I started working with Benefit Cosmeticsin 2015, and it's the best freelance job I've done by far. They flew me to San Francisco for a week, and although I was in a room most of the time, I had a blast. I was hired to custom-paint the doll pictured. Her name was Simone.
I accepted the job with no idea of how I was going to do it, however, I've learned that you have to take risks in life and learn along the way. So I went to San Francisco on a four-hour flight, sitting next to a lady who talked to me about taxes the entire time. Closed eyes are the universal sign of silence, so I pretended to sleep for the last hour.
Right when I got to San Fransisco, I took a cab to the headquarters. And, OMG, this place was amazing: Everything was pink and shiny—The walls, the chairs and tables, and the flowery wallpaper! Amazing. I saw the doll (Simone) and silently freaked out inside, "How am I going to do this?" it was huge. "Okay, no problem." She was going to be a marketing award.
I went to work outside, primed, spray painted with stencils (which I'd never done before), painted details with acrylics, a coat of glitter and (obviously) added Swarovski rhinestones.
It all came together once the glitter and rhinestones were in place.
She now lives in the Good Ship Benefit, in the UK.
Since then, Benefit has hired me to do a few other projects. Two busts, another Simone, small statuettes and their 40th anniversary cake design.
For my process, I start with three or four sketches, and once the design is approved, I send a color version.
This picture (below) is of the second "Simone" I painted.
I should really buy a bigger glitter backdrop.
This Simone now lives at Benefit Canada.
I also did these two Gabbi busts (pictured below).
Following that I did so many of these statuettes, and my amazing friends helped me get it done (below)!
I can't wait for my next project with Benefit! Couldn't have found a better match. I now have my eye on this unicorn (picturedbelow) and I NEED to paint it. I NEED TO PAINT IT. It has no sparkles, and that's just unacceptable.
Shout out to my girl Christine for making all this magic happen.
