Meet Leslie Williams | Owner/Artist of Snappy Face Painting and CT/MRI Technologist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Leslie Williams and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Leslie, what role has risk played in your life or career?
By not taking risks I would have never grown into who I am today. Risks are for growth and rewards and sometimes for setbacks and failures. You can’t learn and grow from either until you take the initial risk.

After attending college for commercial art, I worked in a corporate setting for a large printing company and learned first hand of corporate layoffs and cutting corners. We would anxiously get through year after year dreading the end of each quarter knowing another round of layoffs could happen. At that time the printing industry was contracting. I was still working but always looking over my shoulder for the next layoff. My mother had worked for a hospital and I always had respect for the medical field. So my first risk was quitting my graphics job to start my second career working at a hospital in radiology. I had to take a loan out to pay for college and living expenses. It was scary for sure and I was wondering if I was doing the right thing. But I graduated the radiology program and received my degree and license in x-ray. I later studied for and received a license in Cat Scan and MRI. In the medical field we often work 3 long days, so I had time to look at taking on another risk and start a face painting business.

I loved face painting after buying my first kit to paint little ones at my grandson’s birthday party. It was a super, fun hobby that quite unexpectedly turned into a business. My past in commercial art and (a little bit of marketing) helped with my new start up face painting business. I created my own website and went to face painting conventions to learn from the best in the business. I stumbled along figuring out what worked best for the business and what didn’t. A lot of investment of time and money when into that alone. It was definitely learning by mistakes running my business, but so worthwhile in the end. If I didn’t take risks in my life, I would have never benefited from the rewards (or learn from failures).

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
Our company started in 2010 with just me in the beginning! I jumped into face painting as a fun hobby. The business has steadily grown since then and we provide extra services in addition to just face painting. Our team of artists can provide face painting, henna tattoos, caricature art and glitter tattoos for any size party or corporate event.

We are fine artists, craft artists, graphic artists, students, retirees, professionals and love the flexibility of our job. The concepts of face painting are basically learning simple brush strokes and practice, practice practice. It’s muscle memory after you have done it for a while. It’s very different from standard canvas as your face paint canvas is skin and it moves with the brush. There are also design concepts and face shapes you have to take into consideration when painting (or it will look wonky). I teach my artists the skills I’ve learned from some of the best face painters in the business. Some of my artists have been with me since the beginning of the company. There is nothing like the instant gratification you get when someone is blown away with your design. We love entertaining with our art!

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
There are so many things to see and do in Colorado! We are very lucky to live in this state. I spend a lot of time in the mountains and the west side of town, so I would take them on a ride in the fall for yellow and orange aspens (or summer for wild flowers) with our F-J four wheel drive off roading on some of the scenic roads/trails, to see the amazing beauty in Crested Butte. When you visit Denver, we have a lot of sports to experience, but I would take them to a Broncos game for the ultimate tailgating experience, energy and passion of football. Later, tour some of the cool brews and spirits in our state from Hideaway Park Brewery in Winter Park to Green Mountain Beer Company in Lakewood and top it off with 52Eighty Distilling in Littleton.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
My husband Doug is always there to listen, advise and stabilize when needed! My daughter and grandchildren are my motivation and love always.

Website: https://www.snappyentertainmentservices.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/snappyfacepainting/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/SnappyFacePaint

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/snappyfacepainting

Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/snappy-face-painting-littleton

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCjihmxghP4TXyaRXQfU5kCw

Other: https://www.pinterest.com/snappyfacepaint

Image Credits
Tiffany Novak