Among melting popsicles, cheery laughter and the warm breeze of a summer night, sisters Maria and Consuelo Gonzalez can be found behind a paintbrush turning excited children into Spiderman or a shimmering mermaid.
Art has always been the twin sisters’ passion, and now, through their co-owned company Hire an Artist, it has become a unique career that keeps their busy lives full of fun.
Hire an Artist is a women-, Latina- and family-owned and operated business based in Bryan offering artistic services in many forms, from face painting to indoor murals. Founded in 2019 by Maria and Consuelo, Hire an Artist is a testament to the sisters’ lifelong love of art, nurtured since their childhood days.
“We’ve always kind of been into art since we were kids,” Maria says. “Even in school, we would draw things for folks and sell them. It’s always been in our blood to have something to do with art.”
Though their journey into the artistic realm started at a young age, it evolved over their lifetime as the sisters sought ways to monetize their gifts. While working in the insurance industry in East Texas for a time, Consuelo decided to dive into the realm of window painting, kicking off her artistic career. In the meantime, Maria – while raising her young family in Bryan/College Station – was building a business as a freelance Glam and Halloween SFX makeup artist. When Consuelo decided to return to the B/CS area in 2019 the sisters joined forces, making Hire an Artist official — not just as a professional endeavor but as a family affair.
“When we got together, it just took off because we’ve always worked really well together,” Consuelo says. “We don’t argue; if [Maria] has certain things she likes, we just respect each other’s opinions and then just go from there.”
Maria, a mother of three, says the support of her children in the family business has helped in shaping their artistic ventures as well as giving them knowledge on running a business and learning new things.
“I have a 6-year-old, a 13-year-old, and a 14-year-old, and they have helped us every step of the way,” Maria says. “There has always been somebody who comes with me everywhere I go to help or assist in a way. As long as they’re willing to learn, we’re willing to teach them.”
Hire an Artist is not confined to a single artistic niche; rather, it offers a wide range of creative services. Their services include professional face painting, window art, indoor and outdoor murals, balloon twisting, signage and canvas work.
“We have a wide range of things because we dabble in everything,” Consuelo explains. “I paint anything I can. If you want me to slap some paint on it, I’m gonna do it and make it look cute.”
Running a business is not without its challenges. While the artistic work comes naturally for Maria and Consuelo, the sisters have also been navigating the new waters of entrepreneurship. Their resilience and passion for their craft keep them going.
“We run everything ourselves,” Consuelo says. “We’re the accounting, scheduling, booking, contracts — all of it.”
The ebb and flow of their business follows the seasons, with face painting dominating spring and summer events and holiday window art becoming prominent in the winter months. Any downtime they have along the way is dedicated to sharpening their skills.
“The learning never stops,” says Maria. “We are always wanting to find new things to add to our skillset and services, so we like to set aside a lot of time to practice and take classes when we can.”
The company’s local presence is marked by its participation in various community events, such as an upcoming family movie event with the City of Bryan on June 28 and the Summer Celebration at Texas A&M University Gardens on June 15. Hire an Artist will be providing face painting and balloon twisting to guests for free at both events.
The sisters are also available to hire for private events, such as birthday parties or showers. For those looking to beat the heat this summer, Maria says their new henna and glitter tattoo services are a huge hit for pool parties.
“What we do is really out of fun; we enjoy doing it,” Maria says. “We’ve made a business out of something that we’re passionate about and it’s been amazing to watch it grow, but it’s all in the
Lord’s hands. If this is where the Lord wants us, He’ll keep us busy. If we ever get to the point where we’re no longer staying busy, then the Lord is wanting us to go a different route, and we’ll keep following that route.”
Follow their Facebook page at “Hire an Artist” or find them on Instagram @hire_an_artist to stay up-to-date on their upcoming events. Email hireanartist.thetwins@gmail.com for business inquiries.
