Step Into My Whimsical World: Face Painting, Festivals, and Inclusive Art Across NC
- Stephanie Swain
- Aug 20
- 6 min read
Updated: Aug 22
I never set out to build a fine art business from my whimsy. It began with a book in hand — Lewis Carroll’s Through the Looking-Glass tucked under my arm — that soon gave way to a brush. With a punk sense of rebellion, I decided to shape a business my own way. One gig led to another, and before long, my days were soaked in color: neon greens, shimmering pinks, silver dust that clung to the air. The laughter that followed was its own kind of music — the bright, surprised sound people make when they catch their reflections transformed. Sometimes, the air itself seemed scented with honeysuckle — light, sweet, and fleeting, like a spell.
That’s the real heart of my work. Rooted in inclusive art and sparked by the wonder of Lewis Carroll’s world, I create spaces where everyone feels welcome, celebrated, and just a little enchanted. Whether it’s a child’s face blooming into a butterfly, a button designed just for your festival, or a swirl of glitter catching the Carolina sun — my art is never just about the surface. It’s about belonging. It’s about joy you can wear right on your skin, or carry home in your pocket
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What Makes My World Whimsical?
Whimsy, to me, is more than decoration — it’s a way of being. It’s looking at a festival not just as an event, but as a pocket-sized Looking-Glass where anything is possible.
• Inclusive Art: No matter your age, style, or identity, you are welcome here. My work centers inclusivity — celebrating people exactly as they are.
• Inspired by Carroll: From curious cats to wild tea parties, the nonsense logic of Lewis Carroll fuels my creative spark.
• Fine Art Meets Festival Fun: My designs merge painterly detail with playful boldness — the kind of art that feels just as at home in a gallery as it does under a tent at a county fair.
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What to Expect at My Booth
Face Painting with a Twist
My face painting isn’t one-size-fits-all — it’s custom to every individual. Hosting a Pride festival? Expect rainbow flames, bold flags, and radiant designs that honor the moment. A farm festival? Think sunflowers, butterflies, and barnyard whimsy. A spooky Halloween market? Ghosts, ghouls, and glittering bats await.
I offer detailed designs and on-the-spot creations tailored to the theme, with a mix of quick festival favorites and more intricate showstoppers. Every brushstroke is meant to celebrate the person in the chair — whether it’s a child beaming like they’ve grown dragon wings or an adult grinning at a starry crown traced across their forehead.
Glitter & Ink Tattoos
Sometimes art needs staying power. My glitter tattoos sparkle for days, catching the light long after the festival closes.
My ink tattoos give the edgy thrill of body art with none of the permanence — bold, playful, and perfect for events where people want to take a little mischief home with them.
Both are safe, skin-friendly, and designed to hold up to Carolina’s humid afternoons and long nights of dancing under the lights.
Handcrafted Whimsy
Beyond paint and glitter, my world is full of handcrafted goods. Stickers, buttons, jewelry, knit and crochet pieces — each made with care, often custom to the event.
For example, the upcoming Visibility Lab’s Defining, Designing, Declaring event, I created 75 custom buttons and 75 handcrafted suprises as giveaways — pieces that carried the spirit of the event home with each guest.
Whether it’s a knitted dice bag, a rainbow sunflower button, or a sticker glowing faintly in the dark, these small treasures extend the magic beyond the festival grounds.
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Why Inclusivity Matters in Art
Art is an invitation.
And invitations should never exclude. I’ve built my practice on the belief that everyone deserves a seat at the table — or in this case, a spot in the painting chair. That means creating designs that honor diverse identities, offering body art that welcomes kids and adults alike, and ensuring every booth I set up feels like a safe, comfortable space.
Festivals can be noisy and overwhelming; I want my booth to be a pocket of calm, comfort, and belonging — where people feel not just painted, but seen
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The Reality of Passion and Disability
When I say this work is my passion, I mean it in the deepest sense. I’m a disabled artist, and every event is both a joy and a challenge. I live with autism and bipolar depression, and physically, I manage chronic pain from a missing disc between my L4 and L5 vertebrae. Until my hysterectomy in 2024, inflammation amplified that pain; now, though improved, I still navigate swelling and fatigue in my lumbar spine. On top of this, I manage POTS (Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome), which makes hydration, electrolytes, and heat safety non-negotiable.
Even so, I set up my booth myself — hauling 40-pound weights, lifting an 80-pound canopy, and managing long festival days. Sometimes I have help, but often it’s just me and my determination. As someone who 2 identifies as bi and Wiccan, bringing joy, beauty, and belonging to others is not just my career — it’s at the heart of who I am
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Festivals and Events Across North Carolina
Over the years, I’ve brought this whimsical world to a wide stretch of North Carolina:
• Hops & Roots Festival at the Plant — blending music, craft, and community.
• Out! Raleigh Pride — vibrant, inclusive, and full of color that refuses to be muted.
• Farm festivals and openings — from hayrides to honeysuckle breezes, where families gather to
celebrate community roots.
• Local markets across NC — smaller stages where handcrafted magic shines just as bright.
A few upcoming festivals I will be bringing my whimsy:
• Taco Fest Fayetteville (September)
• NC Cotton Festival (October/November) — celebrating the roots of our region with color and craft.
• Denim Festival (October) — where history and creativity meet.
Each event carries its own rhythm, but my goal is always the same: to amplify joy, spread belonging, and
leave people with a keepsake of wonder.
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FAQs: Your Questions Answered
Is the glitter safe for skin and hair? Yes! I use cosmetic-grade, skin-safe, glue and glitter that sparkles without harm. The Glitter balm is handcrafted using all natural ingredients: Beeswax, Coconut oil, Shea Butter, Cocoa Butter, Mango Butter, Honeysuckle oil (made from sunflower oil).
How much does face painting cost? For festival and pay-per-face pricing: face painting is $13, tattoos are $15, the glitter bar is $5, and merchandise varies. For private or hourly events, rates start at \$125 per hour with a 2-hour ($250) minimum.
Do you offer custom designs? Absolutely. Every festival has its own flavor, and I create designs to match — from Pride flags to spooky pumpkins to farmyard animals. I craft custom stencils using mylar for face painting designs and Oracle 631 vinyl for tattoos, meaning I can turn any idea or logo into a stencil to bring your vision to life
How do I book you for my event? Reach out through my website or contact me directly — I’ll bring everything needed, from supplies to setup, so your guests only need to bring their smiles
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Through the Looking-Glass, in Dunn and Beyond
At the end of the day, my art is about creating a world that feels both wondrous and welcoming. A world where you can wear joy on your skin, tuck a handcrafted treasure in your pocket, and step away feeling a little more at home in yourself.
From the honeysuckle-scented breeze of a farm festival to the neon glow of Pride, my booth is a portal — a small doorway through the looking-glass, right here in Dunn, North Carolina, and traveling across the state.
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Book Me for Your Event
If you’re planning a festival, market, or community gathering, let’s bring some whimsy to it together. Whether you’re looking for face painting, glitter and ink tattoos, or custom handcrafted giveaways, I’ll create experiences that make your event unforgettable.
✨ Contact me today to book inclusive art, handcrafted whimsy, and face painting across North Carolina.
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