Carnival is only four days but we stretch it out for two months! We call it pre-carnival. This is the busiest time of the year for makeup artists, costume makers and all others involved in making Carnival what it is. A celebration with parades full of colors and unbelievable energy. I would spend my days transforming and beautifying my clients with colors, glitters, pigments and any and all types of makeup. The contagious energy would flood the streets and infect the locals and visitors from other countries as well. Quien lo vive es quien lo goza!! He who lives it, enjoys it!!

In the picture our model (far right, silver mask) won best costume! Her costume was made completely out of recycled material! We celebrated the win that night together and as we were leaving photographers surrounded us and took lots of pictures. It was so exciting! The next day we were in the newspaper! That is me to the left and my mentor and employer is in the center. We wore Venetian masks and joined our model in the picture. How fun!

Growing up in Barranquilla made me fall in love with the magic of transformation and how it makes us feel. Feelings of happiness and joy and when noticeable to the eye it really impacts our mood. The Carnival for me is the definition of imagination, creativity, visuality and delight. These are the exact same words I experience every time I get to doll up a face!