Cherie Tessier Creates a New Life for Herself

Unforgettable Magic

The thrill of fascinating face painting.

WRITTEN BY MEGIN POTTER | PHOTOS PROVIDED (UNLESS NOTED)

Photo: Andres Jimenez, That Army Guy Photography

One glance at Cherie Tessier’s work will stun you out of the ordinary.

The amazing detail in her fantastical face and body paintings trick the observer with seemingly impossible illusions. The artistic precision of her work is so captivating it makes you believe what you’re seeing – whether it’s someone with four eyes or half a face.

ENJOYABLE & IMAGINATIVE

Creative from a young age, Cherie always enjoyed art and design. It wasn’t until 2019, when she hired a face painter for her daughter’s birthday party, that she decided to try her hand at it, also. So moved by the delight it brought to children and adults alike, she launched iCandy Designs Face Painting LLC. Now, this Saratoga Springs-based artist creates unique, customized designs for festivals, birthday and holiday parties, school, corporate, and fundraising events. She also does makeup for photo shoots, special occasions, and even maternity belly painting throughout the Capital Region and beyond. “I can customize to any theme or design you'd like, to accommodate to your party and make it one to remember,” said Cherie.

EYE-CATCHING DESIGNS

Cherie, mom to 6-year-old Jack, and 5-year-old Jillian, also works full time at the New York State Funeral Directors Association, so she hones her craft on her own face late at night while her children and husband, Scott, sleep. “I have a problem stopping. I keep adding details. Like for a full tiger face I did, I used flicks of the paintbrush to make it look more like real fur,” she said. Her results are extraordinary. Cherie posts these masterpieces (that even morph and move!) on social media before moving on to the next challenge. She’s spent as long as three hours on a single design and is always scouring for inspiration from artists, including Mimi Choi.

EXPERIENCE THE MAGIC

The mass appeal of iCandy Designs Face Painting has been showcased as a marketing tool by promotional companies and events like The Day of the Dead Party, sponsored by Avion tequila, held in downtown Saratoga hot spots including Morrissey’s at the Adelphi Hotel, Bailey‘s Saratoga, and Harvey’s Restaurant and Bar. Masked, professionally insured, and using only highend FDA compliant make-up at her sanitized station, Cherie has a special knack for working with kids, too. She paints awesome kids designs (for a very reasonable price) in just about four minutes each. “A lot of kids look forward to getting it done, and at the end of the day, it is all about making others happy; that’s what’s important.” Find out more by following iCandy Designs Face Painting on Facebook, Instagram, and visiting icandydesignsfacepainting.com

MARK YOUR CALENDAR

Look for iCandy Designs Face Painting at these upcoming events: September 11 • 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. Farm Day Out, Windy Hill Orchard 1297 Brookview Station Rd, Castleton September 25 • 12 – 4 p.m. Halfmoon Harvest Festival Halfmoon Town Park, 162 NY-236, Clifton Park October 9-10 • 12 – 6 p.m. West Mountain Fall Festival 59 West Mtn. Road, Queensbury

SF Photo: Andres Jimenez, That Army Guy Photography