April 1, 2010

MUD Grad Profile: Nalo Jones

Nalo Jones (left,) and Alicia Key’s make-up artist, Ashunta Sheriff.

“There are no rules to make-up.”

When Nalo Jones began attending Make-Up Designory (MUD), she had already gained considerable experience working with some of the biggest names in retail cosmetics, including M.A.C., NARS, Estée Lauder, Bobbi Brown and Lancôme. While at MUD, Nalo completed the Film and Television Make-Up Artistry Program, and received valuable training in the areas of print, bridal, character and airbrush techniques. This insight into new genres enabled her to broaden her horizons into different fields of make-up.

Since graduation, Nalo has added film and television credits to her resumé, with assignments for Current TV, the Janice Dickinson Modeling Agency show and the World Poker Tour. She created make-up for the film Equal Opportunity, which received a Shortcuts award from NBC. She also enjoyed assisting Ashunta Sheriff, Alicia Keys’s make-up artist, during Fashion Week in New York. Nalo says: “The energy of the city is inspiring. Working on the show was fast-paced, and I learned a lot about the modeling industry.”

Nalo has also created a significant body of work in print. She has done make-up for various publications including Fitness Magazine, and is an online and print editorial beauty contributor for Jones Magazine, Mahogany Butterfly, Fashion Q and A and Essence Magazine. Nalo enjoys sharing her knowledge of industry trends and techniques in print and online, and says: “Writing has opened a lot of doors for me.”

In terms of her working philosophy, she relies on her own individual inspiration and creativity. “I listen to my spirit to come up with new ideas…when you see people living their dreams, you know that anything is possible.” She cites Francesca Tolot as a favorite artist, and hopes one day to be able to work with her. She also believes in the power of networking, and continues to leverage her ties to MUD to forge relationships and land new work assignments. Her advice to aspiring artists: “See it, believe it and it will show up. Never give up – and network.”

Follow Nalo Jones on Facebook and Twitter.

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