Today we’d like to introduce you to Mariana Lowery.
Mariana, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
I started doing art at a very young age. My mom introduced me to ceramics and painting them when I was only six years old, and I loved painting for hours with her, and in my spare time I would draw all sorts of drawings from Anime characters to tribal designs, and I would get lost for hours in my world of creativity; so I feel like I’ve been an artist my whole life! On the next stage of my life, I moved to Costa Rica, when I moved there I remember I would spend the night at this small hotel that was super colorful and full of art! While I stayed there I befriended the owner Karla, and after talking to her about my artistic skills she asked me if I can do Murals… I said “well I know how to paint ceramic figurines, and I draw a lot; it can’t be that much different… so I’m certain that yes I can” and I created several murals that turned out GORGEOUS for her home!
Then years later after I had moved to Houston, I painted a few Murals in friends homes with the hopes that it would help me get known as a muralist, here in town, but it didn’t work out as quickly as I wanted it to, then one day my friend Leila came up to me and asked me: “Hey you’re an artist, do you think you can Face Paint for my daughters birthday?” I thought to myself “I already know how to do makeup, and it can’t be that much different from painting a wall, except that my wall is about 3 square inches and it moves… I think I can do it!” and after I did some research I went to her little girls party and Face Painted away, and that’s when I fell in love with the world of Face Painting…. sometime after that my friend Adriana asked me “Can you do decorations for our church event?, and I thought: “I’ve been a crafter since I was a kid… so of course I can do it!” then couple of years later I met Momo through Thumbtack, and he asked me if I can you do a Cosplay Body Paint? To that I thought… well… I already know how to paint faces, it can’t be that much different, and with all the skills I have from painting murals I am certain I can do it so… OK I’ll do it!
And this is when I fell in love with the world of Body Painting and Special Effects; and that’s the story of the events that led me into the INCREDIBLE world that I’m in right now, where I turn people into the characters that we love from movies, or into monsters from the Halloween and horror stories, or into anything they want to become! It’s so fun to look back and realize that the way I have been introduced to basically everything I do now has been by friends asking me… Can you do this _______________? And fill in the blank with whatever their request is… literally! I do have to admit that out of all of what I do, my favorite thing to do is definitively Face Painting because looking at the kids faces light up with a beautiful bright smile when they see themselves in the mirror after I painted them is 100% the best thing I can witness!! It truly brings me joy to make a Child’s heart smile!
Has it been a smooth road?
It has been a pretty Rocky road. Getting my name out there wasn’t easy! I used to go face Paint every weekend for free at this restaurant to promote myself as much as I could. I face Painted for free a lot for friends, and some charity events, in exchange for me to hand out my business cards. Then somewhere in between there I went through a Divorce, and that was definitively a big obstacle as it sent me into a downward spiral of depression. Interestingly enough the Joy I brought children would make me feel so good that it would mask the pain I was going through! so I could say that Face Painting was even Therapeutical. Then struggling with Finances was also a big obstacle because to get a decent makeup Kit it was a lot of Money, but thankfully I had help from my Mother to get started, and thanks to her believing in me, and my little daughter who is the pillar that keeps my world going, I have been able to continue to where I am now! and in all honesty I look back and admire how all my efforts are starting to pay off!! It’s been a long journey but it has been worth it!
So let’s switch gears a bit and go into the Mariana’s Artistic Services story. Tell us more about the business.
My business is Mariana’s Artistic Services. I currently specialize in Face Painting, Body Painting and Makeup for special Occasions, events, corporate, weddings, sweet 16’s, among others, and very recently I made the choice to broaden my business to include my sister company called “Storytime Princesses and Heroes”, where we offer services like Princess and Unicorn birthday party decorations and entertainment where you can call us to have a Real Princess or Superhero come entertain the guests that you’ve invited to your party and have the decorations installed and picked up by us! Let me tell you that Unicorn birthday parties are the best because I can turn any little girl into an Actual Unicorn and boys into Dinosaurs! It’s so much fun!
What sets us apart from others is our genuine love for what we do. and this is what I’m most proud of as well! Because when you hire me, my business partner Angel, or any of our talent, We ALWAYS go the extra mile to make you, your guests and your kids feel valued, appreciated, important, cherished, and like you are THE most incredible person alive! We genuinely believe in creating an experience that uplifts and energizes your heart and spirit with the warmest waves of positive vibes and love that you’ve ever felt! We only give the best we can give, and we hold that value very highly because we truly have a passion for what we do which is to bring joy to all around us.
How do you think the industry will change over the next decade?
I see my Business and my industry growing for sure!! The makeup world is always shifting with new makeup trends rising every so often thanks to the influence that Social media bring, where now the internet is the platform for Makeup artists from all over the world to show their makeup looks, and share their artistic creations with the world. Each one of those artists brings with them their own style and techniques, and with so many different styles, colors and products available the Makeup companies are always coming up with new products to satisfy that demand; I would say 3 to 4 times a year! Maybe even more often than that! So I do see my industry changing a lot within the next 5 to 10 years! I know for a fact that my business will also change in that time frame because I want to build a company that will make birthday parties the most special event of the year, and all the dreams of any little princess come true!
Pricing:
- $170 for 2 hours of Face Painting.
- $150 and up for Body Painting.
- $100 for traditional makeup applied with Sponge and brushes
- $100 and up for Princess or Superhero entertainment
Contact Info:
- Address: 8523 Hearth Dr.
Houston, TX 77054 - Website: https://storytimeprincessesheroes.com
- Phone: 713 494 4724
- Email: ms.mariana@live.com
- Instagram: @marianalowery
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/marianasartisticservices
Image Credit:
Megaship Photography – Carlos Rincon. and Captured Beauty Composites – Kris Kehe.
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