Hidden Gems: Meet Katrina Kingfisher of Colorado Face Painting

Today we’d like to introduce you to Katrina Kingfisher.

Katrina, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
My name is Katrina Kingfisher and I’ve been painting since I could hold a brush. I grew up in the woods near Grass Valley, CA and have always loved the natural world. A creek ran through the backyard of my childhood home, and my mother and I would often go exploring, taking long walks through the woods where she’d teach me about the flora and fauna in our area.

A longtime artist herself, my mom always encouraged me to explore my creative side. Whether through carpentry, pottery, painting, or any of the tasks that living out in the woods required, we always found ways to create joy through our art together.

As time went on, I studied biology in college, and deepened my love of the natural world. Many of my paintings feature animals as the subjects, and I’ve always included plants (both depictions of, and sometimes literally!) in my creations.

I started face painting in Santa Barbara, CA as a way to bring my art to the human body, not just a canvas. I’ve always been very social, and seeing the way that a good face painter can energize the vibe of a whole party was incredibly inspiring. I knew it would be a good fit for my lifestyle and talents, so I decided to launch my own business when I moved to Colorado in 2023.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
As the business has grown, it’s become a challenge to manage all of the administrative tasks and correspondence. When I first started, it was a struggle to get anyone interested in booking me! But that’s an expected challenge that everyone goes through, and I knew I would get through that time with some determination.

What I didn’t expect was the sheer amount of back-end work that accompanies running a small business. Just keeping up with inquiries and scheduling, not to mention taxes and all of the random bureaucratic obligations, gets really tiring, especially after a long weekend of working and driving all over the Front Range to various gigs.

Also, working in party services means that you forfeit a lot of the times that people love to party the most! Holidays, weekends, and seasonal gatherings become much harder to make time for as a participant.

We’ve been impressed with Colorado Face Painting, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
My business is called Colorado Face Painting, and what we do is party services! We do face painting, balloon twisting, and magic! We’re great at kids’ parties but we love holiday parties, corporate events, family reunions, graduations, and everything in between.

I do most of the face painting and my husband is a balloon twister/magician. We like to think that our friendly and energetic presence brings a lot of life to a party! He is also a musician/DJ and the two of us have been attending and throwing events and shows for many years. We bring a practiced sense of ease and comfort to any party; we’ve seen it all!

I’m most proud of Colorado Face Painting in the way that we show up for people. We know what it’s like to want an event to be perfect, and this isn’t just a job for us, it’s a calling. When people gather, that’s where the magic happens, and spending a beautiful afternoon with your community and people you love can be one of the greatest pleasures in life.

If we knew you growing up, how would we have described you?
As a kid, I was really outgoing and curious. My parents are pretty salt-of-the-earth and really tremendously smart and creative people. We didn’t have internet in my childhood home until 2023! And forget cable TV. Most of my time was spent in the vast wooded area around my house, biking, swimming, or simply enjoying nature.

I always have been interested in art, and I’ve constantly been painting and drawing since I was a toddler. My mom started me off with a paintbrush when I was probably 3, and I never looked back. She is a successful artist and creative soul, and I learned a lot from her. We were also pretty far out in the woods, and I quickly learned to cherish time spent with friends, because I didn’t see them that often.

I loved being social and being around people. My mom describes me as a really outgoing kid with a natural curiosity for the world. I couldn’t get enough of the natural world, and I learned all of the local plants, birds, animals and bugs from her. I adopted quite a few snakes and toads as pets over the years! When I wasn’t doing something outside, I was indoors making a crafts project or more likely, painting.

Once, my mom bought me body markers to use, after I came home from a friends’ house with most of my exposed skin covered in drawn-on Sharpie. She appreciated the intent behind that particular art project, but not the potentially toxic medium! That was probably the beginning of my interest in body art and face painting.

Pricing:

• 125/hour – Face painting
• 125/hour – Balloon twisting
• 150/hour – Combination face painting/balloon twisting
• 200 – 15 minute magic show
• 600 – Package deal – 2 hours, 1 face painter, 1 balloon twister, 15 minute magic show: perfect for birthday parties!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://coloradofacepainting.com
• Instagram: https://instagram.com/coloradofacepainting
• Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/colorado-face-painting-boulder

Image Credits
Jackson Neff
Annah Meintzer