Star makeup artist going Gaga for NZ

Kiwi body artist Joanne Gair. Photo / Supplied

A New Zealand makeup artist has risen to the top of her field, painting the skins of the world's most famous people, but this year she is homesick.

"Lady Gaga, Gwyneth Paltrow, Cindy Crawford, Diana Ross ..."

A client list on Joanne Gair's website goes on for 144 names, starting with the eccentric pop star and ending with Oscar-winning actress Hilary Swank.

Ms Gair grew up in Takapuna, on Auckland's North Shore, before spending 30 years travelling the world perfecting her craft.

But this year was the first time, for as long as she can remember, that she didn't get home for Christmas.

Her parents, former National MP and North Shore Mayor George Gair and artist Linda Gair, left on a cruise before their 60th wedding anniversary next month.

"Honestly, I'm homesick every day. I have a wonderful family.

"I miss them on a daily basis," Ms Gair said.

She loves the travelling, the jobs in Europe, appreciates her American citizenship and her friends around the world, but New York's snow and Los Angeles' cold rain was making her a homesick Kiwi.

This year, Ms Gair worked as Lady Gaga's designated makeup artist during a campaign for cosmetics company Mac.

Lady Gaga was "absolutely lovely and very professional" - but there had been so many people swirling around and catering to her at the same time, Ms Gair said.

"My job is to keep focused and not add to the confusion, getting everybody moving."

Since leaving home on a one-way ticket at 21, Ms Gair has become a top makeup artist, particularly noted for her body painting work.

She works on Sports Illustrated's swimsuit issue every year. It can be a gruelling task.

She has had to work through 24-hour photo shoots, applying up to 15 layers of makeup to mimic clothing on bare skin.

"You work very close and it's a dance with one another.

"The body needs to be calm, still and working with the hand. It needs to bend in a certain direction."

The key was preparation.

Ms Gair said her artistic side had grown out of living in a family that paid attention to small details in their lives.

Even breakfast had been crafted rather than just putting food on a plate.