Is Face Painting Your Main Bread and Butter OR a side dish?

[Party Picassos Facepainting]

Hi!

Wina from Chicago here. Was just curious (some call it nosey):
Is face painting your full time job or do you have another?

I was a full-time graphic artist for 17 years until we adopted our first son.
Since then, I have been freelancing in graphics (although the last few years have been lean)
and working on my face painting since I have been home with the boys.
My face painting business has grown in the past 3-4 years; not huge, but slowly.

I may have to take a part-time job in a mail room at my husband's contract company,
to pay for health benefits for my hubby and I (contract companies give no benefits )
Our boys are covered by the state of Illinois (thank you).

But I really want to make this year one of major marketing for Party Picassos;
kissing babies and shaking hands filled with business cards! Right Gina?

So face painters of the world, tell us what YOU do!

[reginanewsum]

Yes fill those hands, and pockets with business cards!  Face painting is my only business, but I retired from a factory in 2007, I had 31 years of employment there, I starting having back trouble and arm trouble, it was a piece rated job, so therefore we had to move fast, twisting and turning, so I was very lucky and was able to go out on a FULL retirement before the rest of me fell apart!
I had always done art shows with wood.  Face painted on the weekends, just for friends and family, so after 6 months of being bored after retirement, I went into face painting full blown!  Also I am a sexual assualt advocate and conselor. I have done this for over 9 years now, this is a TUFF JOB! But my heart feels good when I can help some one.

[Sherry]

I started face painting about 3 years ago.  At the time, my husband was the main breadwinner, so my face painting was just a side.  Good thing too, because my first year was very slooooow.  I lived in a tiny town and there wasn't much business to be had.  Mostly what I created by signing up for festivals, fairs and whatnot.  Since moving to the big city in Florida, my face painting has grown more each year.  (plus I believe the warm climate also helps in this line of work)

Now that I'm on my own, face painting and selling face paint supplies is my sole source of income for the past year and a half.  It's been pretty good and steady until we hit January... eeks!  A bit lean, but I think I can weather it until things pick up in March.

For me, I think most of my business comes from people finding me online and from word of mouth.  Here's to a wonderful and prosperous new year for us all!  I think some of my goals for the New Year would be to appear more professional.  I really need to work on my display book, I've really been disappointed in the one I have after seeing some that other artists offer.  So beautiful and creative.  I think mine comes off more bland and utilitarian.

[Wildcatfin]

Yup this supports me, hubby and toddler!

He had a job but has not been able to find work that pays more than toddler car & petrol would cost, since we emigrated back to the UK. Bit awkward as with the recession here, a lot of new painters have started and are often not doing it legally/ 'properly', just see it as quick cash-in-hand work. . I can't compete with painters who charge less for a whole day's work than petrol would cost me to drive to the gig! Annoying as some clients will then book me or proper painter NEXT time when the results are so bad, but a lot of the big malls don't care what shoddy work is churned out as long as its dirt cheap....

Bit worried I may have to get a 2nd job as its much tougher to find work in th UK in this business now - in HK it was much busier. I am even taking a few gigs where they fly me back to Hong Kong, which I didn't really want to do but needs must!

Cat x

[Party Picassos Facepainting]

Cat-
Wow! They must LOVE you if they pay to get you to HK!
Your skill is amazing. We can all learn from your talents and experience!
Good luck to you and all of us!

[artsyface]

I am also doing this as a side job for now. I have been doing this for a year and a half. It is slowly growing by word of mouth and on the internet. I am hoping to grow this and expand it more so I am able to actually contribute to the family as a full-time mom:-) I am expanding  my business to possibilities: Henna/Drawing classes/Theme parties. I think I really need to work on this to make this busier for me:-) Thanks everyone for your ideas! This is a great forum!!

[Party Picassos Facepainting]

Glad to help, Artsy. Whether you have been painting a year or ten, there is always so much to learn.
New products, new designs or new techniques. I am very grateful for this site. It's help me as an artist and as a business woman!

[LillyW]

Face painting is a side job for me, about a 1/5 - 3/4 of my income, depending on the month.

I started in the world of booking professional speakers, now I book just one speaker.

I also do several other things to pay the bills! I am VERY lucky to do some many things I love to pay that mortgage, see   http://www.lillywalters.com

Our face painting industry personally gives me so many ways to grow.  I attend conventions and classes several times a year, but feel I have just barely scratched the surface of all there is to learn.  :::sigh::::

Having fun on the journey 

- Lilly Walters, 909-398-1228
Face and Pregnant Belly Painting in Claremont, La Verne, Upland, Pomona, and Big Bear Lake, http://www.funfacepainting.com

Books and Face Painting Classes http://www.funfacepainting.com/book.html

[Psalmbook]

We are a conglomerate of Navy retirement, pell grants, GI Bill & my face painting income. It's lean living, but the bills are paid & there's food on the table. I survived the slow season, so things are looking up!
The hubby will hopefully be teaching soon(he's going to college for elementary education) and then face painting will be extra income.

[Wildcatfin]

Aww, cheers Wina.
Got to say, often its due to stuff I was lucky enough to win - there are so many good painters out there, but especially in Asia, if clients can 'brag' they hire the UK's Painter of the Year, etc, I may get picked over the othes who hadn't got 'titles'. And I do pass on foreign gigs I don't want to go to - its a looong trip/ away from my toddler.
Cat x