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FACULTY

Meet Our Faculty Members

CMU is deeply committed to delivering the best possible education to aspiring makeup artists. Our award-winning and internationally acclaimed faculty are dedicated to passing on their knowledge and passion for makeup artistry.

Barbara Alexander

Fashion

Barbara's career in fashion makeup artistry has spanned over 30 years. Her work has appeared in major fashion magazines including Vogue and Harper's Bazaar.
Along with making up some of the world's most famous faces - Naomi Campbell, Isabella Rosselini - and spending countless hours on editorial photo shoots, commercial sets, backstage at runway shows, episodic TV shows, and on-air appearances. Barbara was the co-founder and VP Product Development for Cargo Cosmetics and was also responsible for trend forecasting for FACES Cosmetics. She was the recipient of the Canadian Network of Makeup Artists (CNoMA) Lifetime Achievement Award in 1996.

Julio Cesar da Silveira

Theatre & Hairstyling

Julio brings over 16 years of diverse makeup experience to the table, having honed his craft across bridal, fashion editorial, photoshoots, and music videos. Hailing from Brazil, he made Canada his home five years ago, choosing CMU College to further specialize in his trade. Since graduating, Julio has made waves as the official makeup artist for Miss Universe Canada and recently showcased his talent as the head designer for makeup and hair in Cirque du Soleil's "Echo" production.

Beyond makeup, Julio is a licensed hairdresser in Canada, allowing him to work with performers on stage styling wigs and hair. Eager to share his wealth of industry knowledge, Julio is committed to bringing the realities of working experience to the classroom, enriching the education of future makeup artists.

Jorge Chaves

Photoshop, Career Planning & Digital Portfolio Creation

Jorge Chaves is a professional photographic retoucher who specializes in commercial advertising. He has over 17 years of experience and is often sought out by top Canadian photographers. Jorge's client list includes Toyota, Mill Street Brewery, FedEx, Kraft, Royal Bank, Subaru, Dairy Farmers of Canada, and Crimestoppers. His work is regularly featured in print and billboard advertising throughout North America.

Steven Dawley

Prosthetics, Creature Design, SPFX

Steven is an alumnus of CMU who has had a rich career in special makeup effects. Over the past 15 years, he has worked with directors including David Cronenberg and Oscar-winning makeup artists Stephan DuPuis and Dave and Lou Elsey. Steven's film and television credits include Pacific Rim, Maps to the Stars, Resident Evil: Retribution, Resident Evil: Apocalypse, Wolves, Silent Hill, Clown, Saving Hope, Bitten, and Remedy.

Carmela (Carm) Dos Santos

Hairstyling & Fashion

Carm began her career as a hair stylist straight out of Marvel Beauty School in Toronto. Worked for many high end salons throughout the 70’s, 80’s to mid 90’s. Has owned and operated her own salon during that time. Realizing her dream job to work in film from 1997 and still active in film today. In between film work she has gone back to Marvel Beauty School to instruct and inspire future hairstylists and has also worked in men’s hair replacement studios on her down time.

She still gets excited about hair and hopes to contribute to the film world and inspire young cosmetologists to fulfil their dreams as she did hers.

Lori-Ann Lazary

Fashion

For more than 30 years, Lori-Ann has shared her passion and expertise in makeup with some of the top photographers in Toronto, New York, London and Paris.

Her work has appeared in fashion publications such as Flare, British Elle, Italian Vogue, Glamour and Chatelaine. Her advertising clients for both print and commercial work include The Bay, Harlequin books, Sony, Bell Canada, Revlon, Sporting Life and Holt Renfrew among others. Celebrity clients have included Malin Ackerman, Shay Mitchell, Nick Bateman, and Darryl Sitler to name a few.

Lori-Ann's creative eye and love of art, sees the face as the canvas and the makeup as the medium. Her easy going manner, presence on set, skill to work quickly, collaborate with the team, help bring the client's vision to life.

Ethan Maksimovich

Creature Design, Digital Sculpting, ZBrush

Ethan is an alumnus of CMU, and a graduate of the Digital Makeup Effects Program. After a decade spent cooking in restaurants across Canada, Ethan decided to push what was once just a hobby to the next level, leaving the kitchen behind to pursue the study of sculpture. His passion for working in clay eventually led to ZBrush - a new frontier of digital creation, one untethered from traditional material restraints.

Inspired by the work of artists like illustrator Mike Mignola, and concept artist Pablo Muñoz Gómez, Ethan's approach to creature and character design borrows heavily from the natural world, while taking influence from sources like Dungeons & Dragons, H.P. Lovecraft, and the comic books he grew up with. Ethan's work has been featured by The Monster Makers Instagram page, and in addition to CMU he has done freelance work for Trent University.

Mason Mummery

Creature Design, Figurative Sculpting, Life Drawing, Prosthetics

Mason is an expert sculptor, lab technician, and fine artist. He brings a wealth of experience into character creation and concept development. Mason previously worked as a Studio Technician at OCAD, where he taught students the technical methods of clay modelling, mould making, woodworking, and bronze casting. His knowledge of fabrication techniques and his lifelong interest in film and television drive him to inspire and educate future digital makeup effects artists.

Lesley Olson

Theatre, Film & Television

Lesley is an established Makeup Artist in several fields from fashion to print advertising, as well as the music industry. During her career, she has worked with such names as Sting, Hugh Jackman, Bryan Adams, and Paul Stanley of Kiss fame.

Lesley also became heavily involved in the world of musical theatre as Head of Makeup for Phantom of the Opera, Joseph and the Technicolour Dream Coat with Donny Osmond, and Ragtime with Audra McDonald. She also worked on productions such as Lion King, Hairspray, Pricilla Queen of the Desert, Kinky Boots and Lord of the Rings. Lesley's credits in the film and TV industry include films such as Silent Hill and Resident Evil as well as many TV series including The Boys, The Expanse, 12 Monkeys, Shadow Hunters and Suits.

Through her teaching and mentorship, Lesley continues to share, inspire, and encourage a new generation of makeup artists.

Liz Robertson

Hairstyling & Fashion

Liz Robertson is an accomplished Makeup artist and Hairstyle who is well versed in the Toronto Fashion and Editorial industry.

Graduating with Honours some 20 years ago, Liz got her start by assisting hair stylists at salons, with weddings and backstage for events like Fashion Cares. Liz continued to develop her makeup skills by working for some world renowned makeup brands such as Bobbi Brown, Laura Mercier and NARS.

Shortly thereafter, Liz was signed with Plutino Group, a top agency representing Makeup, Hair and Fashion stylists. Here she began her freelance career and worked for various magazines like Glow, Chatelaine and Fashion, advertising and commercial clients such as The Bay, La Senza, Joe Fresh, Toyota, Tim Horton's and Verizon to name a few. Liz's work has appeared on celebrities during TIFF and has been showcased in numerous fashion magazines. Her celebrity clients include James McAvoy, Bryan Cranston, Sass Jordan, and Stephan Mocchio.

Liz continues her freelance work through P1M while maintaining her full time teaching position at CMU as Department Head of Hair and Fashion Makeup Instructor.