We were lucky to catch up with Katheryn Bowling recently and have shared our conversation below.

Katheryn, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. I’m sure there have been days where the challenges of being an artist or creative force you to think about what it would be like to just have a regular job. When’s the last time you felt that way? Did you have any insights from the experience?

I have never felt more like I am where I belong in my entire life. I switched majors often in college because I was interested in many different areas, but nothing ever felt right. I could never picture myself sitting behind a desk, or working a traditional 9-5 job. In high school, I was an artist and did a lot of painting and pointillism work, and I knew I always wanted to do something in the creative field but never knew what that was. Even while pursuing my other passion, American Sign Language, the interpreting aspect didn’t feel right. Once I got into doing makeup, I instantly felt God was telling me that this was what He had planned for me and I was exactly where I needed to be. Soon after, I realized that my calling within the Deaf community was to be one of the few artists locally who is able to bridge the gap between the Deaf and hearing worlds while pursuing my creative side. I’m able to offer smooth communication and comfort to those within the Deaf community who want to get their makeup done. I am so happy with my career and truly believe the saying that if you find a job you enjoy, you’ll never work a day in your life. As a makeup artist, I have yet to feel like I’m working because I love my job that much. My husband always tells me I need to “take a break” or “go get you time” as I’m a stay-at-home mom to two wild boys. You can bet that every time he says this I tell him that when I’m doing makeup, that is my me time. That’s where I relax and find my zen. Being at home with my boys daily, I don’t get out much or have a lot of adult interaction, so I always look forward to having a client in my chair to chat with. I love the freedom I have as my own boss and that I can make my own schedule, accept and decline what I see fit, and make sure that I am still getting all of the family time I desire. I’m happy that I don’t work a traditional 9-5 because I would lose that time with my kids, and wouldn’t have the freedom I have now.

Katheryn, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

My name is Katheryn Bowling, the owner and Lead artist at K.E.B. artistry, and I’m a Columbus Ohio makeup artist. My style falls under the soft glam look with luxury being front and center for a fully pampered experience. Although bridal makeup is what I specialize in, I do offer makeup services for photoshoots, special occasions, and everything in between. I started my business in May 2021 after having my first son. I was trying to find myself again outside of motherhood which can be a really tough thing to navigate, especially as a first-time mom. I was on the hunt to find my joy outside of my sweet family and do something for me. I have always enjoyed doing my own makeup so I thought it would be fun to offer services here and there to get some adult interaction since I was a stay-at-home mom. Makeup artistry was always something I loved from the time I was little but I was always told “You can’t make a living doing makeup,” so I never pursued it. But I distinctly remember sitting on the couch in our old home watching a YouTube video, and out of nowhere I felt God’s presence and this push to start, literally right then in that moment. I remember looking at my husband and saying “ok, that’s it. I’m doing it.” and I got off the couch, started planning, and headed to the store. I haven’t looked back since. I had no idea that taking the blind leap would lead me to where I am now. If someone had told me 2 1/2 years ago that I would have the opportunity to be flown out for destination weddings, or be contacted by big names and have my work shown on TV, I would have said “Dream on”. I am so incredibly proud of myself that I trusted God to lead me where He wanted me to go. I’ve found my true calling and passion and worked really hard to be where I am now. I owe all of my thanks to God. I’ve taught myself everything from the ground up- the makeup application itself, all about skincare/products, undertones, product placement and face mapping, the business side of things, contracts, deposits, you name it- I researched it and put it into motion for myself. It’s been a wild ride, a lot of trial and error, and learning from mistakes, but I take pride that I’ve done it all on my own. With that being said, I do think it’s very important to get further education from somewhere to better yourself/skill and business to continue giving your clients the best. I am very proud of myself that I have created a successful business independently but I’m so excited to improve myself, expand my knowledge, and learn from others.
I think something that sets me apart from other artists is knowing American Sign Language, and being experienced with Neurodivergent individuals, and those with sensory concerns. K.E.B. artistry is a safe space for everyone, and I am confident in providing an accommodating and comfortable atmosphere for all.

Any insights you can share with us about how you built up your social media presence?

I knew I was going to make social media, specifically Instagram, my main way to market myself and get my name out there. I made an Instagram specifically for makeup, followed all my close friends and family and immediately started creating different makeup looks on myself to post. At this time I was using a lot of hashtags and tagging a lot of products I used within the look I posted. Once I realized people were taking an interest in my work and reaching out to check my availability, I decided that I needed to level up. This was my calling. I decided that I was going to make this into a career and I went for it. I was so anxious being a new makeup artist, especially being self-taught, but I decided to put myself out there. I followed some well-known and sought-after makeup artists in the area along with photographers and other wedding vendors. Once they started following me back, I started networking with local influencers and started doing collaborations with other creatives. I forced myself out of my comfort zone time and time again because that’s the best way to grow. I soon realized that each time I got out of my comfort zone it was less and less nerve-wracking and everything started to come more naturally because I made myself jump into the unfamiliar. The thing is, once you take that leap into unfamiliar territory, the next time it becomes your familiar territory. My advice is to jump in head first. Throw yourself to the wolves, Just do it! I know it will pay off. My collaborations really helped me get some followers and more leads. When working with other creatives and influencers we all tag each other to give credit where it’s due, and every time I was tagged by others in the beauty industry I always found my following would go up. Once I became more established and my name was being recognized, I think my page started growing more organically. It’s helped me immensely when clients took photos of themselves and tagged me along with other vendors giving me credit in their posts. Referrals have been amazing for my following as well. Reels have been my best friend as of recently and I seem to have gotten a lot more inquiries from those as they are typically mentioned within the initial leads that they saw my recent reel. I am always checking the insight tool on Instagram to see when the best time to post is, what songs are trending, and who is taking interest in my page so I can adjust accordingly to target my ideal audience. Since discovering the insights tool, I feel that has helped with my following and increased my leads. My advice when it comes to social media would be to be authentically you. Don’t overthink it. Don’t think too much about what to say, or how you sound, if you said “um” one too many times… just post you. You want clients to book with you not only because they resonate with your portfolio, but also because they like you as a person. So be you. If you aren’t being yourself, then those who are looking for you can’t find you.

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

There are two things that are most rewarding to me as a makeup artist. On the makeup level, I love enhancing their natural beauty and making them feel like they can take on the world once they see themselves in the mirror. I love the confidence I’ve brought out in them and the true joy that lights their face. On a personal level, I love the unique bonds I make with each of my clients. Forming genuine connections with each of them is one of my favorite things. The conversations and energy are unique with each client and I love that every new client brings something special. I think it’s so important to make my clients, especially my Brides, comfortable and provide a safe space for them amongst a lot of wedding planning. Although exciting, planning can be stressful and chaotic so it’s very rewarding to me to be able to provide some calm for them and see them physically decompress. It brings me joy that my brides can fully relax in my chair and I can give them a moment to breathe.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/k.e.b_artistry/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KatherynEBowling?mibextid=LQQJ4d

Image Credits
Renee Lemaire Photography Faith Elizabeth Photography Amalia Martin Photography Gabriella Sutherland Photography Megan Kylie Photographie