Nina Tsoncheva – a painter whose canvas is human face

An interview of Galina Kondova

Nina Tsoncheva graduated atthe National Academy of Fine Artswith specialty “Wall-painting”. She defines herselfas a painterat educationand at vocation. And it isn’t by accident. She is the fifth generation in her familythat inherits the giftand the talentto draw. The tradition puther great-great-grandfatherAtanas Kavrakov– one of the last icon-paintersof the Bulgarian national revival. After him all the people in the familytake a different roadbut they are alwaysrelatedstrongly to the art - sculpture, graphics, wall-painting, wood-carving...

Nina works ather specialtybut with make-upshe occupiesin the television, in the theater and in the cinema. She is a part of the teamof the most successfulfashion broadcast – “Ogledala”.

You are a painter but how did you becomea professional make-up artist?
I became a professional make-up artist when I have finished my education. It happened quite accidentally, although my interest to this art. I was invited by my colleague in the atelier of Dimitar Koklin. There I met his apprentice Diana Borisova – the chief make-up artist of „Ogledala”. She invited me to be her assistant in the broadcast. That’s how my career has started. Although I am thankful to Mr. Koklin for all that I have learnt for the theatrical and cinema make-up, I owe the most namely to Diana Borisova. She was the person that transformed me in a professional make-up atrist.

What is the most important qualitythat a person has to possessto occupyprofessionally with make-up?
The most important qualities are sense of the aesthetics, tact and good communication skills, because the make-up artist works with people and on people. We don’t have to forget the outlook and to take care on the image of the others.

What is for you make-up – a way for hidingdeformitiesor an instrumentfor underliningthe best sides of the face?
Both – it depends on the occasion. If someone really has some cosmetic problem that can’t be eliminated, the make-up is a rescue. But the biggest magic of the make-up is the skilful underlining of the most beautiful details of the face.

Who do you learn from?
I learn mostly from the practice, from the work itself, but also from the active following of the world tendencies. It is enough to follow the work of the maker-up artists who work with the famous designers and of the foreign cinema stars.

You are a make-upartist in the most successfulfashion broadcast “Ogledala”. Tell me about your work there.
I owe much to „Ogledala”. The work with such professionals enriches me and makes me happy. Our team is extremely united, although women prevail. We work with an extremely respect one to other, we learn one from other. I hope that this makes us develop. Although we have to be concentrated, because the time for photos is limited, we work always with smile and in good mood. I think that it can be seen on the screen. Not less guests were thankful to us for the best day in their life, passed with „Ogledala”.

How do you assesswhat kind of make-upto do at your guest inthe broadcast?
The make-up of the guest is defined first by the entire topic of the broadcast, after that from the style of the clothes, that our stylist has chosen and not at last place from the information for our guest. Our aim is to materialize our concept and also to present the guest in his best.

Is it possible that the guestdoesn’t agree with your make-upconceptand it is necessaryto create a new one?
No. There are some problems sometimes regarding the hair-style, because sometimes it is necessary a haircut. Even some guests were afraid from strong make-up, when they see their faces at the end at the mirror they are always satisfied.

What is the first thing that you noticein a person’s face which you will do a make-up?
The proportions of the face are the first thing that I pay attention to. The most important is to be able to considere which part of the face has to be underlined. If at the face prevails the size of the eyes, the lips or the nose...

What do you prefer: to interpretthe tendenciesor to impose yours?
For me the most professional is to be able, by interpreting the tendencies, to be always you, to have your handwriting. The pretence to impose your tendencies sounds me exaggerated and unrealizable.

How do you apprehendthe experiments in make-up?
The experiments in the art are obligatory, they are its engine.

It is very popular the so-called tendency “invisible make-up”. Give an advice to our readershow to achieve it.
It is true and I would advise it, especially for the everyday make-up. It is only necessary mat powder or semi-transparent font de taint, that have to generalize tenderly the tone of the face. The pencil for eyes that softly have to underline the contour of the eye, as the best is to be put inside of the eye to be created the illusion that it isn’t added nothing outside the natural contour. And at the end one coat softly put spiral.

What are the most suitablecosmetics for the summer?
These are the lighter creams, not so greasy they are during the winter. The most important is the products to be of high quality with UV defense. The make-up as a whole has to be lighter and almost unnoticeable.

How to take care for our make-up?
The make-up has to be kept from the sun and from direct sun light. It has to be kept at cool and dark place.

What are the most common mistakesthat the ladiesmake while putting the make-up?
Sometimes they don’t choose the precise nuance of the font de taint or they put it too generously. Most often they don’t appraise what part of their eyes to underline. It is not good the eyes and the lips to be equally strongly underlined. It is not appropriate when the person has drawn closer eyes for example to be strengthening the inside contour. When the person has little eyes they don’t have to be underlined from the inside...

Give some concrete advices – what kind of make-up is suitable for blondes, brunettes, red-haired...
For the blondes – brown or grey pencil for eyes, brown spiral. Nuances of the lipstick and of the rouge are mostly from the pink range of colors. The make-up has to be maximally softly put. For the brunettes and for the red-haired ladies it could be used black pencil for eyes, even eyeliner, depending on the style that they prefer. The choice of range of colors completely depends on the color of the skin and of the eyes. At the light eyes the colors are unlimited, but at dark skin and eyes the warm, earth tones have to prevail and all derivatives of the gold and of the bronze nuances. At the red-haired ladies – only nuances of brown, beige and red. Women don’t have to make ever a combination of rose and lilac. It is advisable the contrast underlined eye.

The tendencies in the make-upchange very dynamicallyand not everybody has the possibility tofollow and to apply them. By what classic approaches that rest eternalcan profit the ladies?
Every lady has to examine what is the most appropriate make-up for her face. In no way it’s not advisable to vacillate at every new tendency, because we risk becoming comical. It has to be searched the most beautiful part of the face that has to be underlined with taste.

What do you think of womenwho don’t come out of their homes without make-up?
Maybe this is related to insufficient self-confidence, but if the make-up helps them to feel better they can do it. There are necessary only enough taste and sense of moderation…and quality cosmetics.

What kind of make-up do you prefer?
I adore the make-up. I prefer this make-up that answers to my clothing and to the situation. I like the make-up that makes me different every day.

Do you do your make-up by yourself?
Of course, this is an additional self-perfection.

Photos:
1. – 5. Nina Tsoncheva together with the people to those she does make-up.
6. – 7. Together with the girls of “Ogledala”
8. – 20. Wall-paintings made by Nina Tsoncheva.
Photo: © Personal archive

Read: 79 times                                                  © Fashion Lifestyle Magazine, issue 13, August 2008