Jun 1, 2020

Behind the Camera Weekend: Alison Henthorn

We sat down with Key Hair and Make Up artist Alison Henthorn to hear about her approach to creating a character - it's all about the connection to be able to capture emotion and expression.

What makes baby boomers so awesome?

They worked hard for what they got... and they lived during both Beatlemania and Studio 54!

Sex, sexuality, gender and different kinds of relationships are depicted in Avocado Toast the series. Why is it important to continue sharing these types of stories today?

Because these are real kinds of relationships that represent real kinds of people, and for too long we saw the same old stories that only represented a select few.

Who is a major influence for you and on your creativity?

Bob Fosse, Michael Jackson, Kevin Aucoin, RuPaul & Lady GaGa

Is there a type of job you dream of having but haven’t had the opportunity yet?

My dream job is to go on tour with a recording artist, which would combine my loves of live performance, music, and makeup!

With so much going on in the world today, what’s your motivation to be a makeup artist?

When I first became a makeup artist, my motivation mostly came from trying to

achieve a certain aesthetic, and to create something that looked impressive. Now that has shifted, and I create from a place of connection. It is more about capturing the expression and emotion of the client/subject.

What's next for you as a creator/actor/performer?

I would love to work on another TV series this year. (hopefully season 2 of Avocado Toast!) I also have a few ideas for some creative projects that I hope to get the ball rolling on.

Do you have interesting hobbies or a creative pursuit outside of makeup? Tell us about it!

When I'm not working, I like to spend my time playing guitar, working on my drawing skills (I just got into online courses in 2020. The future now old man) or taking a dance class (either jazz class or house class, depends how much I wanna point my toes that day). I also love collaborating with fellow artists on creative photo and video shoots with roots in dance and fashion :)