Aug 26, 2009

Who is Katie Cotton?


I truly believe that I have always been an artist. I grew up loving all things creative. And both of my parents are artists in theatre! (my dad is a set designer, my mom did costume design for a loooooong time before she ventured into other areas of art) So you can imagine the creative freedom i had growing up! I always knew i wanted to be a part of it! As a child, i did a lot of dancing, acting, singing, modeling, blah blah blah but always knew i wanted to go into makeup. I would put makeup on my dolls even! When learning to perform, my favorite part ways always getting ready for the performance! So that was definitely clue number 1!
So after I graduated, I moved out to Los Angeles to become a Makeup Artist! I love it there and worked professionally there for some time doing makeup for music videos, commericals, fashion shows, films, tv, etc etc the you get the idea! If you can get paid, you do it! However, after marrying the love of my life and us deciding to start a family, we decided, welllllll, maybe we'll relocate. My hubby needed the break from the LA scene and I wanted the opportunity to be at home with my kiddos while they were small... at least part of the time! Not pulling 12-16 hour days on set and not really knowing when the next job was.
SO, we relocated to the upstate of South Carolina.
The jobs I do these days may not be quite as "glamorous" as my LA days, but for me it's all about the makeup! It's all about giving everyone their chance to twinkle! Whether it's a model, bride, or just a friend! I do some commericals and film works around here as well and also freelance for Coplons, which is an upscale boutique here in Greenville.

It's a great average of the time I spend at home with my little guys (3 and 1) and the time i get to spend out doing makeup. I did develop another fun hobby after I moved east because i was desperately looking for something creative to do AT HOME. It wasnt that i didnt want to be out doing makeup, it was right after moving here, not having the clientele to work from!

Enter paper crafting into my life! I met some friends who introduced me to the work of paper crafting, stamping, scrapbooking, etc. It was fun. But i had ideas! On top of that, i discovered COPIC MARKERS. Love those little guys! They reminded me of makeup! Picking colors, blending together, lots of different techniques and ways to use them. They were definitely love at first site. With the desire to color more, came more ideas! SO, i started my own stamp company! I named it appropriately, Paper Makeup Stamps.

So now i kind of have 3 worlds that i live in! First and foremost, I am known as Mama... to my 2 little guys. Even my hubby calls me Mama. haha. But then i have my life as a makeup artist and my life as a paper crafter. Its fun living in my 3 worlds, if not exhausting.

I'm also a teacher. Yep, lets just add one more thing to the list! haha. But i love to teach. I love to extend the knowledge that I have to others! I have taught makeup to collegiate students for some time. Letting them know the ins and outs of becoming a "makeup artist". I also became certified in Copic Markers so i could teach coloring classes (which i teach locally and online).
However, i still wanted to be able to share my knowledge MORE! So in the fall of 2009, i discovered the fun world of you tube! I'm hoping that the YouTube videos I can provide help others to learn because I am a big firm believer in that the best way to learn to to watch and PRACTICE! Gather information from ANYWHERE and EVERYWHERE! Then practice it so that you can develop your own style! Never take anything that someone says as absolute! But do take it in! Everyone has something to teach you! Whether its what will work great for you or what doesnt work for you... it still teaches you! So research! Expand your horizons! Learn all that you can and then PRACTICE it! Hone it! Make it your own!


We are ALL stars and we ALL have the right to twinkle!



My Makeup Artist Site
(Shawger is my maiden name for those who are curious!)

My makeup artist blog (NEW)
(where the YouTube makeup videos are also posted as well as other pictures, info, etc)

My Paper Crafted Blog
(where the YouTube copic tutorials are posted, as well as all my cards, and other things)

My Stamp Company, Paper Makeup Stamps

Stamp Company Blog


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