About Face

In an unassuming home in Airdrie, four cherubic little girls are accustomed to coming home to a sight most children would find unusual. Their mother occasionally opens the door with her face elaborately painted like a decaying zombie, terrifying ghoul or glittering butterfly.

It’s all in a day’s work for local artist Amanda Tozser, owner of Amandamazing Art. Tozser is an exceptionally talented face and body special effects artist whose work has catapulted her to national attention in recent years. She’s no overnight sensation though – Tozser has been creating art since she was a child.

Actress Hayden Panettiere (right) is a big fan of Amanda Tozser

story by Sarah Deveau

face

Photos courtesy of Amanda Toszer

“My formal training is in fine arts and graphite composition from the University of Saskatchewan,” explains Tozser. “After graduation I worked as a Disney muralist for Famous Players Canada for more than 10 years, but once I had children, I put my career on hold.”

Tozser, along with husband Peter, has four children: Victoria, 10, Sarah, 7, and twins Amber and Brittany, 5.

“For the last decade, my artistic expression was limited to face painting at the occasional birthday party or creating scenes for my kids in sidewalk chalk,” she laughs.

Once the youngest two entered preschool, Tozser decided to restart her career, and she’s certainly more than made up for lost time. She began exploring theatrical body painting, which led to face painting at events and then into special effects training.

“Canada offers very little in training, so travel is a must to expand my skills and portfolio,” she explains. Tozser recently attended the five-day Face Paint and Body Art convention in Las Vegas where she placed second in a competition with participants from around the world. She also took home the hardware in an online competition with DFX Europe, in which she won first place.

As the primary body artist with The Event Network Ltd. in Calgary, a company that creates living statues, Tozser has been involved with several major events, such as Burnco’s 100th anniversary, Tourism Calgary’s White Hat Awards and SAIT’s annual gala, as well as other high-profile functions.

“Amanda truly is ‘amazing,’” says Terry Fiell, owner and producer of The Event Network Ltd. “I love working with her. She is always prepared and goes out of her way to do the impossible, creating the living statues into true pieces of art.”

Fans of Amanda’s Facebook page enjoy her photos of the transformations she practises on her own face while at home, but they were surprised and delighted when she posted celebrity photos in April from the Calgary Comic Expo. “I had a booth doing detailed brush, airbrush and SPFX makeup for attendees,” says Tozser. “Heroes actress Hayden Panettiere saw a few fans with my work, and I was invited to the Celebrity Lounge and she asked me to face paint her. It was incredible – I got to visit with many celebrities and was recently contacted by an agent of one of the actors to fly to Vancouver this year to body paint for a photo shoot.”

Movie sets are becoming a second home to Tozser. She spent much of the summer working on two film projects and is being considered for several other films. She’s also comfortable on set or location for still photography.

Despite the crazy demands of the entertainment world, though, Tozser still finds time to give back to local charities, donating her services for events held by such charities as Alexander’s Quest, Alberta Children’s Hospital, Inn From the Cold and others. And of course she makes plenty of time for her family, as well. “My husband and my little girls are my first priority and inspire me to do what I love. Their support means the world to me,” she says. “Plus when I volunteer to paint for my girls’ classes at school, I’m so cool!

“I’m lucky enough to have a career where I can work my schedule around being a mommy first and an artist second,” adds Tozser. “I’m living proof that it’s never too late to live out a dream.” life