Daily Inspiration: Meet Laraine Foo

Today we’d like to introduce you to Laraine Foo

Hi Laraine, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Laraine Foo and Pilar Condes, two lifelong artists became first time business owners in 2024 with In Your Face, LLC. The woman owned, In Your Face LLC, creates face paintings for all ages and custom designs for the theme of any event. They travel both in and out of The Triangle while doing both private and community events.

Foo, born and raised in Long Island, NY, is a wife and mother of three kids: Mia, 9; Tristan, 7 and Adilyn, 5. In 2020, she received a face painting kit as a gift, which served as a hobby/distraction for her children during the pandemic. After learning designs from tutorials and receiving encouragement from her family and friends to start painting for income, Foo began painting at birthday parties and neighborhood HOA events. It was within this time that Foo befriended Condes at a Neighborhood Bunco night in 2022. Foo, the HOA Social Committee Chair, invited Condes to assist with her social committee events and quickly realized the Southern California born and raised Condes also had a special artistic talent. Foo decided that Condes would learn face painting and assist with an upcoming event contracted with Alexis Cambereri of My Oak City Event at The Rockingham Speedway Open House.

While preparing for their first event, Foo and Condes decided to start a face painting venture together. Within 24 hours, the LLC was formed and by week’s end In Your Face : Face Painting was established. Since then, the duo has painted at high school reunions, family reunions, social events at Raleigh bars, various area festivals, community events and more.

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?
Their greatest obstacle has been adjusting to Vendor life. Event attendance, product demand and weather are always unpredictable. They have overcome the unknowns with their superpowers; adaptability, organization, and preparedness.

As new business owners, Foo and Condes have met the challenges of running and owning a small business head on. Their challenges included, but were not limited to, financial management and event scheduling. Their current challenge is Social Media presence. Leah Taylor of Snapshots & Soirees, has helped them capture their designs to promote In Your Face via Instagram and Facebook.

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
Foo and Condes enjoy meeting to create and practice new designs and then later painting the designs on smiling faces. Their work includes varying levels of designs for face and body, from illustrations to artful elegance. They pride themselves on theming their designs to the events that hire them, which also differentiates them from other face painters.

“We put paint, In Your Face!”

The crisis has affected us all in different ways. How has it affected you and any important lessons or epiphanies you can share with us?
COVID did effect their lives but, for them, in the positive. Foo and Condes are able to finally return to their creative sides. They love what they do, are able to do what makes them happy every day and are very thankful for the support of their families, especially their husbands.

Pricing:

• Contact us for pricing information, [email protected]

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/inyourfacellc/profilecard/?igsh=MWo5YzlpY3p5Ymk10Q==
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61559249399455&mibextid=LQQJ4d