Meet Cassie Levy

We recently connected with Cassie Levy and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Cassie, so excited to talk about all sorts of important topics with you today. The first one we want to jump into is about being the only one in the room – for some that’s being the only person of color or the only non-native English speaker or the only non-MBA, etc Can you talk to us about how you have managed to be successful even when you were the only one in the room that looked like you?
I grew up queer in a small, conservative town; I came out in high school, regardless of my surroundings. Authenticity is a core value of mine; I have always been naturally stubborn, which certainly helped. It has always been important to be unapologetically myself. Growing up in that environment kind of forced me to develop thicker skin, and really stick to my guns when it came to my sense of self. Not everyone is going to understand or agree with you or your identity. I have always tried to make work I cared about, and tried to just lean into my own sense of style. Generally speaking, my work speaks for itself, and it call’s to it’s own demographic. I try to just be as genuine as possible, and it has brought the right people into my life. I’m also not afraid to turn down clients or opportunities that do not feel like a good fit.

Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?
Art has always felt like a bit of a calling to me. Ever since I was a little kid, I loved to draw and paint and spent hours creating. My job as a face and body painter isn’t exactly what I pictured myself doing for a job, but I love it! It’s been a great way to incorporate that need for creativity with the need to pay my bills. I get to just paint all day, and I also get the immediate satisfaction of seeing people’s responses to my art. It brings a lot of people joy, and getting to see that on a daily basis is really special.

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
I had experience and skill as a painter, but I also used to work as a nanny. In my line of work, this has proven to be paramount, because at least 80% of the work that I do is with kids! Besides that, I have had to develop a lot of organizational skills to run a business. This is something I think a lot of artists struggle with, but when you can’t afford to outsource these tasks, it is crucial to success. I think every artist should be taking the time to learn about the business side of things, no matter how boring spreadsheets and SEO seem, they will help your business run smoothly.

How can folks who want to work with you connect?
Yes! I am always interested in collaborating with models and photographers to help build my body painting portfolio and gain more experience. Body painting is really more about the love of art than anything else, so making time to just be playful in your work is so important. Of course I’m open to hearing about any other opportunities!

Contact Info:

Image Credits
Chris Otrebla Cass Cleave Amina Theis

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