STUDIO BEE MURALS PROMOTE BUSINESSES, BEAUTIFY COMMUNITY
Studio Bee
Centralia, IL
Studio artist and muralist, Jamie Allen, has helped elevate the complexion of the Greater Centralia Area and its businesses, restaurants, schools, and organizations through her self-owned business, Studio Bee.
Allen opened Studio Bee in Downtown Centralia in 2018, focusing solely on permanent makeup services, another of her trained talents.
A Centralia native and lifelong resident and supporter of her hometown community, Allen said she couldn’t imagine opening her business anywhere else.
“Centralia is my home. It’s small enough that I knew quite a few people who would trust me to do their permanent makeup, but large enough that I would get more clients I had never met before,” said Allen. “Centralia is also centrally located between St. Louis, Effingham, and Marion. So, clients from outside our community could easily travel to me, which happened frequently.”
Forced to pause the permanent makeup business in 2020 as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, Allen said she turned to murals as a way to keep busy and continue creating.
“During the pandemic, my permanent makeup studio was shut down, and I needed a way to pass the time. Jeff Castellari, owner of C-Town Twist, came to me with his idea of painting a large mural on the side of his recently purchased building,” Allen recalled. “I’d told him I’d love to but had no idea where or how to start. Jeff was more than understanding and let me experiment. I finished my first mural in April 2020, which led me to doing another in the fall, and again the next year.”
Allen would go on to paint murals at The Locust Street Pub, The Barking Lot, and Centralia House, along with a few inside Odin Public School. Her most recent mural was completed in March at Simply Soul’s new 548 N. Poplar location.
Sadly, Allen left Studio Bee’s 106 S. Locust location in 2025 due to the condition of the building, and after much consideration, decided to step away from permanent makeup and focus solely on murals.
“The transition from permanent makeup to murals is bittersweet. My situation is unique in the way it happened. I wasn’t ready to stop permanent makeup, but my building was condemned downtown, so I was forced out,” Allen recalled. “It took a lot out of me, emotionally and mentally. My clients were like my friends. I got to know them; they got to know me. I really loved the connection and respect I had for all of the clients that came to me.”
“Once the dust settled, I realized how taxing permanent makeup was on my mental and physical health. I realized it was time to take a break and focus on myself. I hated saying goodbye to my clients, letting go was the hardest part. However, my clients are still cheering me on in my mural business.”
In both her permanent makeup studio and her continued work as a muralist, Allen’s passion for her hometown is front and center in everything she does.
“It’s hard to put into words how fulfilling the entire process of painting murals has been. I never thought one mural would lead to what it is today,” she said. “Being able to brighten the community, help businesses get noticed, and bring people together through art is a dream that I’m somehow fortunate enough to be living. I don’t take any of it for granted.”
Allen, who splits time between murals and her full-time position as director of marketing at the Centralia Chamber of Commerce, said she already has a full schedule for the rest of 2026.
“I have the Globetrotters mural in Laura Leake Park scheduled for completion in 2026, as well as a few other businesses in Centralia,” Allen explained. “But I am booked for outdoor murals through 2026 already and started scheduling for Spring 2027.”
Those interested in contacting Allen about a mural project may do so through the Studio Bee Facebook page, or by email at jamie.resch@yahoo.com.
