We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Holly Embry a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Holly, thanks for joining us today. When did you first know you wanted to pursue a creative/artistic path professionally?

Although I spent years pursuing creative hobbies, I was under the impression that a steady job in the arts was not something I would achieve. Instead, I spent my daytime hours taking college courses, then entering the workforce, using my free time for creative endeavors. I sold my handmade items on Etsy and at local craft fairs and was thankful for the income it brought in, but this side business was gradually abandoned as I grew my career at the Tulsa City-County Library. I loved working with children, and acquired a large following at my storytimes,

After my son was born, I reluctantly stepped away from my position at the library for what I thought would be a temporary pause in my career. I planned to stay home with him for a year or so, then go back to work. I began playing ukulele while the baby napped, in an effort to find something to focus on other than motherhood for a few minutes a day. I also bought a face paint palette and practiced on my face and my arm, exploring various hobbies that I might use as income before fully reentering the workforce.

I would never have guessed that the combination of face painting and ukulele would lead to creative success. I didn’t know that I would cross paths with the right people to get me regular work at festivals, zoos, parks, birthday parties, churches, schools, and libraries, but that is what happened and now it’s my job. Although I didn’t foresee this being a possibility for me, I now believe that anyone who keeps trying out different things and playing around to see where they shine, will eventually land where they’re supposed to be.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I have the privilege of bringing joy to kids and families, which is so rewarding! My offerings are a unique combination of the skills I’ve accumulated over the years- I might be the world’s only professional face painter/ukulele musician/crafter! This work involves wearing festive clothes, going to interesting places, getting invited to parties every weekend, performing ukulele sing-alongs throughout my area over the summer, and painting people to look like dragons, tigers, and unicorns.

As an eccentric person in the entertainment industry, I find if VERY important to maintain high professional standards, I want my clients to know that while I may show up dressed as a fairy, I will show up on time and do a great job. I am insured, and I keep my supplies clean and orderly. I believe that what I do is light-hearted and fun, but also important and beautiful.

Are there any resources you wish you knew about earlier in your creative journey?

I was several years into my career as a children’s entertainer before I realized there were conventions I could attend to further my skills. One of the questions I hear most often is, “Where did you learn how to do this?” Initially, I watched hours and hours of face painting tutorials on YouTube. Even after a long day of face painting, I’d relax by watching face painting videos in the bathtub. Then, I discovered the Midwest Artist Xtravaganza in St. Louis, a six hour drive from me. For the last three years, I’ve attended this convention so I could learn in person from some of the same artists I used to watch videos of when I was first starting out! These classes have leveled up my skills and made me realize that my people are out there.

What can society do to ensure an environment that’s helpful to artists and creatives?

It seems like society is still struggling to treat creative jobs as if they are real jobs, but the truth is that there IS a market for artsy people in this world. If I would have said that I wanted to grow up to be a face painter when I was a little girl, I don’t know that I would have been taken seriously. Even though I’m working as a face painter and making more than I did at the job I went to college for, I still find it hard to believe that the same kid who was told to stop doodling in her notebook is now doodling for a living. A cultural shift toward recognizing and validating creative kids would go a long way in producing more creative and well-rounded adults.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://wonderworkstulsa.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wonderworkstulsa
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WonderworksTulsa
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/holly-embry-8a931180
• Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/wonderworks-tulsa?uid=6ICE-fuZ3WnzgvxWFh82IA&utm_campaign=www_business_share_popup&utm_medium=copy_link&utm_source=(direct)

Image Credits

Photo with purple shirt and purple ukulele is by Michael Green