Cheryl Thomas Inspires Us!

Cheryl Thomas is an award-winning makeup artist, native of Atlanta, Georgian, and a member of New York local hair and makeup Union 798 as well as the Los Angeles Hair/Makeup union 706. She currently lives in NYC and works on Disney’s Aladdin Broadway as well as being the Associate Hair/Makeup Supervisor for Disney’s Aladdin Worldwide. Cheryl’s motto is, “All things are possible if you believe.” Read on for her three life lessons that can help you grow stronger, too!

Cheryl Thomas: What I Wish I Knew

I wish I knew sooner not to be so shy. Shyness is just another word for being afraid. You don’t have to be afraid to do what you want to do.

I wish I knew to take a leap of faith. Go ahead! Jump out there and believe. Do that artistic thing that makes you excited, makes you feel fulfilled, and taps into your creativity.

I wish I knew how much I could travel the world with the career I have chosen. Know that the world is yours to explore.

Cheryl has been employed with the Disney touring productions of The Lion King (hair/makeup supervisor) and Mary Poppins first national tour (makeup supervisor). She has designed and maintained wigs and makeup for The Atlanta Opera, Opera Carolina, True Colors Theater, The Alliance Theater, The Atlanta Ballet, and Theater of the Stars.

Cheryl has also been a guest lecturer at the University of Texas in Austin and at the North Carolina School of the Arts Design.

Cheryl’s creative talent has also been seen in numerous fashion catalogs: Neiman Marcus “The Book,” Lands End, Macy’s, and Saks Fifth Avenue. She’s also worked live fashion shows for designers Channel, Giorgio Armani, St. John, and Carolina Herrera.

She has worked with music greats Loretta Lynn, the late James Brown, the late Left Eye of TLC, Too Short, Arrested Development, Alicia Keys, Dionne Farris and Snoop Dogg. She has worked with CNN, CNN international, NBC World of Sports, Entertainment Tonight, E! Fashion Emergency, Chris Rock HBO comedy, numerous celebrities and cosmetic giants Revlon and Mary Kay Cosmetics. ♦

Thomas Schultheis is a teaching artist and lives in Long Beach, California. He loves his spouse, books, movies, theatre, his sons Anthony, Elijah, and Danny, and his cats Jack and Charlie. Connect with Thomas at teachingartistthomas.com.