Meet Mak Hoeksema | Special Effects Makeup Artist

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

Hi Mak, what is the most important factor behind your success?
The most important factor to me is the willingness to learn. Being open and willing to learn from the others in my field has opened me up to amazing opportunities and taught me skills I had not had. By listening to those more experienced than me, I have seen my own skills progress beyond what I could have imagined and I’m grateful for those who let me shadow them.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
It’s hard to know what sets me apart from others because I take so much inspiration from artists around me. I try to come up with completely original work, but all art is derivative. I believe my mentality is what defines me. I had to utilize patience and humility in order to keep my head afloat. Reminding myself that there will always be an artist out there that is better than me keeps me levelheaded and helps me accept constructive criticism. I had to stay patient and know it would take a lot of work to get where I want to. The key to growth in any professional or personal setting is patience and understanding of yourself, your expectations, and your limitations . I still surround myself with amazing creative people and hope to grasp even an ounce of their talent. I am nowhere near my career goal, but every job and lesson learned is a baby step there. Breaking into the film industry is incredibly difficult, but I had a whole village cheering me on every step of the way. I come from a small town in Indiana where your options are be a nurse or tradesman (who are both incredibly important). When I decided to make makeup my career, I had to pack all my belongings and move across the country, away from everything I knew. It was demanding and at times very lonely, but worth it in the end. I had family and friends sending me letters and texts of encouragement which is what got me through it.
When I reflect on what of my work makes me the most proud, the ones that got big reactions always come to mind. I got the chance to work at Six Flags Great America this last year and we were given a large amount of creativity for the characters. My clowns always made me smile at the end of the day and they always smiled back at me (not just because I painted them that way). When my team let me know how much they liked something I did, I instantly became more proud of it. I try to put my own spin on everything I do while still giving credit to those I admire like Sophia Rapata, Guillermo Del Toro, etc.

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?
My heart is split between my home city of Chicago and my work city of LA. When it comes to the Windy City, I spend most of my time at the Art Institute. If I feel ambitious, I’ll walk over to Hero Coffee for the best Americano. Just make sure to try the local pizza and a Chicagodog.
Almost all of my favorite spots in LA are outside the city. Fiesta Taco in Burbank has my heart forever. I used to go there in school to do homework and have the best taquitos ever. Any beach is a must, especially to see the sunsets. I think the best way to grasp any city you visit is to learn something, explore something, and eat something.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I want to thank my incredible partner who supported me full heartedly when I was struggling to find my place in my career. Having his support was the biggest comfort and I wouldn’t have gotten through it without him. I also want to thank the many amazing artists who have taught me and pushed me to do my best such as Alex Noble, Gil Romero, Maggie and Miguel, and many others.

Instagram: https://Mak.the.mua

Image Credits
Credits: Devrille Weekes