Interview with Cory Bishop of Temptu
Meet Cory Bishop ~ Celebrity Makeup Artist & Lead Global Artist for Temptu! You may even recognize him from a recent episode of Rachel Zoe, as he can be seen touching up the models makeup in the background. I had the pleasure of meeting Cory at a Temptu airbrushing class I attended in 2009 at the Temptu studio in NYC. I not only learned so many helpful airbrushing techniques from him, but also that he grew up right here in Pittsburgh, small world. I really admire him for all he’s achieved so far and have been wanting to pick his brain…so here it is! A huge thanks to Cory for taking time out of his hectic schedule to answer my questions!
JM: Was being a makeup artist something you knew you wanted to do at a very young age?
CB: I didn’t start experimenting with makeup until age 15 or 16 and even then I was more interested in the special effects.
JM: When did you decide to leave Pittsburgh and move to NYC to pursue your dream even further?
CB: Around 2005 I started booking weekend work in NYC and the requests grew and grew, so in 2007 I decided to move here because I was getting more work in NYC than in Pittsburgh. It was a risk, but I loved the city and I could have always moved back.
JM: How long have you been with Temptu and if you had to pick one thing, what is your favorite aspect of working with them?
CB: I have been using Temptu products since 2002, and I have been working with them for 6 years next month. This company is small so we are like a family. We all know everyone and get along great. We also make products that work. I have worked for many companies that have had some awesome products, and some not. We really strive to only create and house things we love.
JM: I know you are one busy guy because I read your Facebook statuses and tweets! Tell me what a typical day in the life of Cory Bishop is like…
CB: HaHa! Every day is completely different. That’s what makes me love my job. Some days I’m teaching in the NY studio, or on set for different TV shows or photo-shoots and other days I’m in some random city working with clients or teaching makeup. When I get older I will be ready for some regularity but until then I live for the spontaneous makeup artist lifestyle.
JM: You are an inspiration to other makeup artists, but who has inspired you throughtout your carreer?
CB: One of my strongest inspirations was the first makeup artist that I ever assisted. I was in high-school at the time. In his prime he was a special effects makeup artist for major motion pictures in Hollywood. He was retired at the time and did a few makeup jobs here and there, which is how we met. While retired he made prosthetic pieces for people who had to have part of their faces removed from cancer, making it possible for them to eat, breath and return to normality. It really touched me at such a young age and helped me realize the transformative and powerful effect makeuup can have.
(I love that answer!)
JM: What are some of your absolute favorite items to carry in your makeup kit?
CB: Temptu S/B foundation! I have been using it for almost 10 years and I have yet to find anything so realistic and beautiful. I also love a good tear drop eye blending brush. I can do the entire face with the airbrush and one tear drop blending brush. Also a kohl pencil – right now I have the Lancome kohl pencil in Black Ebony. It’s a great tool to shape and define the eye. And with my brush I mentioned, I can create a multitude of great looks.
JM: What is a pet-peeve that you have or a mistake that you see so many women making with their makeup?
CB: Many women choose too dark of a foundation…I know we all want to look like we just got back from St. Tropez (myself included) but that is what bronzer is for! If foundation matches the skin, you can use it only where you need it – giving you a lighter natural look. It also lowers your risk of an uneven application. A darker, mis-matched foundation is the easiest way to make your complexion look uneven and old.
JM: Is there someone who you haven’t worked with already that you want to…who is it?
CB: I know it may sound cliché but I would really like to work with Lady Gaga. I think she is one of the most out of the box artists that everyone looks to see what she is going to do next. Her looks are always over the top but not without meaning. I also really enjoy what she supports in the community; I would have a blast collaborating with her.
JM: Once I saw written on your Facebook that you quoted…”Following my dreams not the competition” …, I really loved that quote because this business is so extremely competitive. What is the best advice you can give to makeup artists to keep that in mind while trying to pursue their career?
CB: If you are following your competition and doing what they are doing, you are already two steps behind. Follow your heart. If it feels right or feels wrong you are probably right. A lot of this industry is getting your name out there any way possible, sometimes without pay. That is why you need to love what you do because sometimes that personal gratification needs to be enough.
(LOVE LOVE THAT!)
Thanks again Cory, you rock xo
