International body art and make up artist Olga Kirnos discovered her proclivity towards art forms really early in life .It was only a matter of time before she decided to channelize her creative instincts in a form of art that combines both art and fashion alike, make up and body art. Heavily influenced by classical styles, the Europe born Olga always had a strong affinity towards traditional aesthetics, thanks to her multicultural background. After studying and practicing body and make up artistry for over 12 years, Olga has become synonymous with a unique form of glitter body art. Blessed with an exceptional understanding of colour, light and shape, she has managed to successfully handle both the North American as well as the Indian market.

Olga constantly juggles between client consultations in make up design to photo shoots to television to heading various fashion projects. With an exhaustive array of global clientele including Front TV, Vision TV, Club Fashion, Brazilian Carnival Gala, ROGERS, Global TV, The Canadian History Channel and many international photographers & fashion magazines, the buzz around her is becoming quite palpable. So, to further explore her aesthetics, MM decided to collaborate with Olga Kirnos for an exclusive photo shoot & interview.

MM: Tell us something about your journey of life Olga.

I was born in East Europe and moved several times before settling in Canada. From early childhood I had a very strong inclination towards Arts & Aesthetics which was greatly supported by my family and teachers. Living in different countries has been an invaluable experience for me towards my creative work. From being exposed to different cultures, art forms & history. My love for travelling & exploring has helped a lot. All of these are a strong source of inspiration that express both in my work and life style. It is also what initially brought me to India.

MM: What inspired you to take up make up and body art as your career?

It was a gradual process of evolvement for me. I grew up practicing traditional arts from a very young age. Throughout high school I attended a comprehensive arts program and specialized in both traditional & digital arts. While working as graphic illustrator for some time I was also experimenting with different mediums of body art followed by make up artistry. I felt very passionate about it and felt that this is where my heart and mind are at their best, so it became my goal from then onwards to make it my career.

MM: What made you decide upon India as one of your work places?

I travelled to India many times over the past couple of years and had a good opportunity to explore it as a second base. The response to my work has also been a supporting factor in my decision. Over time my stays became longer and the gaps between travelling back became shorter. So my decision to enter the Indian fashion market was a gradual and smooth transition.

MM: As a body art expert, what do you find most challenging and exciting part of your job?

I find the challenges are the exciting part of my work. My line of work is very people-oriented, from the range of people that I work with to the constant networking that is crucial as a freelancer. There is a lot of travel and mobility that are also required, at times it is challenging but it is very rewarding and exciting at the same time. Another factor is to always keep myself updated, whether the latest trends or the latest products, it is important to maintain an updated knowledge in both. It’s an ever changing field that required a dedicated investment.

MM: For this shoot that we are doing, how did you go about preparing the look of the body art elements in the pictures?

The theme I chose for the shoot was inspired by mythological characters in essence. I took reference from symbols of elegance, prosperity and richness in elements that are associated with these mythological figures and wanted to express them through the versatility that make up & body art can express in the modern woman. I also wanted to show how there is a wide range to the use of body art as a decorative and enhancing medium just like make up is.

MM: How long does it take to finish a design that you made on the model in this shoot?

I prepare for each shoot in advance, sketching the designs, colours and overall looks to be created, so the application of the body art itself, depending on the complexity of the design, might vary from fifteen minutes to an hour.

MM: How is the response to your body art expertise here?

The response to my make up & body art work has been a focal point in my decision to make India my base. There is a great creative market which has welcomed my work in a very strong way. I had the chance to work with some the best names in the business recently and have many shoots lined up. So it has been a great experience and the future looks promising.

MM: We have seen you giving very detailed & minute finish to your make up and create a lot of character in the look that you create. Isn’t professional make up a very tedious job?

This is one of my favourite things about my kind of work. I love the fine details that make a big difference in the overall presentation and aesthetics of the look. Both in my art and my make up artistry, the smallest details always played an important role and a detailed application has definitely always been one of my favourite styles of work to ensure that the final look has the right finish.

MM: What does future holds for you?

There are many things that I am preparing for, at present. I have a clear vision to be known as an internationally acclaimed make up artist working with some of the best names in the global fashion industry and this is the focus of my plans. I also aspire to keep expanding my art and explore more creative work within the realms of make up artistry, fashion & creation.

MM: Who are the photographers in India you would love to collaborate on a fashion shoot?

I would want to work with all the leading photographers since each one has a very unique style and approach to their art. Atul Kasbekar, Dabboo Ratnani, Tarun Khiwal, Munna Singh, Jatin Kampani and Bharat Sikka are some of the top photographers I would love to collaborate with. Tarun Vishwa, Akash Das, Pravin Talan and Vishal Saxena are some of photographers I had the opportunity to work with this year.

MM: What has been the best experience of working in India?

The experience of working in India itself has been outstanding. From working with the creative people that I got the opportunity to collaborate with to being so well received within this ever growing industry, has been a great journey that I was working towards and feel that I have reached a very important stage in my career.

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