Meet Angel Strangis

 

Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Angel Strangis. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Hi Angel, appreciate you sitting with us today to share your wisdom with our readers. So, let’s start with resilience – where do you get your resilience from?

I grew up with three older sisters, and a mother who moved to the US from Lebanon at 9 years young. Even if I did not notice it in the moment, they affected me greatly and inspired me to always stand up for myself and get up when someone or life kicks you down. I remember always wanting to create change. To give you an idea, from a young age I never understood the inequalities between men and women. I always wanted to prove that women can do anything. This led me to challenging and beating all the boys in my fourth-grade class in an arm wrestle competition, except for one (Ben Kleineschay, if you’re reading this, I would like a rematch). I have a fire within me to stand up for what I believe is right and fair. I vowed to fuel this fire and keep it alive, even when I feel overwhelmed with insecurity. When I was 10, it was mostly for myself, but now my fuel is to set an example for young girls, and minorities in the world, to always express yourself, never hold back. Be loud, the world needs to hear you.

 

Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?

I am a special effects makeup artist for the entertainment industry! You can’t see me, but I type that with enthusiasm and gratitude. Gratitude for this art form and those who created the foundation for this artwork. I find this quote fits well for the work I do, “There is a million ways to skin a cat.” Morbid? yes, but it’s fitting. This is something my co-worker said to me that stuck with me. It means there is a million ways to achieve the effect you desire. There are pros and cons to each method, but neither is superior, they are different. You need to find what method works best for you and the outcome you are looking to achieve. I am grateful to get to work at an effects shop that took a chance on me, here I met some of the smartest, most creative, practical, incredible people I know. Marge, Tony, Ajax, Stephanie, Ryan, Avery, Jackson, & Bryan, thank you for inspiring me every day. I find doing blood effects/rigging for films excites me most because it is quite literally a magic trick. creating a slit throat effect for example is not so easy, you must think of everything and anything that could go wrong. Getting it right is rewarding and takes practice. I got my start in beauty makeup, and still love working with the unique features of each person. I am focused now on telling stories with other filmmakers and creatives. I find joy in creating meaning, thinking outside the box, and conveying emotion through my work.

 

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?

I am no expert on life, I will always be learning and growing, with that being said I will start with an important notion that has helped me in my career. Having a knowledge in the history of the industry you work in. Lucky for us 2024 folk, there are people who have come before us that have made the mistakes, and created inventive solutions to achieve an effect. When I began to research the practical makeup effects used in Evil Dead (1981) and American Werewolf in London (1981) I was beyond inspired, from there I immersed myself in every article, book, and video I could find on Rick Baker, the KNB EFX group, Dick Smith, and Eryn Krueger (to name a few). This history & knowledge can only help you in your career. I push myself to stay curious and ask questions about how others work and how I can put my own spin on art while respecting and implementing the foundations of the greats.

One trait I value is being authentic to yourself, which is hard, when you are still navigating who you are and what you value. I often have a hard time seeing my worth and speaking freely without judgement. In the past at work, I would become quiet and get caught up in the professional aspect of the job, out of fear of over stepping or saying the wrong thing. I was reminded by a fellow makeup artist (the extremely talented, Nikki Carmela) that people are going to hire me for me. The work I produce is important but what really sticks with people is connection and authenticity. I am reminded of this moment of wisdom frequently when I am working, it pushes me to be myself, and that one decision to freely express yourself will inspire others to do the same.

Communication is a skill that I have had to strengthen over the years. Being open and honest about your feelings, expectations, strengths and weaknesses is an important skill to develop. I find this can get you out of a lot of weeds, in other words, if you are upfront about exactly what someone can expect from you, that gives you less room for error or miscommunication. A teacher I had, Miss Wendi, assured me early in my career that If you are communicating realistic expectations, you have done your job. If anything changes later, you will adjust. Being quick on your feet and prepared for anything is a good way to insure a successful workday! I write from a freelance artist perspective, but this can apply to many jobs and even relationships in life!

Is there a particular challenge you are currently facing?

This is a challenge that I will never overcome, but one that I am learning to manage and work with. My low self-esteem stems from a little kid that was loud & had a lot to say, a kid that never thought she was good enough, she felt she could never get anything right. She could work hard and put every ounce of herself into something and still fail. This little girl was me, and I was diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) at age 12. The public school system was not made with neurodivergent brains in mind. School was extremely discouraging for me, at the time I was convinced that I was stupid, and I felt I was a disappointment to everyone. I started doing my makeup around this time. Makeup became an outlet for me to express myself, and for the first time ever I found something that I was good at. I became the makeup artist for any kid that wanted to look fierce at the school dances. I still struggle with ADHD; it is a part of me, and I have learned that it is (definitely) a challenge, but it is also a superpower. I think outside of the box, I am smart, kind, and I am a hard worker. I was brave to turn my passions into a career. I take the time to include brains that develop differently in my life. I strive to be open to others because you never know when someone will surprise you.

Contact Info:

 

Image Credits

Photo 2 – Shawna White
Photo 6 – Connor Ellmann

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