Conversations with Adrienne Duterte

Today we’d like to introduce you to Adrienne Duterte

Hi Adrienne, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I guess you could say my path to becoming a hair & makeup artist and cosmetic tattoo artist started as early as around four years old. My older brother taught me how to draw using his mangas and anime dvds as reference, and I continued portraiture throughout my teens and early 20s but it shifted to realism versus animation. I went to aesthetics school when I was 21, and while my main interest was skincare, I learned I had a knack for makeup (I’ve always been more of a tomboy) due to my art background. As I worked in different spas and salons after completing my program, I started loving makeup more and more and picked up styling hair along the way. I eventually made the change from skincare to doing hair and makeup full time and haven’t really looked back. I fully believe my aesthetics foundation continues to be a huge benefit in my makeup artistry though.
I’ve been getting tattooed for over 10 years now, and though I always knew I never wanted to be a traditional tattoo artist, I always wished there was a way that I could be in the tattoo world that I loved so much. Cosmetic tattooing blended my two worlds together, tattoos and beauty, perfectly since I’ve been shaping brows for as long as I’d been getting tattooed.
After Death Artistry came about after I completed my cosmetic tattoo training. I’ve worked as an independent contractor for a couple of different bridal beauty companies over recent years, but I feel like I finally figured out what I truly wanted and where I fit in my profession last year. I learned so much from working with those companies, but I realized I was just going through the motions and losing myself rather than taking a leap and going after what I actually wanted.
I decided to go out on my own so I could be myself and be able to fully embrace the diversity that can come from working in the beauty field. I love weddings and getting to be a part of someone’s love story, but I also love the creative freedom with high fashion and editorial work (which is how I started in beauty but no longer had the time for it as a bridal contractor). I love a classic bridal beauty look, but I also want to cater to those who aren’t your conventional bride and want something unique and alternative. I love getting to work at and discover such beautiful wedding venues regularly, but I also love hanging out with the tattoo artists I’ve known for years at Oak City when I have a brow tattoo client.
I love variety. I love having a different style to achieve every day. I love a challenge that activates my creativity rather than copy and pasting. I want to be the person and artist four year old me would have looked up to.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
I think starting a new business is inherently always going to be a struggle at first. However, I’m very fortunate that I’ve been able to make amazing connections and friendships with various vendors throughout my years of doing this, and they have been nothing short of amazing in supporting and referring me. I also have an amazing family and my best friends who honestly believe in me more than I believe in myself more often than not. It’s blown me away the way they’ve encouraged me and their faith in this being the right path for me. Every time I’m ready to panic or give up because of the instability of starting a new business, a new inquiry or opportunity comes along. I always view that as the universe telling me I’m doing what I’m supposed to be doing.
Overall, I’ve been lucky that the road to getting me here has mostly been smooth. I think I’m the poster child of being in the right place at the right time haha. I’ve never been much of a long term planner, but I think that has aided me in taking small but relevant and helpful steps for what my ultimate goal would be which is After Death.
The only real bump that resulted in any kind of chaotic and stressful period of time was working for the first bridal company. The owner, in hindsight, was incredibly irresponsible and unorganized up until suddenly deciding to shut down the company. It led to a VERY stressful first year in the following company I worked for, but I learned A LOT about what not to and what to do.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I think what sets me apart from other artists and also what I specialize in is versatility. I’ve been doing hair and makeup for over 10 years, and I have experience in pretty much every avenue of that whether it be weddings, runway, editorial, video/film. That’s not to say every branch of that is my niche or that I would love to do it regularly, but I’ve developed a skillset that makes me incredibly adaptable.
I also think I’m a great listener, patient, and authentic, and I think it makes people feel comfortable with me. Which honestly goes a looong way. People want to feel heard and understood, but it can be hard to relay that sometimes when it feels like it’s at the cost of someone’s artistry and feelings.

What I’m most proud of are probably the connections and relationships I’ve made doing this. For me, there’s no better feeling than making someone feel amazing about themselves and how they look, especially if it’s a special and momentous day. That is sometimes the downer with working weddings, when you genuinely enjoy working with someone but knowing you likely won’t see them again. So actually, I guess the only better feeling is when they continue to come to you for any future events or milestones after.

Who else deserves credit in your story?
I wouldn’t say I’ve had a mentor per say, but I’ve worked with some really wonderful people who I’ve certainly learned from throughout the years.
As far as creatively, my friends Moira Zipperer, Alli Carter, Alycee Byrd, and Chris Nieto really bring out the best in me. Whenever we work together, they fully trust in my artistic ability and give me the free rein and space to create my vision from their inspiration. It’s truly a collaboration every time, and whenever I think of my favorite shoots, one of them has always been a part of it.
In general, my family and friends have gone above and beyond for me. I truly don’t think I’d be here if my brother never taught me to draw. My sister, Dawn, was the one who got me into makeup by forcing me to watch Beauty YouTube with her. My sister, Faye, has been my biggest cheerleader since I decided to start After Death. She takes every opportunity to talk about me/my business to literally anyone she comes across. My best friend, Heather, has brought me to tears multiple times letting me know how proud of me she is and that this is the person she’s always known I was meant to be (we’ve been best friends since 6th grade).
Weddings can be tough sometimes since the couples can obviously be stressed along with multiple emotions running through them. There is one bride in particular who said something to me on her wedding day that will always stick with me and reminds me why I love doing this. It was years ago now, but her name was Helena. She looked stunning and was an absolute sweetheart. I was waiting with her in the bridal suite until it was time for her to make her way down the aisle because I genuinely enjoyed working with her. Before it was time for her to make her way to the ceremony, she said, “Thank you so much for being here today. You made me look so beautiful, but more than that, I can tell you are someone who has so much love to give, and you brought so much love to my day.” It took everything in me to not sob on the spot haha.

Pricing:

• Event Hair or Makeup starting at $135 each
• Wedding Hair or Makeup starting at $185 each
• Beauty Lessons starting at $200
• Ombre Powder Brow Tattoo $500
• Ombre Powder Brow Refresh $300

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.afterdeathartistry.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/afterdeathartistry
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61570207508402