"Some artists start with color, I start with form," explains Connor Tingley while freehanding wiry faces and figures in his sketchbook. "To me, the color should be a nuance to the form, just like makeup should be a nuance to who you are."
Tingley, a rising Los Angeles-based artist who cut his teeth under the tutelage of famed illustrator Sheldon Borenstein, and specializes in abstract drawings and life-size oil paintings, may have been foreign to the makeup world prior to embarking on his new limited-edition collaboration with NARS, but that didn t matter to François Nars. Recognizing something special in Tingley upon their first meeting in 2016, Nars didn t want to just join forces with the up-and-coming painter—he wanted to give him free rein on a collaboration, from the drawing board to the laboratories.
"I m not a mainstream artist, and that right there shows that it s never about numbers for François," says Tingley, who, despite his A-list clientele including A$AP Rocky, Cindy Crawford and Sophia Loren, has stayed relatively under the radar. "Connor is a brilliant talent with a distinct vision and style that is so unique to him," explains Nars. "This collaboration is an expression of artistic beauty through his eyes." And the visionary s vote of confidence in the 25-year-old wunderkind has, indeed, proven fruitful.
A classically trained painter, Tingley not only dreamed up a medley of rich yet highly wearable shades—from deep violet and bright fuchsia pigments to shimmering bronze and rose gold shadows—for the range s mix of Audacious Lipstick, Velvet Matte Lip Pencil, and Eyeshadow Palette offerings, but he also encased them in original, antique-inspired chrome packaging. "Digging for lost relics, I found the most beautiful silver cigarette case," he explains, noting the 1920s-era treasure s etched lacquer designs and rusty weather patina detail. "When it came time to decide on materials, I knew I wanted to reach for that feeling. I hope that with time, these cases may end up in a swap meet or in someone s personal collection, cherished for years."
And while the retro mirrored cases and bullets are an undeniable draw for old souls and modern makeup junkies alike, it s Tingley s evocative paint-splotched, fine-tip-penned illustrations that tie everything together. After rough-drawing 50 sketches, he let them sit in his studio for over a month ("Some even fell and stayed on the ground amongst the paints and walking area," he explains with a laugh), letting his thoughts ripen before settling on the final half dozen etchings. And from the array of abstract visages to the raw bursts of color, the vanity-ready capsule pieces are both novel and right at home in the NARS world. "François and I share a passion for the beauty of the face and body," explains Tingley. "Who says those of separate craft can t harbor the same love?"
The NARS x Connor Tingley Collection will be available at narscosmetics.com, beginning February 28th.
