I struggled for many years to make a living as an artist and the moment I stopped trying to define what my artistic career was supposed to look like was the moment my art career began to happen. 

I started face painting via a weekend class that I randomly took at Tobi Britton's Makeup Shop in NYC back in fall of 2002.  This class was taught by a master face painter and incredibly creative soul named Olivier Zegers.  After this two-day experience with Olivier,  I started face painting children for free Sunday afternoons in Tompkins Square Park, sometimes out of desperation for money and at other times just to make kids AND MYSELF happy.

NOW this art form known as face and body painting is one of the biggest gifts I've ever been given.  I absolutely love what I do and feel so fortunate to have such a cool job.

                                                         Be Well & Smile BIG - Derrick