Instructor Profile: Sylvia Pichler

“I give 100% when I teach, and I expect the same from my students.”

When Sylvia Pichler began teaching at Make-Up Designory (MUD) in 2008, she brought more than twenty years of experience as a professional make-up artist, including fifteen years as an airbrush enthusiast. Today she shares her passion for the airbrush with her students. In her seminar, Ms. Pichler teaches students how to create a full Beauty Make-up, including eyebrows, eyes, lips, contour and blush, with the airbrush. She also teaches airbrush skills like tanning, corrective body make-up, avant-garde looks and body art. Her goal: “I want every student to leave with enthusiasm and excitement about the new skills learned here at MUD.”

This passion for acquiring and sharing knowledge has been a common thread throughout Ms. Pichler’s career. From 2006-2007 she worked as Director of Education and Product Development for Temptu Cosmetics, a role that required her to travel extensively across the United States and abroad, conducting airbrush seminars and leading hands-on classes. She has worked extensively in print for clients such as Rolex, Wella, Clairol, Epson, DKNY, FUJIfilm, Nikon, and in television advertising for Avon, L’Oreal, Clairol, T-Mobile and GenSpec. She has also done runway work, and Broadway press junkets for shows that include: Mamma Mia, The Drowsy Chaperone, Bombay Dreams, Shrek, The Producers, A Tale of Two Cities, Frost/Nixon, Time Stands Still, and Collected Stories.

One of her favorite projects involved a commercial for DKNY featuring Hilary Duff, in which Ms. Pichler had the opportunity to design three different make-up looks for Hilary, in addition to hiring and overseeing a key hair designer and team of ten different hair and make-up artists. With each professional assignment, she strives to do her utmost to make the client happy. Ms. Pichler describes her approach to her work: “I listen, prepare, and bring my bag of tricks for those unexpected surprises. Got an unwanted tattoo that needs to be airbrushed away right on the set? Or a quick change of make-up – in five minutes? Or…blemishes? Bring it!”

Besides being inspired by the unexpected, Ms. Pichler draws ideas from sci-fi/fantasy, music, museums, old movies, art books and other make-up artists. Why does she love what she does? “Every job is an adventure, big or small!”