VIDEO: Olivia Sif Hahn Kristensen

Trine Skjøth er Danmarks mest ettertraktede make-up artist. Hun jobber som make-up artist for Chanel og hennes arbeid er å se i intrenasjonale kampanjer, runway showes og magasiner som Vogue og Elle. Trine sin interesse for sminke startet i en tidlig alder. Som de fleste andre jenter i oppveksten leste hun en rekke motemagasiner, men oppmerksomheten var verken på klærne eller veskene i magsinet. Trine ble opphengt i å studere en hver make-up look hun så. Det som facinerte henne var fargekombinasjonene og hvordan utrykk og følelser kunne utrykkes igjennom sminken. Hjemme hos Trine var det ikke noe sminke å få tak i ettersom at moren ikke var spesielt interessert i sminke. Trines vei for å utforske var å gå inn i toalettskapene til hennes venninners mødre. Der utviklet lidenskapen seg for dufter og sminkens farger og konsistens.

Skjøth er selvlært innenfor fagområdet, og har oppgjennom årene dannet seg ett nettverk som har vært avgjørende for hennes karriere. I tyveårene fikk hun sitt første arbeide i en klesbutikk der hun igjennom kontakter fikk tilbud om sin første styling jobb. Hennes stil ble svært annerkjent i miljøet og karrieren som stylist blomstret. Trine skjønte fort at det var hennes langvarige lidenskap for sminke som ville legge grunnlaget for en lykkelig arbeidshverdag. Etter å ha kjempet for tittelen som make-up artist lever hun nå som en vellykket frilanser. I dag blir hun representert av Agentur CPH og LUNDLUND og sponsorert av Chanel.

Q&A:

Dine beste råd til spirende make up artister for å komme inn i bransjen?
Først og fremmest ska du brænde for det! Der er mange om budet, så du skal ville det 100 procent. Vær arbejdsom, engageret og omkring dig. Network med folk som du evt kender til i branchen. Et åbent , positivt og kreativt sind er godt at have med i bagagen.

Do’s and don’ts som assistent for deg?
Do’s= Engageret, positiv, nysgerrig , humor og en smule ydmyghed skader heller ikke.
Dont’s= Uengageret, iPhone maniac på job, sure miner, minus socialt sind, “ukreativ personlighed”

Du beskriver ansiktet som et levende lærret der du er kunstneren – ved å jobbe i bransjen hender det at du får du lyst til å videreføre din kreative side i andre prosjekter utenom makeup?
Jeg laver tit kollager med udklip af ting jeg ser og finder interessante. Sætter det sammen og maler ovenpå. Kan bruge laaang tid på hvert billede. Hygger og slapper a med at ” sysle ” med det.

Hvem er din drømme modell å legge make up på – hvorfor?
Jeg har ikke decideret nogen ” drømmemodel”. Det kommer helt an på hvad det er jeg skal lave. Men et ansigt jeg altid har været fashineret af er skuespilleren Tilda Swinton. Hun har det nøgne androgygne look, som jeg synes er uroligt smukt og for mig et perfekt lærred.

Hva er det villeste du har sagt ja til?
At lave hele kampagnen for Lars von Triers ” Nymphomaniac” , hvor alle de store stjerner/ skuespillere skulle simulerer en orgasme var en vild og weird opgave. Vi skød over mange gange i Tyskland( hvor filmen blev optaget) og hele setup’et var fuldstændigt Crazy , men udfordrende og så sjovt.

Har du et godt råd du selv kunne ønske du fikk da du var i 20-årene?
Faktisk synes jeg det Anika og Borups Højskole har gang i med at få jer unge ud og møde forskellige kreative mennesker er en ting jeg ville ønske jeg havde haft mulighed for. Det er en utrolig fin , inspirerende og brugbar ide.

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English version translated by: Klara Thörn

Trine Skjøth is Denmark’s most wanted make-up artist. She works for Chanel, and her work is to be found in international campaigns, runway shows and magazines as Vogue and Elle. Trine’s interest in make-up began already in early age. Just as many young girls do she read a number of fashion magazines, but her focus wasn’t on the clothes or the bags. Trine was obsessed with the make-up looks. What fascinated her was the combination of colours and how the make-up was used to express different emotions. At home there was no make-up to use, Trine’s mother wasn’t particularly interested in that. Trines way of experimenting with make-up was therefore to look in the toilet cabinets of her friends’ mothers. That was how she learned about fragrances, colours and textures of different make-up.

Skjøth is self-taught and has throughout the years built up a network that has become crucial for her career. In her twenties she got her first job in a clothing store and thanks to connections there she finally got her first stylist job. Her styling was highly acclaimed and her career flourished. Trine soon realized that it was her long-standing passion for make-up that would lay the foundation for a happy work life. After a long struggle for the title as make-up artist she is now a successful freelancer. Today she is represented by Agentur CPH and LUNDLUND and sponsored by Chanel.

What are your best advices to an upcoming make-up artist who wants to enter the industry?
First of all you have to be passionate! There is a lot of competition so you have to be 100 % in for it. Work hard, be committed and look around you. Try to network with people that you know in the business. Remember to always bring a positive, creative and open mind.

Do’s and don’ts as assistant for you?
Do’s = Dedicated, curious and positive, humor and a little modesty doesn’t hurt. Don’t’s = Uncomitted, iPhone maniac at work, grumpiness, bad socially and an “uncreative personality”.

You describe the face as a living canvas where you are the artist – by working in the business, does it happen that you feel like using your creative side for other projects than make-up?
I often make collages with clippings and things I see and find interesting. Put it together and paint on top. Can use looong time on each picture. It’s relaxing and I really enjoy it.

Who is your dream model to do make-up for? Why?
I actually don’t have a “dream model”. It depends on what it is I’m doing. But one face that’s always fascinated me is the actress Tilda Swinton. She has that naked androgyny look that I think is very beautiful and for me it’s the perfect canvas.

What is the craziest thing you’ve ever said yes to?
To do the whole campaign for Lars Von Trier’s “Nymphomaniac” where all the big stars/actors were supposed to simulate an orgasm was a crazy and weird task. We went to Germany many times to shoot (that was where the film was shot) and the entire setup was completely crazy, but it was challenging and so much fun.

Do you have an advice that you wish you would have gotten when you were in your twenties?
Actually I think that what Anika and Borups højskole does when they take you out to meet creative people is a possibility that I wish I would have had. It is an incredibly good, inspiring and useful concept.