Today we’d like to introduce you to Kelli Cowart
Hi Kelli, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I had a cake decorating business that I ran from my home. I knew my time for that business was done, but I had no idea what I was supposed to do with my life next.
I began face painting as a volunteer for a non-profit that provided resources and activities for special needs kids and their siblings. My mom ran the organization and they needed someone the kids trusted to be a face painter. I assumed it would be easy, but I was so wrong! The parents loved it though, and all of the children were so happy every time I brought my paints. It fed my soul in a way no other art form had. The parents began hiring me for their kids’ birthdays, and I started venturing into doing occasional community events. I knew the paint I was using could be better, and although I wasn’t really making any money, I wanted the art to look good. I begged the only local face painter I knew to tell me what brand of paint to order. She was hesitant to share her secret, but finally gave in (we laugh about it now).
I met another face painter at a community event i was painting at, and she told me she could train me. She said she made her full time income that way and traveled the world face painting. That blew my mind, I had no idea there was such an option. A whole career face painting?! I worked for her for 6 months before parting ways. She showed me that there was a huge world of professional face and body painters out there, but it was a bit of a toxic work environment in her company, so I knew I had to figure out my next steps.
I made the decision to branch out on my own, and I have been painting faces ever since! 3 years ago I left an abusive marriage in West Texas where I had a successful face painting business. I made the choice to move to Fort Worth with my children and start over. Nearly 3 years later, thanks to some really amazing fellow artists and larger entertainment companies, my business is more successful than ever! I’m now teaching face painting locally for the DFW Face Painters Guild and across the country at face and body art conventions. I have an amazing group of fellow artists (including my best friends) that I work with, and I seriously could not be happier.
Face painting isn’t just my business, it’s a ministry of sorts. I had a pretty rough childhood. The whole premise of my business (whether face painting or dressing up in character) is literally to make children feel special and empowered through face paint, and to spread joy and frivolity. You never know who is going to climb into your chair. What they’re going through, what their home life looks like. I try as often as possible to connect with the kids I’m painting. To encourage them, to impart love onto them, to raise the vibrational energy of the space around me. I very often encourage children to be painters themselves, and have trained several children to do so! I always tell people “I could not have walked up to God with a wish list of things I wanted in a career and gotten anything any different”. Not many people can say that. The gratitude for the blessings that I have recieved runs deep. I have a saying, “the world is in desperate need of frivolity, and I will happily fulfill it!”
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Not at all! The artist I originally worked with stalked me for months. She would show up at community events and accuse me of stealing her designs and attempt to get me banned from working at events.
I was also in a really abusive marriage with a man who was addicted to drugs. I tried to hide how bad things were at home, but it was not easy. Face painting saved me. It literally kept me sane during the ugliest times of my life. I would go to work and be magical and paint children and dress up in costumes and just completely immerse myself in each event. Then I would go home, and have to face the wrath of my husband. For a long time it felt like I was living a double life.
When I moved to Fort Worth, I was in hiding from my ex husband for a while. I couldn’t make a grand announcement about moving my business. I had no idea how I was going to start over again. My dear friend Cassandra introduced my to the large community of face painters in DFW, and helped me get onto the roster of several larger companies. It helped me to keep my business alive and provide for my children until I could re-build my own clientele. I am forever grateful for her and the companies that kept us afloat.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
We are known for taking things to the next level! Many of the artists on my roster dress up in costume, or dress up to match the theme of the events we work. It really elevates the experience for our clients. You haven’t lived until you surprise the birthday girl with a visit from their favorite character and then stay to paint them and play with them. It’s so very precious.
I’m also know for being extremely fast, and for a technique I use called onestroke. It’s a technique that takes a block of 3-5 colors of paint onto a brush all at once to create elaborate designs really quickly. When I teach face painting workshops for other professionals, I teach designs using this method.
Do you have any advice for those just starting out?
Absolutely! Professional materials are a must! Invest in a small kit, and work your way up. Invest in your artistic education. There are TONS of free resources online, as well as online schools you can enroll in. I wrote the blog for the International Face Painting School for 5 years and graduated through their program. It was such a thorough program and took me from mediocre to great in a very short time.
Network. It’s super important to network with other face painters and entertainers, both in your area and around the world! You would not believe the opportunities, info and support you’ll gain in doing so!
Lastly, operate with integrity. Work hard, be honest. If you show people you are trustworthy, they’ll bring you in. None of us can paint all the faces. It’s not really a competition. It really is a team effort.
Pricing:
- Face painting services are $150/ hour with a 2 hour minimum
- Balloon twisting services are $150/ hour with a 2 hour minimum
- Bling Bar services start at $175/ hour with a 2 hour minimum
- Stilt walkers start at $250/ hour
Contact Info:
- Website: https://Www.paintedpinupfacebody.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/paintedpinup?igsh=MTRvbmJ2b29kd2xvdQ==
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/paintedpinup?mibextid=ZbWKwL
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/painted-pinup-face-and-body-art-fort-worth?uid=lVVH3ykzwQgxUNkUp9IGQw&utm_source=ashare
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@paintedpinup?_t=8lwL1KiZ1Ti&_r=1
Image Credits
Michael Green, J Keel Photography, JJ Freeman
