GrowFL Florida Companies to Watch Honoree Profile

When Barbie Parham met Keelan Parham, she was 19 and he was an Elvis impersonator who also loved to draw. What began as a way to make a living through caricatures became Artistic Talent Group, an Orlando-based art entertainment company serving theme parks, corporate gatherings, and private events nationwide.Their partnership combines Keelan’s creative exploration with Barbie’s business discipline. Over more than 30 years of working with Disney, they have built a platform for artists to earn a living while sharing their work directly with audiences. Now recognized as a GrowFL Florida Companies to Watch honoree, Artistic Talent Group is preparing to expand its national reach while preserving the quality and personal interaction that have sustained the business.

Building a Business Around Complementary Strengths

Barbie learned important lessons from her father, who owned a printing company. When she needed help understanding the responsibilities of running a business, including sales tax, she turned to him. His guidance helped the couple grow carefully and avoid taking on more than they could manage. The early investments still required courage. To finance a custom kiosk for Disney property, the couple took out a second mortgage on their home. They studied the numbers closely, weighing the expense against the income the operation could produce. As opportunities accumulated, the business developed steadily. Barbie managed the operational and financial responsibilities while Keelan focused on the art. That division remains central to how they work together. Today, Keelan serves as creative director, and Barbie continues to guide the business and its client relationships. Her close attention to the artists they represent supports the standard customers expect.

A Clear Focus on Visual Artists

Artistic Talent Group concentrates on artists who create something people can see take shape, from caricatures and paintings to silhouettes. That focus helps the company develop expertise within a specific area of event entertainment. “We exclusively work with visual artists,” Keelan said. Its Disney operations and event business reinforce one another. Artists draw theme park visitors in retail settings and work at conventions and private events. Ideas developed for one setting can become offerings in the other.

New concepts often begin with Keelan experimenting and Barbie recognizing a commercial opportunity. During the pandemic, wine corks on the counter prompted a question: could he draw on one? His cartoon of Barbie became the starting point for an offering that now sends artists to wineries and events around the country. Another format lets guests become part of the art without sitting for a formal portrait. In the company’s “hit and run artist” offering, an artist sketches people as they mingle, then surprises them with the finished drawing before moving on. The couple said the concept has become familiar to event planners nationwide.

Developing a Team That Shares the Experience

At the time of the interview, approximately 70 artists worked in the company’s Disney operations, with roughly 100 people supporting that business when retail and other roles were included. A broader network supports events beyond Florida. Keelan handles much of the artist training. Technical skill is essential, but so is the ability to engage people. A successful live artist must be comfortable creating while talking, listening, and making a guest feel part of the experience. “I can’t give anybody talent,” Keelan said. “And I can’t give anybody a personality.” The company draws on relationships within the art community. Keelan is a past president of theInternational Society of Caricature Artists, whose gatherings offer opportunities for artists to exchange ideas and develop their skills. The team also includes artists from his alma mater, Savannah College of Art and Design, and from the University of Central Florida. Inside the business, the couple describes a family atmosphere built around enthusiasm for art. Retail associates sometimes develop into drawing roles, while office and management employees take pride in representing work they enjoy watching. Annual company celebrations have grown large enough to require two separate luncheons.

Finding Opportunity in a Difficult Period

The pandemic challenged a business built around drawing faces in person. Masks obscured the features artists needed to see, forcing the company to rethink how a portrait could be created.The solution was to work from photographs. That adjustment eventually offered guests more flexibility: an artist could take a photo, then complete the drawing while the guest continued enjoying the park and returned later to collect it.It also expanded opportunities to draw pets from photographs visitors carried on their phones. The couple credits the shift with increasing sales and broadening the ways customers could participate.Artificial intelligence presents another change for the industry. The Parhams recognize that automated images affect how people perceive caricatures and digital art. They also see continued demand for traditional materials and for the experience of interacting with an artist. Keelan believes the conversation and connection that happen during a live drawing remain central to its appeal. That relationship gives the company a reason for optimism as technology evolves.

Expanding Through Relationships

Much of Artistic Talent Group’s growth has come through repeat clients, referrals, and networking.Visitors and event organizers encounter its artists in Orlando, then request them for gatherings in other markets. Barbie credits long-standing involvement with the International Live Events Association, including service as a local chapter president, with helping her develop industry relationships. Connections through NACE and MPI have also introduced the company to event planners and destination management businesses.Looking ahead, the couple anticipated developing a nationwide roster of at least 150 artists over the next three years. Working with talent based near an event could reduce travel expenses and make the service more accessible across markets.Barbie also hoped for growth of at least 25 percent as the company expanded its event business and invested in marketing. Maintaining quality while representing more artists outside its daily operations will be an important part of that effort.

Using Art to Support Children and Families

The company’s community involvement reflects its connection to both the arts and children. The Parhams support the Dr. Phillips Center and described a roughly 20-year relationship with Arnold Palmer, drawing children facing serious illnesses. For families, those portraits can become lasting reminders of time together. They also support families navigating the condition their daughter was born with, ArthrogryposisMultiplex Congenita. Having experienced the uncertainty of an unexpected diagnosis, they want other parents to find support. Their daughter now works full time as an artist with the company, drawing at Disney and offering encouragement through her own example.For Barbie and Keelan, GrowFL recognition belongs to the entire team. They shared the news in person at their company celebrations before making a public announcement, giving employees a chance to see their contributions acknowledged. They also thanked Jeff Holder for nominating the business. Their advice to other entrepreneurs reflects the approach that helped them build Artistic Talent Group: keep going, ask questions, and learn from people who know what you do not.“Reach out to people that know the answers when you don’t know the answer,” Barbie said.As they prepare for the next stage of growth, the Parhams are carrying that willingness to learn into a larger market, creating more opportunities for artists to share their work and for guests to take home something personal.