Today we’d like to introduce you to Bethany Renfro.
Bethany, we’d love to hear your story and how you got to where you are today both personally and as an artist.
Makeup and wig work as a profession became a possibility for me about a decade ago when I saw how fun and engaging it was in theater in College. I was an Opera/Vocal performance major, and while I enjoyed singing I found joy in assisting and being part of the transformative aspects of makeup (I also attribute Opera and musicals to my penchant for the dramatic in my looks). After graduating I left for the Delamar Academy of Makeup and wigs in London to complete my certification. I was drawn back to my hometown in Austin where I’ve worked for MAC, rose up to Senior Artist at Sephora, and now pursue makeup and wigs full time.
We’d love to hear more about your art. What do you do you do and why and what do you hope others will take away from your work?
“Tell a Story” has always been the model behind my work. Whether portraying a character from history or myth, a portrait session, or an aspect of emotion or nature, everything has a story to tell. All I can hope for is to capture it as authentically as possible. I create concepts that speak to me, and I hope they speak to the people that view them as well. I want to be a storyteller.
Have things improved for artists? What should cities do to empower artists?
“Starving Artist” has been an age-old term for a reason, and the climate of our nation continues turning towards feeding our pockets and our intellectual minds, but not our souls. With cuts to funding for the arts nationwide, I fear for our culture and its posterity. Italy is defined by the Renaissance, and Egypt its sculptures and pyramids. What will define us? A healthy nation fosters healthy artistic endeavors. I believe cities should add councils or increase the voice of government positions whose sole purpose is the arts and development of artistic endeavors in cities, giving legitimate voices, exposure, and litigation to the artistic community who don’t have the deep pockets big business does. In the end, our art is what we leave behind, and we need to invest more in it.
Do you have any events or exhibitions coming up? Where would one go to see more of your work? How can people support you and your artwork?
My business name is Kitsune Kohl, “Kitsune” being the literal word for “fox” in Japanese, but also a mischievous fox spirit that would transform into beautiful women, and “Kohl” being a type of eyeliner.
As such, my website is www.kitsunekohl.com, and my Instagram is Kitsune_Kohl. Please feel free to contact me through my Instagram, I’d be happy to hear from you!.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.kitsunekohl.com
- Phone: 512-560-4706
- Email: Bethany@brenfro4.org
- Instagram: www.instagram/kitsune_kohl
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/bethanyrenfro
Image Credit:
Sam Dorado
Gabriel Adam Photography
Caitlin Reininger
Heather Lynn Portraits
Candice Ghai photography
Linda Drake Photography
Getting in touch: VoyageDallas is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
