Today we’d like to introduce you to Jo Franco.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Jo. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
I have an artistic background, particularly drawing and painting. I’ve always had a fascination with beauty as well as storytelling and thought I haven’t been in the business for more than 6 years, Fashion and art have always been a part of my life.
While going to art school and having a rather unclear career path I decided to explore my interest in the beauty industry; not knowing much about makeup other than getting inside my mom’s makeup bag as a kid and playing makeover with some friends in my teen years, I started to work at a cosmetics store on the weekends to later transition into a full freelance career, working in the bridal and red carpet event world mainly.
I found that I had a natural talent and eye for makeup so I quickly learned by reading books, watching online tutorials, applying some principles I’ve learned from painting and sketching and attending any local educational seminars I could find locally, though there weren’t that many at the time.
Combining my love for storytelling and visual arts I started getting involved in the fashion world by assisting more experienced artists in the Dallas fashion/commercial market. I learned a lot about; on set etiquette and team work, but it wasn’t till I started working on personal and a few commissioned projects that I actually begun to understand makeup artistry as it relates to photography, light and fashion. I started educating myself with any resource available to build my voice and aesthetic as an artist.
Once I found what I wanted to say trough my work I also found myself with a full time freelance career and a wonderful network of friends and colleagues who are supportive and inspiring. I would not be where I am without everyone who believed and gave me the chance to do what I believe I was born to do and what gives me the most joy.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
This is a very interest question to me. I find that anything you’re passionate about is definitely worth fighting for, there has been plenty of challenges and difficult moments but nothing I wasn’t willing to face. It’s been an intense ride but I’ve never lost focus or drive and that has made it a wonderful road; not hard nor smooth. I found that obstacles are very much like opportunities in the sense that you decide what you do with them… it all starts and ends with you and how you approach challenges.
I’ve had an amazing support system as well as toxic and negative things along the way, but in the end I always return to myself and choose to surround myself with people and situations that elevate me as oppose to oppress me.
So I think in the end there will always be challenges but it all comes down to “how bad do you want it?” if it’s bad enough, you are willing to pay the price as challenging as it is and I do think that if you always act with top notch professionalism and surround yourself with great people, you will thrive.
Jo Franco – what should we know? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
I’m a makeup artist I specialize in fashion and beauty makeup for editorial and advertising work; print mainly. Though I’m not formally trained as a hair stylist, meaning I do not cut or color hair but I do dry styling for most of my work at client’s request.
I’m signed with Kim Dawson Agency but also do some freelance work for bridal and event or “red carpet “when time permits; I still see a lot of the same clients I did form the beginning of my career. I’m based out of Dallas but travel anywhere; mainly to L.A, NYC and Houston.
I have been fortunate enough to have my work featured in local, national and international publications like American Vogue, Schön, Harpers Bazaar, ELLE, Papercity, Patron Magazine as well as many other digital fashion and art titles. I recently won both the FGI Rising Star in Makeup Artistry and People’s Choice awards, I was also featured in D Magazine’s Best of Big D 2018 issue as best Makeup Artist and was featured in Vogue Italia November 2017 Beauty print issue as one of the “New Visionaries”.
The thing I’m most proud of is to be able to do what I love everyday of my life, I always love to have fun and be a team player on set, this to me is the highest form of success. I think professionalism, passion, consistency and attitude set me apart… skill and talent are nothing without work ethic and lots of loveliness 🙂
What moment in your career do you look back most fondly on?
Gosh! I can’t just tell you one!
I’ve had many… first publication, signing with my agency, first paycheck, first set of brushes, first booking, first work trip, any form of validation?… haha
I will tell you though, that everyday I wake up and I’m happy and ready to work, every scary challenge I overcome, and every “It’s a warp” yelled on set, every perfectly blended smokey eye… is a proud moment for me.
I’m just proud of who I am and who I will become.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.jofrancoartistry.com
- Phone: 469.471.6885
- Email: jo@jofrancoartistry.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/jofrancoartistry
- Other: https://www.kimdawsonagency.com/kimdawson_talent/jo-franco/?type=models&cat=artists&sub=hair_makeup
Image Credit:
image1
Model: Zandria Theis- Campbell Models
Photography: Jason Fitzgerald
Makeup and Hair: Jo Franco- Kim Dawson Agency
Image2
Model: Julian Machann- Kim Dawson Agency
Photography: Martin Tran Phi Vu
Styling: Cameron Broomfield
Makeup and Hair: Jo Franco -Kim Dawson Agency
Image 3
Model: Nina Kong- Kim Dawson Agency
Photography:Michael Myers
Makeup and Hair: Jo Franco- Kim Dawson Agency
Image 4
Modes: Marissa Harbert, E’myah Jones, Mimi Roche- Kim Dawson Agency
Art Direction: Michelle Aviña- Papercity Magazine
Photography: Ivan Aguirre
Styling: Doug Voisin- Independent Artist Agency
Assistant Styling: Nicole Johnson- Independent Artist Agency
Makeup and Hair: Jo Franco- Kim Dawson Agency
Assistant Makeup and Hair: Lucchese Luchsinger
Image 5
Model: Jace -Wallflower Management
Photography. Claudia Grassl
Styling: Tor Matthey- Independent Artist Agency
Assistant Styling: Cameron Broomfield
Makeup and Hair: Jo Franco- Kim Dawson Agency
Image 6
Model: R’Bonney Gabriel- Callidus Agency
Photography: Martin Tran Phi Vu
Makeup and Hair: Jo Franco- Kim Dawson Agency
Image 7
Model: Lillya Scarlet- Freedom Models LA
Photography: Heidi Tappis
Makeup: Jo Franco- Kim Dawson Agency
Hair: Trace Henningsen
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