We were lucky to catch up with Kirstene Adkins recently and have shared our conversation below.

Kirstene, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Are you able to earn a full-time living from your creative work? If so, can you walk us through your journey and how you made it happen?

Thank you in advance for the opportunity to present my art business and myself to you!

I have always been an Artist. Even my mother told me at a young age that I would be an Artist when I grew up, as she watched me doodle on coloring pages and be a very animated and vivacious young child, but I was very much a “tom boy” and loved the outdoors! I originally wanted to study the sciences of Meteorology and Astronomy, but as I grew older I shifted towards Child Psychology, and eventually decided to study “The Arts” in college. First, at The Ohio State University, then transferring to the Columbus College of Art and Design, Columbus State Community College, and The Art Institute of Pittsburgh.

My introduction to the Art Entertainment world, came from working for a company called “Kamans’ Art Shoppes,” starting back in 2008. “Kamans’” is an Art Entertainment business located at various theme parks and zoos throughout the United States and Canada. My first position with them started at the Columbus Zoo, where I worked for 5 years as a Lead Artist, and also traveled the country to help train new artists throughout the Midwest. In 2013 I started a career in Marketing, where at the time, I had also been given multiple opportunities to still showcase my arts when asked to perform for various events. My marketing career with Texas Roadhouse, as a Lead Sales Marketer, LSM, lasted only till 2014, where my side Art Business became so well received and requested, that I quit my job, to full-time become an entrepreneur and start my art business, Art Me. Running my company, taking fine art commissions, as well as raising my first born son, along with my husband, I was and still fully committed to the life as a full-time working Artist.

I think a main factor in my process of becoming a full-time artist, was not realizing my potential sooner. I fully believe in doing something you love and are passionate for in life will take you much farther and make you so much happier in the end. This thought process and idea I hope to give to my children as they grow, so they may follow their passions and reach for the stars as far as they want to go.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers?

My business Art Me Party, LLC started in 2014 and exemplifies a very unique business idea. Our mission is to provide high quality and affordable, family friendly, art entertainment and to bring an artistic outlet for students and young adults to expand their creative skills, while also teaching responsibility and business sense as contracted fine artists and performers. We really specialize in celebrating The Arts and showcasing our services for parties and special events. Our Services include Professional Face Painting, Arts & Crafts, Fairy tale Characters, Princesses, Superheroes, & more. What we strive to do is take the professional world of Fine and Performing Arts and bring those skills and ideals to young students and adults throughout Northwest Ohio and beyond.

My introduction to the Art Entertainment world, came from working for a company called “Kamans’ Art Shoppes,” starting back in 2008. “Kamans’” is an Art Entertainment business located at various theme parks and zoos throughout the United States and Canada. My first position with them started at the Columbus Zoo, where I worked for 5 years as a Lead Artist, and also traveled the country to help train new artists throughout the Midwest. In 2013 I started a career in Marketing, where at the time, I had also been given multiple opportunities to still showcase my arts when asked to perform for various events. My marketing career with Texas Roadhouse, as a Lead Sales Marketer, LSM, lasted only till 2014, where my side Art Business became so well received and requested, that I quit my job full-time to become an entrepreneur and start my business officially as Art Me a Traveling Paint Studio. In 2015, we joined forcing with the Performing Arts and introduced Character impersonators to our list of Art Services. The business name then changed to Art Me a Traveling Paint and Party Studio. Finally in 2019, my business became Art Me Party, LLC, which is still known as today. My business has grown exponentially in the last 7 years, creating countless jobs for young adults and students throughout Northwest Ohio, to give them an opportunity to be creative in a professional business setting. Our future growth goals are to branch into having an event venue space, as well as having tangible goods to sell, including my children’s book, “Oodles,” which will be coming out soon and is available for pre-sale on our website, Artmeparty.com .

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

I personally strive to help bring leadership to all our young students and adults for which I contract for my company. Art Me Party, LLC has given me to the platform to become a role model for so many young teens and adults. When we gain a new candidate who is interested in learning more about the Art and Entertainment Industry, we are leading them towards a bright and colorful future. Many of our artists eventually leave to pursue dreams and talents not offered to them in Northwest Ohio, and they have gained so much perspective on, not only having a creative life and self-fulfilment, but also responsibility, self-worth, passion, and a business sense in the art entertainment industry through working with our company. Working with many amazing professionals throughout the state of Ohio and beyond has helped to continue to grow myself as an Artist and a business owner. I look forward to continuing to encourage leadership and artistic talents in our youth, and always to continue my own personal growth, to help future Artists for years to come.

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

Marketing strategies for my small business have been almost completely word of mouth advertising. Social media and our website play a major role as well, but the goal with the company is minimal spending on marketing and let our work showcase our success and bring in more clientele. With almost each event or party, a new client emerges after experiencing our unique services. I personally am not a social media strategist that follows completely on the trend, as I mostly just post with what content I obtain from our events. As I eventually plan to hand off our social media to another source who is passionate about the platform, I imagine that they may give more insight and time into following all the trends, but minimal time on advertising is our goal, as our services hope to speak for themselves. Other forms of digital presence, such as SEO updates throughout our website, Google, and booking sites, really help as well!

Contact Info:

• Website: www.artmeparty.com
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/artmeparty
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/facepaintdesigns
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kirsteneadkins/
• Twitter: www.twitter.com/artmeohio
• Youtube: www.youtube.com/artmeparty
• Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/art-me-party-ottawa
• Other: www.facebook.com/artbykirstene; https://www.pinterest.com/artmeparty/

Image Credits
All Photos by Art Me Party, LLC. Fine Artists, Performers, and Assistants of Art Me Party, LLC included in the photos are as follows: Kirstene Adkins, Leah Tracy, Ryan Mooney, Elena Rosales, Nic Alvarez, Lexington Stuber, Sky Frishman, Julie Moeller, Bekah Compton, Lissie Trinko, Kaylin Avers, Carmen Kunkleman, Marissa Moreno, and Natalie Moeller.