Today we’d like to introduce you to Isabel Rodriguez
Hi Isabel, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
Well, to be honest I never thought about doing face painting… when I came here to USA I was like scared because my husband has been living here since he was 14 years old and when we got married he brought me here. I could not speak a word in English and I couldn’t understand what people around me were talking about. I was always by myself helping him by not asking him to take our children and myself to appointments. He was working all the time and I took care of everything else, like paying the bills, cleaning, cooking, doctors, school, etc. When our oldest children were at the school I used to take them there every morning and the teachers were asking for volunteers so I signed up to be a volunteer. I didn’t feel prepared or confident because of course I didn’t speak English, but I thought that being there at the school might help me learn from the children or the teachers on how they speak and pronounced every word. It was difficult understanding some words, I would have to guess the meaning many time. I remember that I used to carry my pocket dictionary with me all the time. I saw that the Latin American Association at Buford Highway was announcing that they had English classes four days a week, the Dekalb Technical College had teachers there and they interviewed me and put me in fifth level classes. The classes were far from where I lived at but I needed them so I didn’t care (I used to drive to the East Point Marta Station, leave the truck there, take the northbound train, get off at Lindbergh Station, and finally take a bus to the Latin American Association twice a day 😬😅) . I love to paint and draw, so when I was a volunteer the teachers asked me to paint cartoon animals or I painted and donated them to the school (the last time that I was there they still have them 🥰) so I thought on doing something that I love and I hope people like it and pay me for doing it and that’s how I started practicing face painting on my children and a boy that I used to take care of 😁 poor things, I was awful! It is really different to paint on people’s skin than on canvas or other materials. I started saving some money to buy face paint but it was really hard to find, but that didn’t stop me! I kept looking and kept practicing with what I already had. I only use FDA approved products to be used on children and adults face or body. I want my clients to be safe so I have that piece of mind that I’m doing my best to provide a service that is secure for them and for me. I have been doing Face painting for 11 years and I have had the opportunity to work in big events/venues such as; the Georgia Aquarium, Atlanta Zoo, Day of the Dead, Cinco de Mayo, Daysi Festivals at Stone Mountain, Hapeville Day of Dead, Strawberry Festivals, Conyers Latin Festival, etc I even appeared on Fox 5 News! I want you and your children to have the best experience getting your faces painted. The opportunity to make your imagination come to life! They can be a nice or a scary shark, a dinosaur, a beautiful butterfly or an amazing rainbow kitty! I just want to remind people that want to have a face painter at your events to please make sure that the face painters that they are hiring are clean, change the water, use antibacterial soap to clean the brushes, use a sponge per child, etc. As a professional face painter I have seen things that I as a parent will not let my child get his/her face painted. If you are paying for a service as a parent, or event planner make sure that you get what you pay for.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
The first one was the language barrier, as of now I’m not completely fluent, but that doesn’t mean I need a translator 😁 it was really hard to get to know more face painters or to get jobs, no one knew me, so
I definitely had to network to get where I am now.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I have been a professional face painter for 11 years, people love my Day of the Dead Face paints, such as sugar skulls. I specialize in painting half faces in less than 5 minutes. Clients like my dolphins, sharks, butterflies, alligators, etc. you can say that I am a fast face painter. I feel proud to have appeared on live tv 😅. I think people like that I treat them with respect and they are always asking for pictures 😅.
So, before we go, how can our readers or others connect or collaborate with you? How can they support you?
You know, you can’t be at two places at the same time so when someone asks me if I’m available and I’m already booked I look for someone that have the same quality or level that I have so I don’t disappoint my clients. I just recommend them for future events and have them contact me in advance. I’m really grateful with the people that have been there or that have supported me throughout the years. I’m going to be grateful forever.
Pricing:
- $300 for two hours professional face painter
- $350 for two hours airbrush face paint.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/isabelatlantafacepainter/profilecard/?igsh=MXB1aXhwaTYzajlmYQ==
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/isabelatlantafacepainter?mibextid=kFxxJD
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/@isabel6630?si=0fY0N8J4T_hY1kKq
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@isabelfacepainteratlanta?_t=8pFkFS1yejq&_r=1
