Ms Canita Ruan, an upcoming and successful Face Painter in Anguilla, is finally realising one of her dreams and that is to attend FABAIC – a Face & Body Art International Convention – to be held in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, from May 22-26. She will be among over one hundred face and body art professionals in attendance from all over the world.
Ms Ruan, a Face Painter and Ani Art Academies Apprentice, met a number of her sponsors at LIME Anguilla on Tuesday this week to thank them for their kind gesture and sponsorship. “I am going to improve my skills in face-painting and to begin full body-painting, using the spray paint airbrush system,” the young artist said. “I am here to thank my sponsors, close friends and family.”
The sponsors she thanked were LIME Anguilla, represented by Ms Jade Reymond; the Anguilla Tourist Board; Attorney-at-Law, Mrs Cora Richardson-Hodge; Sunset Homes, represented by Mrs Janine Edwards; and the Department of Youth & Culture, represented by Mr Bren Romney and Mrs Hyacinth Bradley, Director and Senior Programme Officer respectively at the Department of Youth & Culture. Canita’s mother, Mrs Anita Ruan, who was also at the meeting, representing her husband, Mr Calvin Ruan, joined in thanking the sponsors for assisting their daughter.
The sponsors highly commended Canita for her successful work in face-painting and spoke about their pleasure in providing sponsorship for her to attend the Face & Body Art International Convention.
Asked about her entry into face-painting, the young artist said: “I started at the Primary Schools’ Sports Day, about five years, ago from where it just kicked off. I decided to make it a small business where I do parties, fairs and other events. I want to make it bigger where in the future, maybe, I can do some regional work, offering my skills for carnival, fashion shows and other events.”
She was delighted with her art studies at Ani Art Academies in Anguilla, saying that her attendance there, and at the upcoming international convention, would enhance her face-painting skills.
Canita is encouraging other young people to follow her dreams and to never give up despite the challenges they might face.
