Rising Stars: Meet Stephanie Swain

Today we’d like to introduce you to Stephanie Swain.

Hi Stephanie, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story? 
Alphanie Artistry originally started in 2009 as a way for me to sell my handmade goods, but it never really took off. However, I relaunched the brand on May 6th, 2022, as an entertainment business. In 2022, my husband was unemployed, and I had recently lost my job due to mental illness. I needed to help my family somehow, and I knew I could not go back to a traditional job, so I went back to my roots and started offering face painting services as an artist. My first event consisted of using a simple kit, one table, one director’s chair, a canopy, and a handmade sign. Despite this simplicity, I quickly gathered a following, and I have been consistently booked ever since. In 2022, Durham Pride hired me for my first hourly gig, where I provided my services free to the public, and they paid me per hour. This opportunity allowed me to expand my business into offering glitter tattoos, ink tattoos, glow-in-the-dark tattoos, glow-in-the-dark body painting, UV body painting, and balloon twisting. As I saved up money, I bought more tables to display my handmade goods, and now my business provides multiple services under one 10×10 tent. I strive to provide exceptional customer service to everyone. 

Living in Johnston County, which is just outside of Raleigh, I felt that there was a shortage of quality fine arts entertainment providers to meet the demands of the growing population. My aim was to offer high-quality, sanitary, and safe all-inclusive experiences for people of all ages, abilities, and capabilities to celebrate the beauty of human diversity. As a result, I transformed Alphanie Artistry into an all-in-one witchy business that offers a variety of services, including face painting, temporary tattoos, glitter bar, lip color bar, custom stencils, and more. My ultimate goal is to create memorable events for my clients, one brush stroke at a time, and to become the go-to artistic entertainment business in the region. 

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
The journey to where I am now has not been an easy one. My family and I struggle month to month to make ends meet, and some months we even struggle to put food on the table. To add to that, I occasionally face backlash from members of my community who are not as accepting of diversity as they should be. Despite these challenges, my determination to bring joy to kids and adults alike has kept me going. The most rewarding moments of my job are when people tell me that I have turned their whole day around with my services. These moments are what keep me fighting and striving to be the best entertainer I can be. 

I also face physical challenges in my job. As a child, I lost a disc in my back between my L4 and L5 vertebrae, which has led to chronic back pain. Additionally, I suffer from chronic kidney stones that can arise at any time. These challenges make the physical nature of my job more difficult, but I face them with tenacity and do my best to overcome them. Although I am not always successful, I feel like I have done my best, and that’s all that really matters. 

Thanks – so, what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
At Alphanie Artistry, I offer a wide array of artistic entertainment services, including face painting, temporary ink/glitter/glow tattoos, balloon twisting, and handcrafted goods such as jewelry and paintings. I take pride in the variety of services that I can provide, as well as the intricate and unique designs that I create for my clients. As an artist, the most rewarding moments for me are when I am able to turn a skeptic into a believer of the magic that I can create with my work. 

What sets me apart from others is my ability to provide a personalized and memorable experience for each client that I work with. I take the time to listen to their ideas and preferences, and I work closely with them to create designs that are tailored to their individual needs. Additionally, I am always striving to improve my skills and learn new techniques, ensuring that I am constantly growing and evolving as an artist. 

So, before we go, how can our readers or others connect or collaborate with you? How can they support you?
To get in touch with me people can reach me through various platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, Gmail, text, WhatsApp, and Pinterest. My social media tag is #AlphanieArtistry, while my Gmail is [email protected]. The best way to reach me via text is through 919-912-2017. 

Currently, the biggest support that I need is funding. As a struggling business, any extra financial assistance or strategies would be greatly appreciated. If you would like to donate or support my business in any way, please contact me through any of the platforms mentioned above, and we can figure out the best way for you to do so. 

Pricing:

• Pay per patron events, I require a $35 retainer fee and charge per service-none of my services cost more than $20.
• Hourly my face painting is $125 an hour with a 2-hour minimum
• Hourly my temporary tattoos ink are $120 an hour, and glitter is $115 an hour
• I offer multiple add-ons such as balloon twisting, glitter bar, lip color bar, etc, which range from $30-$100 depending on what you choose

Contact Info:

• Website: www.alphanieartistry.com
• Instagram: https://instagram.com/alphanieartistry?igshid=NGExMmI2YTkyZg==
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/alphanieartistry