Resistance is futile: if you’ve got a kid, at some point in their festive lives, you’re going to have to hire a face-painter. NYC is home to tons of talented folks ready to turn little party animals into a princess, a tiger, a superhero — you name it. And because we live in a creative capital, many have backgrounds in fine art, makeup artistry, performance, etc. (All of the artists featured here use FDA-approved, water-based hypo-allergenic paints, as well as skin-safe glitters.) Click through to see our roundup of NYC’s best face-painters, and note that many come with their own squad for face-painting en masse!
Fantasy Arts by Sharon
Sharon Enlow is the founder of Fantasy Arts by Sharon. As a child, she had a strong interest in art and was often found making art out of everyday things around the house; washcloth doll dresses and neighborhood "art shows" were common occurrences. She started out as an actress comedienne before taking up face-painting. “When my daughter was a toddler, I started teaching a preschool art class and found I had special gift for connecting with kids,” she says. “Children are just naturally drawn to me through my sense of humor, kindness and warmth. Moms started asking me to come and do art parties and I gradually added face painting and balloons to my party services—and voila my dream came true.” Sharon loves “putting smiles on kid’s faces and giving them a great experience at any event.” Based in Brooklyn, she has more than 15 years of experience as a face painter.
Good to know: Sharon’s husband is a professional caricature artist, if you’d like to add his services to your celebration.
Fantasy Arts by Sharon
917-620-7006
Online: brooklynfacepainter.com
photo: courtesy Sharon Enlow
Cover photo: Face Art by Melissa
Do You Have a Favorite Face-painter in NYC? Share with the group in the comments below!
– Rachel Sokol
