For Ana Gutierrez De Velazco (aka Ana G de V) leaving accounting to become a Freelance Makeup Artist was a happy accident. Career shifts can be terrifying for anyone, even within an industry you’re familiar with. Now a thriving Makeup Artist based in Mexico City with over 13 years of experience under her belt, Ana’s portfolio is filled with impressive work and collaborations.
Renowned for her creative beauty style and superior technique, Ana’s work as a Freelance Makeup Artist has earned her features in top industry publications like Vogue, W Magazine, Elle, L’Officiel, and Harper’s Bazaar, among others. Her portfolio showcases work with international brands Calvin Klein, Nodaleto, Moda Operandi, Ports International, Lululemon, H&M, ASOS, Netflix, and many more. Additionally, celebrities like Bad Bunny, Adriana Lima, Laura Harrier, J Balvin, and Laetitia Casta have put their image in her hands.
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We recently had a chance to catch up with Ana, the Freelance Makeup Artist, amidst her busy schedule to discover what she’s been up to since we last spoke. In recent years, Ana has flourished in commercial work, gaining valuable experience in the field that has earned her a Department Head position.
Your career moments are full of such amazing experiences! Your beautiful work was also featured in British Vogue and Vogue US with supermodel Adut Akech Bior. Can you dive into what that experience was like? It must have felt like such a huge accomplishment!
It was a great experience. I was very lucky to get to work with such a great crew. I admire photographer Zoe Ghertner and the stylist Camilla Nickerson, and having Adut Akech Bior as a model in this incredible location was amazing. When I got to see the story in print and my name on it, I felt very accomplished.
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Can you speak on your experience being a judge in InStyle Mexico’s Best Beauty Buys 2022? Such a cool accomplishment! How did this opportunity come onto your radar?
I have been working with InStyle for a few years now and I know all the editors of the magazine. They usually invite people who have insight into the industry and I guess all my freelance makeup artist years of experience paid off. I like the experience because I get to try and test a variety of different products and give my sincere opinion on them. It’s really fun.
What’s been the biggest career moment so far for you?
Travelling so much for work. It’s nice to go to really cool places that you maybe wouldn’t go to otherwise. And you get to meet the coolest people! I guess my biggest career moment is always happening when I get to go to a new and exciting place or work with people that I admire such as photographers like An Le and Stockton Johnson, or models like Adwoa Aboah or Duckie Thot.
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Tell us a bit about how you found Blanche Macdonald, why you came to Vancouver, and what your life was like at the time.
I had a friend in Vancouver who knew I wanted to do something different with my life and so he invited me to come to stay with him. I came and was just hanging out here, working regular jobs. One day I came across Blanche Macdonald and I really liked it. I wasn’t creative but I have always liked and been interested in makeup on other people. I just never really wore it myself!
My Admissions Director, Pearle, gave me a tour and explained everything, all my career options, and the classes and I just went for it. By the time I started, I already knew I was going to love the fashion module because I had done so much research. I also knew Vancouver had a lot of film work but not as much fashion. I also knew my time in Vancouver was limited and I would have to go back to Mexico eventually so I really wanted to make the most of my time there.
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What was your favourite module in the Makeup program?
Fashion definitely. That was where we got to get creative and research Makeup Freelance Artists, trends, shows, and different editorials. Heaven!
What was it like working with MAC?
The first year was retail mainly which I didn’t particularly enjoy but that was that experience that opened the doorway to the position of Resident Trainer—which I loved. I did that job for 3 more years. In that position, I got to train staff, do runway shows, and partake in contests for senior and resident trainers. One was a body painting competition and our MAC team was flown to Austria for the World Bodypainting Festival where we discovered we knew nothing about body painting! But it was such an amazing experience. I also got to take training in places like Miami and LA where I was lucky enough to meet people like Alex Box and Val Garland.
So what made you make the jump to life as a Freelance Makeup Artist?
MAC was great, but I was spending so much time training and it didn’t allow me time to do what I loved, which is makeup. Eventually, I made the decision to jump into life as a Freelance Makeup Artist. I had a good network and foundation in the beauty industry.
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You are also working with Chanel. How did that come about?
After a year of working as a freelance artist, I started to work with a lot of the most popular publications in Mexico. Chanel then approached me and asked if we could work together. It has been wonderful because Chanel is a very beautiful brand.
Were you scared to come to Canada?
No! I was so bored in my hometown. My moving to Canada was the result of some soul-searching I did. I really wanted to do something different with my life. I got here in the summer and it was the most beautiful time. It was my first time leaving home, but I had no regrets.
Did you feel confident in your English proficiency before you came up and did being here help you improve your English too?
My English was OK—I guess—when I came to Vancouver. But going to school and working as a server really helped me improve. All my friends spoke English and they were so patient and that helped me a lot, too.
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What is different about working in Mexico City from other places?
The industry here is not that big. We all know each other so it’s good for friendships and collaborations but it’s also limited. For example, there are only a few artists that do editorial work so it can be hard getting into the industry or into a different part of the industry.
How would you describe your makeup style? Would you say you have a signature?
I like clean makeup and beautiful skin—I do a lot of that type of look. There are so many pages in magazines that I flip through that I can name the artist just by looking at their work. So I think I do have a signature in the way I actually physically do the makeup, but it doesn’t mean that I can only do certain looks. I prefer clean looks but I can also do and enjoy doing messy and creative looks. I don’t want to have only one style. I can do natural but I can also do something crazy, too.
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Your IG paints you as the ultimate career woman. What tips would you give to Makeup artists who are looking to get their foot in the door?
It’s so important not to be shy. When I started doing freelance, I did a lot of networking—which doesn’t mean kissing ass! But get people to know you and be true to yourself. I had a PDF of my book, and I would add to it every time I did a project I was super happy with, that I would send to every editor I could find. And it worked! Eventually, they started recognizing me and calling me for work.
Give your younger self some advice.
I was never a creative child so I would tell myself to do more of that. I don’t know how to draw or paint and those are skills I wish I had. Not necessarily because it would make my makeup any better but because it helps you develop a creative mind and builds your creativity skills.
