Art & Life with Charlene Gartrell

Today we’d like to introduce you to Charlene Gartrell.

Charlene, please kick things off for us by telling us about yourself and your journey so far.
I’ve always been drawn to the pretty things in life. Makeup, fashion, art; it all screams creativity, and I can’t help but be drawn to it. I became an esthetician immediately after graduating from high school. At the time, it was more of a backup plan in case my other ones didn’t work out. Little did I know, it would play a huge part in my future. I worked for about six years as a wax specialist and freelance makeup artist until my husband, and I had the opportunity to relocate to Georgia and work for a Christian non-profit. We were both searching for a new adventure and thought, “Yep, this is it!” (Well, just because it’s an adventure, it doesn’t always mean it’s going to be fun. It’s also scary and challenging, which is exactly what that move was for us.) After a year in Georgia, I became pregnant with our second son, and we decided it was time to come back home to Arizona. Even though we had made some great relationships while living in the South, we were coming back home with our bags packed full of heartache, frustration, and financial debt.

Once back in Arizona, I resumed my position as a wax specialist up until I gave birth to my son, Jack, in December of 2018. It was during those last few months of pregnancy that I realized I needed to do something more for the sake of my family. After seeing all the debt we had accumulated and then factoring in childcare for both kids, I realized we were in a tough spot. The last thing I wanted was for my husband to feel like he was carrying that financial weight all by himself, so I thought, “I’m going to start my own business.”

Three weeks after my son was born I had my grand opening of The Prickly Pear Wax and Makeup Studio. Taking that leap was the scariest and most amazing thing I think I’ve ever done, and I wouldn’t have had the courage if I wasn’t in a place of such desperation. So the moral of my story is, don’t always think the bad times are all bad. Sometimes the bad times are what push you into your good times. Let desperation push you toward courage, and you’ll be amazed at what can happen!

Can you give our readers some background on your art?
At The Prickly Pear Wax and Makeup Studio, I specialize in those two things: waxing and makeup. I perform body and facial waxing services and do makeup for all types of events: photo shoots, weddings, headshots, date nights, you name it! One thing I love about these two services is instant gratification. One minute you’re hairy, the next you’re not! One minute you look like you just woke up, and the next you’re ready to take on the world! Boom. Instant gratification.

My passion behind what I do is helping people feel beautiful in their own skin. I want my clients to feel like their best self, not turn them into someone else. This world is full of enough copy cats, and comparison lurks on all social media corners. If people could learn to love themselves a little more, then the world might be a happier place.

More than the makeup and hair pulling, my favorite part about what I do are the relationships I get to make. Every appointment is an opportunity for me to connect and hear someone’s story. Some of my best friendships have started with a wax appointment!

In your view, what is the biggest issue artists have to deal with?
A huge challenge artists face today is the pressure of meeting a certain level of social media “fame” before they consider themselves successful. Social media can be a powerful tool for artists, but it can also be a dangerous place of comparison and self-doubt. It’s so easy to see other artists’ work and think, “Should I be doing that? Am I that good? Do I have enough followers? Is the content I’m putting out good enough?”

Let’s not get lost in the scrolling. Let’s not lose sight of what we alone can bring to the table. Sometimes it’s best to keep our eyes focused on our own work, while still cheering on our fellow artists.

What’s the best way for someone to check out your work and provide support?
People can see my work on my website at thepricklypearwax.com, on Instagram at @pricklypearwaxandmakeup, and on Facebook at The Prickly Pear Wax and Makeup Studio.

People can support my work a few different ways: by making an appointment, liking and following my social media outlets, and by word of mouth. I’m grateful for any and all support!

Contact Info:

• Website: thepricklypearwax.com
• Email: chargartrell@gmail.com
• Instagram: @pricklypearwaxandmakeup
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/charlenemelissa.makeup/

Image Credit:
Danielle Applebach Photography
Ashtyn Nicole Photo

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