ABOUT THE ARTIST - Tiffany (tif) Tieche

I have been working in the arts for as long as I can remember. I grew up in an artistic family and have continued to explore the arts throughout my life. In junior high through high school, I participated in local church, school, and small community fairs by offering face painting. And let me tell you, back then face painting was not at all what it is today. Face painting consisted of very simple cheek designs, using kids tempera paints most of the time. This was a time before there was glitter, jewels, and an abundant resource for purchasing professional face and body paints, in addition to the more elaborate designs that face painting encompasses today. It has truly evolved into a mesmerizing art form. 

After High School, I was pretty much done with my face painting hobby, since I wanted to focus on a career in art. I studied Graphic Design and still work in the field today as a Marketing Coordinator for our local Chamber of Commerce as well as a freelance artist. (You can visit my Graphic Design Portfolio site Here.)

A few years ago, I moved from the Twin Cities area to the countryside in southwestern Minnesota. As word got around the area that I was an artist, I was asked by a local church if I would help with providing some face painting for their Halloween event. I was a little hesitant at first, but then I remembered how much I loved doing it when I was younger and volunteered for the event. 

Having participated in musical, theatrical, and dance groups throughout my 20s & 30s (and still today), I had become well versed in many types of theatrical make-up, and had done some very elaborate designs for my own performances. I also knew from working at Renaissance Festivals throughout the country for over 20 years, that face painting and body art was taking on a whole new dimension. With that in mind, I hit up the Internet in search of what paints the professionals were using, what techniques they used, and resources for getting my face painting skills up to the current standards. Boy was I in for a surprise!!

I was amazed at how much face and body painting had taken off as an art form and seeing all the highly skilled and talented face painters throughout the country as well as the world. With the great resource that is the Internet, it didn't take me long before I was completely hooked on taking this hobby up once again.

For the Halloween event, I chose to go with a very basic, low cost, set of starter paints (Snazaroo) that would provide me with enough paint to get through the event. I didn't want to invest in the ultimate pro sets yet, as I wasn't sure if this event would be a one time thing for me; I wasn't even sure if I would enjoy it as much as I did when I was younger.

With my starter face painting kit in hand, I proceeded to the event both excited and nervous. I was pretty much winging it here. I knew I could do basic cheek designs, which is much like riding a bike; you never forget, though you may be a little shaky the first time after not riding it for a while. It was a free event, so I figured, even shaky designs were better than sloppy designs; I simply knew that I could get the job done. 

It all sort of started to come back to me once I got started. I stuck with simple designs that I knew I could do justice to and even added some abstract designs including shapes, teardrops, ribbons, and curls. The kids were thrilled and the line grew to where kids were waiting for up to an hour to have their face painted. In the end, for a 2 hour event, I ended up starting a 1/2 hour early and painting for another 1/2 hour after the event ended for a total of 3 hours. I painted at least 30 faces during that time, and the line could have kept going all night if I would have let it. 

I didn't take a break during this 3 hour time period, the kids just kept coming and sitting down in my chair; blank canvases ready to have some magic created on them. I was the first to arrive and the last to leave. The time just simply flew by, and I couldn't believe that the event was over when I finally finished with the last child. I was hooked! What was I thinking giving this up all those years ago?! Needless to say, my face painting was a hit and the church booked me that night to do the event the following year, and now I have a permanent booking with them for as many years as they do their Halloween event. 

A few months passed and, though I was focused on my regular work, I kept thinking back to how much fun I had doing the face painting that past Halloween and I was excited for the next opportunity. I never realized just how fast word gets out in small communities... Within 5 months of the Halloween event, I had people calling me, asking me to do face painting at grand openings, community events, and fundraisers during this past spring and summer. At this point, I set out and purchased some more professional paints by Wolfe FX and Mehron, a bunch of new brushes and sponges, and put together a kit that I could take on the road with me. (I also added glitter tattoos to the list, as they were popular with the kids too.) Then I added some kids crafts options for events and parties. 

So here I am now, into my first returning year of face painting and I have been loving every second of it! I have immersed myself into craft fairs, community events, fundraisers, and other events - and my calendar is quickly starting to fill up with future birthday parties and community fairs, as well as other events for the summer of 2015. I am so thrilled to be back doing something that I truly love to do.

I hope you enjoy your visit to my website. Please feel free to contact me with any questions or to book an event. (See Contact page.)

I look forward to sharing my journey with you & hope to see you at an upcoming event. 

Keep creating, keep smiling, keep dreaming~

-tif-