Since launching MJC Artistry in 2023, founder Mackenzie Travis has built the company with a vision that extends beyond traditional face painting.
Today, MJC Artistry provides professional face painting, balloon twisting, and glitter bar services for corporate events, brand activations, and large-scale community gatherings across British Columbia and internationally. That commitment to professionalism and exceptional client experiences has led to opportunities ranging from major corporate activations to serving as the sole face painter for the FIFA World Cup 2026 VIP Hospitality Village at BC Place.
As the business continues to grow, Travis is also helping elevate professional standards across the industry by educating fellow artists, publishing educational resources, and encouraging creative entrepreneurs to build sustainable, professional businesses of their own.
Building a Business, Not a Side Hustle
Travis’s path into the industry was anything but conventional. After leaving a career in welding for health reasons, she pursued a diploma in Visual and Digital Arts through a government retraining program. The experience required her to defend the idea that a creative career could be every bit as legitimate as a traditional trade, a belief that would ultimately shape how she approached building her business.
Rather than treating face painting as a hobby or remaining a solo artist, Travis approached MJC Artistry with a long-term vision. She focused on building systems, establishing professional processes, and creating a company capable of supporting larger events while delivering a consistent client experience. For her, creative businesses deserve to be run with the same discipline, planning, and operational standards as any other professional service.
Delivering at Scale
Large corporate activations require far more than artistic talent. They demand thoughtful planning, dependable staffing, and the ability to deliver a consistent experience across hundreds or even thousands of guest interactions. Recognizing that early, Mackenzie Travis made the decision to build MJC Artistry differently. Rather than waiting until larger opportunities arrived, she invested in a vetted network of subcontractor artists and the operational systems needed to support complex events without compromising quality.
That investment paid off sooner than expected. Less than four months after establishing the network, MJC Artistry received an inquiry requiring ten artists for a single activation, an opportunity the company was prepared to accept because the infrastructure was already in place. It marked a significant step forward for a business that had started with Travis promoting her services at local markets behind a handwritten cardboard menu.
For event planners, that preparation means partnering with a company built to deliver consistent, professional experiences, regardless of the size or complexity of the event.
Raising the Bar for the Industry
For Travis, building MJC Artistry has always been about more than growing one company. She also wants to help elevate the profession itself.
Recognizing a lack of education around professional standards within the industry, Travis began sharing what she learned with other artists. She teaches health and safety best practices, publishes educational resources, and encourages creative entrepreneurs to approach their businesses with greater professionalism. Her goal is not simply to strengthen her own business, but to help build greater trust in the industry as a whole.
That commitment to education extends well beyond client events. Travis is the published author of a face paint coloring book and a Face Painter’s Planner, and she is currently writing a business book designed to help face painters and creative entrepreneurs build sustainable, professional businesses. During her Visual and Digital Arts diploma program, her eggshell heart sculpture, Exposed, won at the school level and advanced to the International Student Art Awards competition, reflecting a creative foundation that continues to influence her work today.
Her work has also begun to attract recognition within the professional face-painting community. Travis recently recorded an episode of the UK-based Sponge Stories podcast, where she discussed her journey as a professional artist and business owner. She is also currently ranked among the top three face painters in Surrey by ThreeBestRated, further reflecting the reputation she has built within the industry.
As MJC Artistry continues to grow, Travis hopes to help change how face painting is perceived, from a children’s party activity to a professional event service capable of supporting corporate activations, large-scale community events, and international clients. Through education, mentorship, and thought leadership, she is working to help the next generation of artists build businesses that are as sustainable as they are creative.
Where MJC Artistry is headed next
As demand for large-scale corporate events and experiential marketing continues to grow, Travis plans to expand MJC Artistry’s presence in corporate activations and international events while continuing to develop her personal brand as an educator and advocate for the industry. Through speaking, publishing, and her upcoming business book, she hopes to encourage more creative entrepreneurs to build businesses that are both artistically fulfilling and operationally strong.
For Travis, success has never been measured solely by the events she books. It’s measured by helping to change perceptions of what a professional face-painting business can become. From local markets to the FIFA World Cup 2026 VIP Hospitality Village, MJC Artistry’s journey demonstrates what can happen when creativity is supported by professionalism, preparation, and a long-term vision. More about her work is available on the MJC Artistry website.
