I’m Mackenzie,
A face painter, entertainer and artist in Vancouver, BC. I am the owner of MJC Artistry.
With over 10 years of artistic expertise and a diploma in visual and digital arts, I am passionate about bringing joy and creativity to those around me.
$5M liability insured · 3+ years face painting experience ·
Member: Tri-Cities Chamber of Commerce, BNI, Fountainhead Network.
In 2023 I was volunteering at my local rock and gem clubs annual gem show. To make the event more kid-friendly I suggested we have rock and crystal themed face painting. With my diploma in Visual and Digital Arts I decided to give it a try! As I transformed my own face, I was hooked by the joy it brought. That moment ignited my passion for face painting and event entertainment. I have been creating magical experiences for others ever since in Metro Vancouver. I've also been lucky enough to have some of that work featured in the press — you can find more of that at mackenziecurtis.ca.
It all started when…
The Team
I don't do this alone anymore. For bigger events, I bring in a roster of trusted, insured, experienced artists I've worked with for years; honestly, most of them have been painting faces longer than I have. For birthday parties, I also work with a smaller group of junior artists trained by me. The two you'll see most often working alongside me are Sofia and Sunny, between the three of us and the rest of the roster, that's a team of up to 10 artists when an event calls for it.
When things don't go to plan
Story A: Closing a free line
Free, public face painting is the hardest line to close. When there's no cost, there's no perceived limit — a posted end time doesn't always stop people from trying anyway.
My system: a vest or necklace for whoever's last in line, wristbands cut as each guest is painted, times posted so nobody's guessing. It still doesn't always go smoothly, there are still people who walked off earlier saying "we'll come back when it's shorter," then return right when it's closed and are frustrated that they can’t get painted. I don't take it personally; I just try to end things properly and on time.
It's also exactly why I always ask for expected attendance before booking. The right number of artists changes how that line problem even happens, one artist might need to close the line a full hour before end time just to finish everyone already waiting, while two or three artists on the same event might only need to close 15–30 minutes out. More artists also means shorter waits for attendees, which matters more than people expect on a hot day with a big crowd. I can't ever guarantee nobody misses out, but for anything beyond a small private event, I'll tell you honestly, before you book, what it will actually take to run a successful face painting activation at your event.
Story B: the Richmond venue swap
Not every problem is about a line, either; sometimes it's the room. At one Richmond birthday party, the venue changed at the last minute to a much smaller space with no real room for a face painting setup. Rather than force it or cancel, we pivoted the whole booking to balloon twisting instead, it needed a fraction of the space and still gave the kids something they loved.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Mary T. | Verified Google Review
“We had an amazing experience with MJC Artistry for my daughter’s birthday party. Mackenzie was incredibly responsive and easy to communicate with during the booking process. When we had last-minute changes to our venue and limited party room space, she quickly troubleshot the situation and thoughtfully suggested balloon art instead of face painting, which ended up being perfect.
At the party, Mackenzie was fantastic with the children. She added special little touches with the balloons, made sure my daughter received her favorite themed character balloons, and even surprised her with a birthday gift at the end, which was so thoughtful and appreciated.
Highly recommend MJC Artistry for any kids’ party or event. Professional, flexible, and truly wonderful with children.”
The turning point that changed everything:
The moment I realized the face painting industry in BC was unregulated became my turning point. I immersed myself in research on hygiene and sanitation to elevate industry standards and educate local event coordinators about the importance of hiring a professional. This commitment to health and safety transformed my career and ensures a joyful and safe experience for all celebrations. My team of professional face painters and I are committed to protecting the health and safety of those that we serve in Metro Vancouver which is also why my site has more real safety, hygiene, and event-planning information on it than any other face painter's in the Lower Mainland. If you want to know what to actually look for before booking anyone — not just me — the blog's a good place to start
We network
Being part of the Tri-Cities Chamber of Commerce, BNI, and the Fountainhead Network keeps me close to a world that has nothing to do with face paint and everything to do with how a business is actually supposed to run — professionalism, reliability, holding yourself to whatever standard your own name or brand carries. That's part of what shows up when we're working your event: we're not just good with a paintbrush, we understand what it means to represent someone else's name well, because it's the same standard we hold ourselves to as members of these groups.
Lets create unforgettable magical memories together!
Founded in 2023, MJC Artistry has become a trusted Vancouver face painter, built on a strong foundation of professional art training and a dependable team capable of supporting large-scale events. We use high-quality, skin-safe products and collaborate closely with clients to tailor designs to event themes, branding, and all age groups. From private parties to public events, we focus on delivering fun, polished, and stress-free entertainment that leaves a lasting impression. Whether you’re seeking professional face painting, balloon twisting, or mural art in Metro Vancouver, we invite you to join us on a colourful creative experience.