Meet Austin Sather | Makeup Artist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Austin Sather and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Austin, what are you inspired by?
I get a lot of my inspiration from a little bit of everything. From nature to basic art, I can pull inspiration from almost anything. I also get most of my inspiration from artists I’ve looked up to from the beginning. Artists such as Sam Fine, Kevyn Aucoin, and Pat McGrath.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I think being able to set yourself apart, especially as a makeup artist, can definitely be difficult because of how saturated our industry has become. It can also sometimes be hard to be 100% original when most things beauty wise, have already been done. But, I think taking time to find your niche is a great way to start. I owe a lot of my success to the many beautiful black woman that I have been blessed to paint over the years. I think woman of color in general are serverly underrepresented and sometimes thought of as an after thought, especially in the makeup industry. Because of that, I definitely take pride in being able to know how to work with deeper complexions. A lot of that “know how” definitely comes from trial and error but again, having that hands-on mentorship helped me tremendously. I wouldn’t necessarily say it has been easy but having people who I could go to with any questions I had made it much easier. With that said, I believe some of the most important lessons you should learn and practice are patience and communication. I believe both are essential no matter what field you’re in but play such an important role especially as a makeup artist.
I always knew growing up that I wanted to do something in relations to art and I wanted great things for myself. But, having grown up in a small town, I knew I wasn’t in the ideal place to make those dreams a reality. At eighteen, I moved out to Los Angeles with almost no plan other than “How can I get to where I want to be?” And not too long after, I booked my first real makeup job. I am now 7+ years in the making and have worked with names such as Winnie Harlow, Normani, Ryan Destiny, and Noah Cyrus. Yet, I feel I still have SO much to learn.
From my experience, you can make any dream a reality with the right amount of patience and dedication. It really is all up to you to make it a reality.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
For anyone visiting Los Angeles for the very first time, one of my favorite spots to bring my friends and family for breakfast/lunch is Clark St. Diner on Franklin Ave. It’s super cute and has a warm 70s sort of vibe. The food is delicious and definitely a must-try! Also, I grew up not too far from the ocean so beach days are always a must. Malibu is one of my favorite beaches, plus the drive through Malibu Canyon is always breathtaking. 71 Above inside the Intercontinental in Downtown is another great option for anyone looking for great drinks, lively atmosphere, and a perfect view of Los Angeles. & Last but not least, if you are able to make the drive and love amusement parks as much as I do, definitely make a day for Six Flags if you can!

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I definitely owe a lot of my success and stableness to my friends and family. Without them, I think navigating and trying to handle everything alone, would be so much harder. Also, a huge shoutout to the numerous artists I have worked with/assisted in the past. I think having the opportunity for a hands-on approach when it comes to learning something like makeup, is key. I definitely wouldn’t be where I am today if it weren’t for the help of the few artists who were actually willing to give me a chance and took the time to teach me.

Website: www.austinsather.com

Instagram: avstinsather