Amara shared joy through Funny Cheeks

By Susan Wenner

Herald Staff Writer

 

Since childhood, Susy Amaro has loved art and painting, even winning awards when she was young. She worked as a graphic designer for years but it's her company, FunnyCheeks Kids Entertainment that has her full attention these days.

As a mom of 2, engaged and working to grow the business, Amaro travels to, not only paint faces, but to hone the art by attending the FABAIC (Face and Body Art International Convention) in Fort Lauderdale. Yet, after 10 years of working in her art, started to help make ends meet with the bills, she is loving her clients more daily. 

"When I started FunnyCheeks 10 years ago I was a single mom and my son was only 4," she said. "I was struggling financially. However, I always looked to find a solution, I knew the struggle was going to be temporary. For years I brainstormed and researched new services and niche trends. One day, I saw a girl face painting at a family birthday party. I overheard she was being paid $75 to paint the children’s cheeks. This is when my face painting research obsession started. Shortly after starting FunnyCheeks, I left my Graphic Design job in good terms and my unforgettable journey began."

She added, "Since I can remember, I enjoyed art in many forms, including painting, 

sketching and singing. Since first grade I entered art competitions and I always won first or second place. This gave me a real appreciation and drive to become better at sketching and painting. When I started face painting I already had the experience, since I painted since I was a child and learned from art books my parents would buy me. I self-taught painting on faces through online videos and then went to several face and body art conventions, specialized in professional face and body art."

 A connection with the children is important, as Amaro acknowledged, but she chuckled as she shared that she is just a kid at heart and finds herself having long conversations with the children while she paints. They will talk about cartoon characters, toys, family and laugh. 

"Face painting is the perfect job for me," said Amaro. "FunnyCheeks also offers face and body painting, balloon art, balloon décor, airbrush tattoos, waterproof face painting, henna, magic show, clown show, characters, DJ, karaoke, belly painting for moms, games and body painting that is popular for sports, theater and night club events.

Amaro was quick to point out that she strives to keep current on the latest products and trends especially waterproof/sweat-proof face painting for the humid Florida temperatures. "My plans are to continue to expand and grow, throughout Florida," she said. "I started alone, just offering face painting. I later learned how to do balloon art. Today, we are about 15 entertainers, composed of face painters, balloon artists, magicians, clowns, airbrush tattoo artist and more. I have learned that you gain so much more by being friends with your competitors. I have gained so many friends by keeping in contact with all of them. We learn together, network and we work together on a regular basis. We get booked for private events like birthday parties and corporate events as well."

In addition to FunnyCheeks, Amaro recently founded a non-profit called Healing Smiles Foundation which provides entertainment to children with terminal illnesses in hospitals while raising funds to give these children their own dream birthday party.  "It really makes me very happy to see their face when they see themselves painted," she cited. "At that moment they forget their illness. Their smile is priceless. We have also contributed to the community by donating our services to organizations that serve children with other terminal illnesses, like the Arnold Palmer Children Hospital. We do this regularly. We also have donated our services to Kids Wish Network and Runway to Hope."

For more information about her companies or to book Amaro for an event go to www.funnycheeks.com, call 407-350-8068 or email susy@funnycheeks.com.