Meet Lauri Schoonover | Face and Body Painting Artist, & Agent

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

Hi Lauri, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
I had a special needs son in the autistic spectrum and was looking for something I could do in order to have more time to help him, as well as having more time in general for my children.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I was an elementary schoolteacher, and began looking for another opportunity to work independently, so that I could stay home with my children, and just have a more flexible schedule. I have always loved art! I loved coloring with my children… one day while coloring with them on a restaurant kid’s menu, I had an epiphany! I said, “I love to color, I need to find a job that pays me to color.” Little did I know, that was to be the beginning of my artistic career. I was accompanying my son on a school fieldtrip, when I saw a face painter. I knew immediately, that was where I would start. I began searching for books on face painting, as the internet was not yet available. I had an artist friend of mine, who guided me in how to paint, I hung on every word, and practiced for hours a day. I began advertising in the Yellow Pages, and offering to paint free for anyone willing to let me practice. I even set up a face painting booth in my driveway and I practiced by giving free face paint to the neighborhood children. After years of perseverance, booths in local festivals, churches, and schools, I finally got the notice of an agent! I was getting better and expanding my art into airbrush tattoos, body art, and henna. Any medium I could learn, I was eager. I knew that with hard work and determination, I could make a living doing what I love, I met artists along the way, and we would hire each other for events that needed more artists. I began helping agents hire artists, and before long, I found myself acting as an agent. This really allowed me to expand my career and opportunities, I was making a living as an artist and loving every second! I love how every job is a new adventure, and I meet so many amazing people and organizations. That was 22 years ago, and I haven’t looked back! This is truly my passion for so many reasons, and the main one being that painting a face is more than face painting. It is truly a joy to watch the child, or adult, light up when they look in the mirror. I get to provide joy for a living, what could be better than that?! I have had some of the most amazing conversations with people while sitting in my artists chair, hearing stories of love, joy and strife, and have shared a tear or two, and too many hugs to count. I am so so very blessed, I love job!

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.
In my time between face painting gigs, often I have 3 events in a day, I have visited many places around DFW to pass the time, restaurants such as Schlotzsky’s, my favorite fastfood chain as I am a vegetarian. When I have longer times to relax, I love going to the Cheesecake Factory, or Christina’s Mexican Restaurant, or my very favorite restaurant, The Melting Pot! I enjoy spending time in Barnes and Noble, Half Priced Books, and Movie Trading Company. I also love going to movies, my favorite would be B & B Theatre in Wylie, Tx.

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?
I would love to give a shoutout to a few key agents who have helped propel me in my artistic endeavors! My career has blossomed greatly due to these wonderful entertainment agencies: B3 Entertainment Productions Inc, Bounce N More Party Rentals Inc, and Fun Time Entertainment. I would like to thank them for investing in me to represent their companies with my art, and for supporting my dream as an artist, I am forever grateful!

I would like to thank my artist friend, Lydia Evans, who taught and guided me through the art of face painting.

I would like to thank Amazing Jakes for allowing me to paint in their restaurant 6-10 hours a day, 3 days a week, for 6 years. It is the reason I am the artist I am today! There is nothing like that kind of artistic repetition that can aide in artistic growth.

I would love to also give a shoutout to my husband, Joe, for being a great supporting, artistic partner who lives this dream right along with me, and all the hard work that goes along with it!

Facebook: AngelFaces (Lauri Hulse Schoonover)

Other: Angelfacesarts@gmail.com 214-850-2160