ABIA 2023 EDITORIAL/HIGH FASHION MAKEUP ARTIST OF THE YEAR

JULIA GREEN -By Chereine Waddell

Julia Green, the ABIA High Fashion Makeup Artist of the Year 2023, sponsored by bodyography, whose lifelong passion for beauty evolved from a childhood adorned with fashion magazines to a career spanning over two decades.

Julia’s expertise seamlessly navigates the realms of fashion editorial, advertising, runway shows, film, and celebrity clientele, marked by her calm onset demeanour and an innate ability to lead creative endeavours. Her mantra, “Is this beautiful?” underscores her commitment to creating timeless, captivating looks.

From collaborating with renowned brands like Maybelline and Nike to gracing the faces of celebrities such as Ruby Rose and Eric Bana, Julia Green is a true artist, crafting narratives of beauty with every stroke of her brush.

Chereine chats with Julia about her recent win and her industry journey.

Congratulations on winning the ABIA High Fashion Editorial Makeup Artist of the Year 2023! How does it feel to be recognised for your outstanding work in the beauty industry?

It feels incredible and surreal and awesome all at once. I have always looked towards the winners in this category with such high esteem and so being a recipient has been an absolute mind-blowing dream.

High fashion editorial makeup is known for pushing creative boundaries. Can you share some insights into your creative process and inspiration for the award-winning looks?

I often find that a trip to a craft store will prompt loads of ideas. I will spend time fossicking through the aisles; something will catch my eye, and almost instantly a creation will flood into my head. I then sit with the idea for a while and let it germinate. I find this process incredibly exciting. I am always conscious of honing the look to fit into my overall aesthetic.

Even the most hectic of my makeup looks still need to be beautiful. One of the looks from my entry was called ‘Amphitrite - Goddess of the Sea.’ I initially had the idea of using white false lashes to create crop circles or the look of long grass in the wind. I wanted to dye the lashes into pastel colours for a soft look.

Unfortunately, I could not find bulk lots of white lashes to make this shoot work for my budget. So, I had to alter my idea and make it work another way. I remembered my box full of false lashes that I have been gifted over the years. A lot of the lash designs were not my preferred type, so they have been sitting in this box waiting to be used for ‘something’. This was the perfect shoot to use them on.

I wanted to create a makeup that looked like an organic part of the model, half human/half underwater creature. Like the model had morphed with a sea creature or had an anemone or coral growing from the skin. I cut up all the lashes and stuck them to the face with lash glue. I was careful to place them on the skin so that they worked with the contours of the face.

I used references from nature for the placement of the lashes, succulent petals, coral etc. The lashes I used were all black and so I needed to paint the lashes with greasepaint to create the design I had in my mind. I used hints of metallic loose pigments to add highlights and chunky opaque white glitter to add an extra element of texture to the skin.

The beauty industry is constantly evolving. How do you stay ahead of trends and maintain a fresh perspective in your editorial makeup creations?

Listening to my own creativity has always served me well. Being aware of trends is important but knowing which parts of them to utilise to keep the shoot relevant and when to allow your ideas to take over is where the magic happens. I try to create looks that I haven’t seen before, something fresh and new. That’s what excites me and ultimately how people remember my work.

Can you highlight a specific project or editorial that you feel truly represents your style and contributed to winning this award?

The beauty shoot featuring the divine model, Onella, really showcases how my creative brain works. I had spotted Onella on Instagram and really wanted to shoot with her. Onella has a skin condition called vitiligo which causes the loss of pigmentation in her skin. I find skin fascinating and so my main aim for this shoot was to show the beauty of both of Onella’s skin tones by creating a smooth and creamy texture to the skin.

I then wanted to juxtapose the skin’s texture by adding gold leaf on the eyes (see image ‘Molten Gold’) and in the second shot, I found this incredible crushed gold pieces (see image ‘Gold Crush’). I love creating beautiful skin and working with unexpected textures and so these two images do truly represent my aesthetic.

Collaboration is often key in the world of editorial makeup. How do you work with other creatives, such as photographers and stylists, to bring your vision to life?

I am nothing without my team. I have been creatively collaborating with photographer, Rich MacDonald (www.richmacdonald.com.au) for a few years now. The best thing about our process is that we trust each other. Thankfully he trusts my hair-brained ideas will work out and I have complete trust that he will beautifully light my work.

Every makeup artist has their go-to products that never fail them. Can you share a few of your must-have beauty products or tools, and why you consider them essential to your kit?

Dermalogica Biolumin-C serum is a must in my kit. I use it on almost every face (under moisturiser) and just love how it brightens, firms, and makes the skin more radiant. The By Terry Hyaluronic Hydra-Powder is a firm fave in my kit as it is so finely milled you can barely see it on the skin. It allows skin to look like skin whilst blurring imperfections.

Another ride or die product is the Mecca Lip de Luscious Night Treatment used as a lip balm. The super hydrating formula softens even the driest stressed-out lips. And of course, my BRUSHES! I have curated my favourite collection of brushes from many different companies.

Most of my go to shapes are found in art supply stores. I love the difference in bristle push back of art brushes compared to makeup brushes, especially for concealers and brow gels.

As the High Fashion Editorial Makeup Artist of the Year, what advice do you have for aspiring makeup artists looking to make a mark in the editorial and high fashion scene?

Do it your own way. Look for inspiration outside of the Makeup industry not just by scrolling on social media. This will foster your unique ideas and help you to stand out from the rest. As artists, we are constantly given other artists’ makeup as reference images to work from… when it comes to your own creative work, throw them away and let your mind run free. Trust your imagination.

How do you believe the recognition from winning ABIA High Fashion Editorial Makeup Artist of the Year will influence your professional journey, and what advice do you have for fellow artists considering entering industry awards?

I have been lucky enough to have loyal clients throughout my career. What I am finding is that the recognition of winning this award has meant further trust and more collaboration on ideas from my regular clients. Winning has also put my name in front of new clients who may not have found me in the past. And it has elevated the types of jobs I am being requested for.

I would encourage artists of all levels to enter the awards for the incredible experience and invaluable feedback that is given on your work through the process. Not to mention the wonderful Gala night celebrations and key networking opportunities surrounding the event.

In the world of high fashion editorial makeup, innovation is key. How do you approach incorporating new techniques or products into your work while maintaining a signature style?

I look out for new products that are completely different to what I have seen before. I know what works in my kit and so I want something that will extend the boundaries of what and how I can create.

Winning ABIA High Fashion Editorial Makeup Artist of the Year is undoubtedly a career highlight. What goals or aspirations do you have for the next phase of your career?

One of my career goals has always been to work on makeup teams for Runway shows in Paris, New York, Milan, and London. It has been a dream of mine since I first realised makeup could be a career. So, I am working toward that becoming a reality. Beauty campaigns are one of my all-time favourite shoots to work on. I love them because there is nowhere to hide as an artist, and I get a real thrill out of that. So, I am working to create opportunities in this area as well. I will never stop wanting to create beautiful images.

@juliagreen_makeup