“I make up to $150 an hour doing face-painting!”
“I’ve been an artist since I was a teen, and although I was an art major in college, I’m mostly self-taught.
I used to offer free face-painting at museums and nonprofit fund-raisers. Around five years ago, though, people began to ask me if I offered my services for parties, particularly around Halloween, and I realized I should go into business. So, I launched Face Painting by Josie.
“I did some research to see what other face-painters were offering. I used a template to create a website (JosephineDaCosta.com) and signed up for Thumbtack.com, a platform where people can hire local pros for various projects, and I asked my first customers to leave reviews. I also posted photos of my work on Facebook and Instagram to spread the word.
“I offer face-painting for family parties, events like those held at local farms and at businesses who offer it free to their customers. My specialty is young kids, and parents have hired me to paint their kids’ faces to coordinate with their Halloween costumes, like Minnie Mouse or a princess. Some parents are surprised I’m able to get their kids to stay still! I’m also hired to paint faces for costume parties— one time, I painted faces for an entire family for Day of the Dead.
“All of my customers come from Thumbtack or are word-of-mouth referrals. I love what I do because it doesn’t feel like work and it brings me so much joy. The money I earn— between $100 and $150 an hour—goes back into the business for supplies and pays for extras like clothes and trips.”