From werewolves and human dogs to triple-breasted green-skinned ghouls, the MUA also known as Carole the Artist is reminding everyone that make-up is supposed to be fun
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Crafting a character always came naturally to Carole Méthot, known online as Carole the Artist. As a child growing up in a small town in Québec, she would use markers, nail polish or mascara to draw designs on her face, making a “mess” and revelling in the carefree creativity of unbridled self-expression. It’s a sentiment she’s carried into her career. As a make-up artist, her style is an intentional and ever-expanding exploration of beauty beyond the binary that’s as unnerving as it is inspiring.
From werewolves and pierced fleshy mohawks to ghost face and triple-breasted green-skinned ghouls, Méthot creates creatures, canvases and caricatures of her subjects – drawing on a toolkit of prosthetics and household items like paper and tape to subvert and expand our notion of make-up as art. Carole the Artist uses her skills to build worlds – to defy and redesign – but always with her home planet in mind.
A vegan make-up artist, animal rights activist and advocate for sustainability, Méthot makes a stand on shoots to only use products and work with brands that are strictly vegan and cruelty-free. It’s a commitment to a better world that has paid off. Now based in Montreal, Méthot has been working on editorials for System Magazine, Circus and multiple covers of ELLE Quebec. She’s collaborated with Juergen Teller, Miaou and SSENSE and counts the likes of Claire Pommet, Tommy Cash and Yves Tumor among her clientele, creating looks that push the boundaries of beauty with prosthetics, piercings and a punk sensibility. Ultimately her ethos in her work is to encourage fun and remind people that “imperfection is nice”.
Here, we speak to the make-up artist about MySpace shoots, makeup as play and the future of injectable beauty.
Can you tell us a bit about yourself and where you grew up?
Carole Méthot: I grew up in a cute quaint town in Gatineau. There wasn’t a lot going on there and I lived pretty simply. I was spending my time drawing, painting, playing with make-up and doing silly shoots with my sister, spending hours on MySpace. After high school, I moved to Vancouver to study make-up and ended up living there for six years until I moved back to Quebec six years ago.
What is it you do and why do you do it?
Carole Méthot: I’ve been doing make-up as a job for like twelve years, on all sorts of different productions, and I’ve been practising prosthetics on and off for about six years. Well firstly, make-up is pretty much what I know and it’s become so second nature to me, and I’m committed. Secondly, I get the chance to consistently connect and work with so many inspiringly creative people. Thirdly… there’s still a bit of that artsy fire in me from the early days that keeps me going I suppose.
How did you get into it?
Carole Méthot: I initially started practising weird make-up on myself on the bus ride to school so that my mom wouldn’t see (drawing scars on my face, or writing ‘your mom’ under my eyes. Looking back she was right when she said it was inappropriate). Then I started doing make-up on my friends and my sister for fun. And when I finally joined Facebook I saw an ad for a make-up school online and I go ‘oh damn that’s a real job’.
What’s your earliest beauty-related memory?
Carole Méthot: When I was really little my sisters and I took mom's mascara and drew all over our faces and made a big mess.
Describe your beauty aesthetic in three words.
Carole Méthot: DIY Hunky Dory.
Which fictional character do you most relate to?
Carole Méthot: Valerie Cherish from The Comeback for many reasons. One of them being I’m constantly trying to stay relevant to keep others interested, while at the same time trying to stay true to myself and my values and my style.
Who is your beauty icon or favourite look of all time?
Carole Méthot: Both white swan and black swan looks created by Judy Chin for Black Swan. It’s the ultimate ‘Day to Night’ make-up. Also Kiki Kannibal. Random but she was really influential with her signature look around the time I was getting into make-up.
What is your current obsession?
Carole Méthot: My 2024 calendar I made with friend and photographer Hugo Labrecque.
What does beauty mean to you?
Carole Méthot: Beauty is what you’re putting in your body just as much as what you’re slathering on the outside. It’s how you’re treating yourself, and the effects from how people around you treat you. It’s a lash lift, a natural flush from having a crush, or it could be a scar from a time that was formative.
When do you feel most beautiful?
Carole Méthot: After I cry, or after sleeping for 12 hours.
Are you optimistic about the future?
Carole Méthot: Yes, by choice not by default.
Tomorrow you wake up with another face of your choice. Whose is it and why?
Carole Méthot: Dakota Johnson because I love her smile.
You’re the editor of a time-travelling beauty journal 100 years from now, what beauty trends are you reporting on?
Carole Méthot: Reporting live about the new at-home-do-it-yourself filler injections that connect to an app on your phone that controls the colour sitting beneath your skin. Cheek, lips, etc. like those colour-changing bulbs.
You have to replace part of your body with that of an animal or a mythological creature. What do you go for and why?
Carole Méthot: A spider web maker… I feel like a lot can be done with that.