Hello!

My name is Tina Tanwani, and I am a local artist and small business owner serving the Bay Area, in Northern California.  I am in my 50's and a wife and mother of one human and 2 fur babies presently. 

 

I wanted to give you a little background about who I am and why I love this job. I have had passion for the arts all my life, having grown up in the Bay Area in a home with a lot of creativity and talent.  My mother was also an artist, especially loved painting with all kinds of mediums and did a variety of crafting as well. She dabbled in everything and so I was introduced to more creative avenues than most.  I was encouraged to pursue art and not be limited in my creativity. My mother had her own large room that was her studio that we called "the paint room", and yes, I was in there a lot!  She also had her own creative arts businesses and so she inspired me to do the same. Unfortunately, my mother never got to see me do face painting, she passed before I pursued this business. I know she would have loved all of it!  She also would have loved seeing me following in her steps in many ways. You will see the blue butterflies all over my branding, that represents my mother for various reasons. But it is my way to honor her and her influence on me.  In turn, my father was creative in his own right.  He enjoyed sketching and he could draft, draw, and design anything he wanted to build and make it. I'm thankful for my parent's encouragement to be creative and uninhibited, and even fearless, dare I say.

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Like many artistic children ( for me the 1970s), I aspired to be a cartoon artist for Disney. So, I practiced drawing and painting, took every art class I could, entered contests, and also took up an interest in learning animation. Through the years, my mother, my teachers, and mentors helped me develop my talents, and guided me to explore all kinds of ways to be creative.  I took commercial art in college, as well as graphic design, and children's book illustration courses. I volunteered for a variety of people, companies, and churches, painting murals and signage, banners, brochures, creating flyers and business art, calendars, costume and theatrical makeup and stage props, and creating and teaching crafts, I even face painted for events. I didn't do it professionally, just had a natural instinct to paint and design. Life got in the way, and I didn't finish a degree in art or work for Disney, however, I used my talents in every job I had, every organization, church, as well as for friends and family. I been hired to do art for others and published some of my cartoon illustration work as well. This creative journey has been ongoing for over 50 years!

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I was in the insurance industry for many years and was laid off in the economic crisis in 2009. I focused my efforts on raising my daughter and tending to my family.  For the longest time I have wanted to somehow create a creative arts business myself, as well as develop a way to earn some extra income that worked around my disability, and flexible with my time commitment. I wasn't sure where to focus my skills or how to start a small business.  Then in 2014, I saw a face painter at a public event and had an "Ah ha" moment. I just knew I that I could do that job! I was INSPIRED! It looked fun, made people happy, and used all my skillsets such as; painting, crafting, cartooning, illustration, graphic design, lettering and calligraphy.  I knew nothing about the industry, but I hit the ground running, researched, and learned from every mistake and what worked well.  I kept at it and was passionate about this new venture. My face painting designs and skills have greatly improved through the years, learning the tricks of the trade, investing in the business, and always striving to improve my services.

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Now about a decade later, I still love what I do. I'm always redefining what I offer and how I present my work and business. I hope you feel the joy I experience painting and providing a creative service for your parties and events. I am thankful and appreciate that you have invited me to be a part of making memories for you and your guests. 

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Let's make magical memories!

 

 

Tina