Chontelle Sewett has by no means been one to paint contained in the strains.
At simply 31, the Guyanese-born artistic emerges as a powerhouse in visible storytelling, mixing graphic design, vogue, content creation, and the often-overlooked artwork of particular results (SFX) make-up right into a daring, boundary-defying model.
“I really like the bizarre and the wild,” Sewett stated in an interview. “Make-up offers me the liberty to precise all of the elements of myself—the glamorous, the scary, the sudden.”
Picture courtesy of Chontelle Sewett
Raised in Guyana and skilled in New York, Sewett’s creative journey spans over 15 years. However it was not till 2019, simply earlier than the COVID-19 pandemic, that she determined to pivot towards make-up as her major artistic outlet. She had accomplished a make-up program in New York when the world shut down. Caught at house, she used the downtime to dive deeper into her craft.
“I started experimenting with colours and strategies, pushing my boundaries,” she stated. “That’s once I found my ardour for particular results make-up. My inspiration got here from Guyanese make-up artist Tenisha Billington, whose work opened my eyes to the probabilities of this artwork kind.”
Whereas most Caribbean make-up artists give attention to magnificence and carnival seems, Sewett carved out a distinct segment with elaborate, horror-inspired designs—assume zombies, monsters, and surreal fantasy characters. Her daring transformations rapidly turned heads on social media, the place she now instructions a loyal following.
“When individuals within the Caribbean see me pop up as a creature or zombie, their reactions are priceless,” she laughed. “It’s one thing they’re not used to seeing, and that’s what makes it thrilling.”
Sewett’s artistic pursuits have taken her world wide, together with stops within the Caribbean and Dubai. Nevertheless, she is now in Guyana, the place she continues to push creative boundaries whereas inspiring a brand new era of Caribbean creatives.
A Self-Made Inventive Machine
Along with make-up, Sewett is a seasoned graphic designer with greater than a decade {of professional} expertise. Her background in design influences her method to paint principle, composition, and general visible presentation.
“Being a designer taught me tips on how to see the world in another way,“ she stated. “Now I can have a look at something and discover inspiration. All the pieces turns into an concept.”
However behind the flawless content material and elaborate make-up seems lies a one-woman operation. Sewett writes, movies, edits, and produces all of her content material. The calls for are excessive, and the pay isn’t all the time assured.
“SFX make-up is dear,“ she admitted. “I don’t all the time receives a commission for my seems however put money into it as a result of it’s my ardour.“
Even with restricted sources, her work has garnered consideration past the Caribbean. Just lately, she skilled underneath famend SFX artist Wayne Anderson, greatest recognized for his work on Netflix’s “Stranger Issues,” and hopes to someday collaborate with him or work behind the scenes in movie manufacturing. “My dream is to work on film units,“ Sewett stated. “I need to create characters that come alive on display. That’s the subsequent degree for me.”
For Sewett, make-up is extra than simply artistry — it’s a type of empowerment. “I’ve seen individuals gentle up with confidence after a makeover,“ she stated. “That transformation, even when it’s refined, can change somebody’s whole temper or mindset. I really like being part of that.”
Past her initiatives, Sewett is captivated with mentoring younger artists throughout the Caribbean. She’s planning to launch workshops and masterclasses centered on SFX and inventive make-up strategies, particularly in Guyana, the place the sector stays underdeveloped.
“There’s a lot expertise right here that simply wants steerage and alternative,“ she stated. “I need to construct a group round this — one thing greater than myself.”
Make-up is only one device in Sewett’s artistic arsenal. A lifelong vogue fanatic, she designs many outfits, conceptualizing the look earlier than passing it off to a tailor in Guyana.
“I sketch, I plan, I obsess over the small print,“ she stated. “I don’t sew, however I really like the method of bringing a imaginative and prescient to life.”
Picture courtesy of Chontelle Sewett
Her fashion-forward considering is clear throughout her digital platforms. On Instagram, she maintains a cultured and curated aesthetic. On TikTok, she lets her persona shine, usually unfiltered and humorous.
“I’m goofy, I’m bizarre, and I’m simply being myself,“ she stated. “Individuals love that blend of realness and creativity.”
Whereas her journey has not been with out obstacles, Sewett stays undeterred. “There are occasions once I doubt myself,“ she admitted. “However then I end a glance or a venture, and I’m like, ‘Wow, I did that.‘ That’s the reward.”
As she seems forward, Sewett hopes to increase her model into movie, training, and product growth. However no matter comes subsequent, she’s decided to remain genuine.
“That is who I am,“ she stated. “And I need to maintain displaying others, particularly within the Caribbean, that you may be something you need if you happen to’re keen to place within the work and keep true to your imaginative and prescient.“
Sewett is at the moment again in Guyana, specializing in getting ready for her subsequent important step, attending a particular results make-up college in Los Angeles. She is diligently securing the required funds to make this dream a actuality. With unwavering dedication, Sewett is dedicated to advancing her expertise and excited in regards to the alternatives in her artistic journey.
Comply with Chontelle Sewett’s journey on Instagram and TikTok @ChontelleSewett or go to her website chontellesewett.com.
