A Magician of Make-up
By Kristi Kastrounis, 12.07.05

At first glance, Sara Vance is not your typical make-up artist. She has flawless skin and shining eyes, but something is different about her. Vance’s natural complexion is beautifully bare and make-up less.

Vance expertly mixes hues of mahogany and ebony on a palate, similar to a painter, preparing for her next talent. The Christian Broadcasting Network’s senior reporter George Thomas arrives in a pristine suit and sits in Vance’s chair. Vance works with the hair stylists in a room that looks much like a salon, lined with mirrors and padded “twirly” chairs.

“Each skin tone has many layers of color,” Vance said. “If you take out color, you have to put color back in. It’s taken years of experience to make the thick make-up not look thick.”

For Vance, make-up is her everyday job, not something that she wears.

“It feels like a mask on my face,” Vance said.

A make-up artist was not the job she had always dreamed of; but Vance joyfully describes the path that led her to her current position as the make-up artist for CBN’s “700 Club.”

While on her way to becoming an opera singer, she discovered the art of make-up. As a trained vocalist, Vance was also required to learn the artistry of make-up for the grand stage. It turns out, Vance’s skills in applying make-up came to her naturally, coming from an artistic family; her father a performer in Vaudeville and her mother, an artist.

Vance pursued her dream, singing and auditioning for opera’s, but ended up meeting people who wanted to train her in the make-up industry. Her career as a make-up artist took off when she landed the job as the make-up artist for the movie “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II: The Secret of the Ooze” in 1991.

“I really fell into it. I was still auditioning for shows and singing- I just kind of fell into make-up,” Vance said.

Vance’s make-up career led from one job to another. From the last three seasons of “Matlock,” to the first four seasons (1997-2000) of the WB’s hit drama “Dawson’s Creek,” Vance’s resume is filled with impressive films and television series. Vance isn’t intimidated by working with celebrities. She has made-up the faces of the stars on “Dawson’s Creek,” including Katie Holmes, the future Mrs. Tom Cruise.

After the third season of “Dawson’s Creek,” a hair dresser and close friend on the set of “Dawson’s” supported Vance as she made a life altering decision. Vance became a Christian. This friend had been praying for Vance and was the first person called.

As a new Christian in the secular film industry, Vance has some decisions to make.

“The secular film industry, they require your soul. Their projects come before everything, including your family,” Vance said.

She raised two kids, and worked 16-18 hour days, five days a week. Vance managed to “juggle mom duties” and work in the film industry.

“Looking back at it, I don’t know how I did it-I just did,” Vance said.

And then Vance fell into a divine appointment. The “700 Club” staff had just prayed for a make-up artist when Vance called inquiring about positions. Her husband Ronnie had a dream that she would someday be Pat Robertson’s make-up artist. At first, Vance didn’t take Ronnie’s vision seriously. Now, every morning she mixes the colors and applies the make-up of Pat Robertson.

“This morning Pat blessed me with 15 minutes to do his make-up,” Vance said. “But, my record is two and a half minutes, wet hair and everything. I powdered him on the set.”

Vance finishes putting the finishing touches on reporter George Thomas. She has learned to make-up of her talent look as natural as her bare face.

“It’s not about beauty, it’s about the illusion of reality,” Vance said, who is truly a magician with make-up.

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