Face Painting Techniques Tips
Read these 26 Face Painting Techniques Tips tips to make your life smarter, better, faster and wiser. Each tip is approved by our Editors and created by expert writers so great we call them Gurus. LifeTips is the place to go when you need to know about Body Art tips and hundreds of other topics.
Careful Around Eyes
Red and green colors have a tendency to sting around the eyes. Both have a tendency to slightly stain the skin. When painting full faces, end the design about 1/4" to 1/2" away from the eyes.
Applying Glitter
You can apply glitter to a face painting design with q-tips. Dip the tip in water, wring it out on the side, dip in very fine glitter, and roll onto the design so you don't smear it.
Outline Is Key
Facepainting designs should be clean and crisp and have a definite outline. Eyeliner pencils may work, and there are facepainting markers. A good craft outline brush is best. Practice on your hand.
Customize the Design
You will almost guarantee a happy client if you customize the design to match what they are wearing. If they are wearing reds and yellows, for instance, incorporate those colors into the design. Or pick a design that matches what they are wearing. If a boy has a gigantic pikachu on his chest, he would probably love a matching pikachu on his cheek. Plus, if the design is on the shirt, then you have something to copy!
Outline First or Last?
You can outline the design first, but you need to go back over the outline again once you have applied the color. The outline will look faded unless you crisp it up with a final outline application.
Dark for Shadow, Light for Sun
Add a little dark to one side of a face painting design to add a three-dimensional aspect. To highlight take a light color, like white or yellow, and add some brightness to the opposite side of the design from the dark color. Practice with a circle and a cylinder shape. Make the circle look more like a sphere, and the cylinder should start looking like a can.
Storing Glitter
Baby food jars are perfect for storing the glitter you use for face painting. You can also use the lid for custom mixes.
Ways to Apply Glitter
There are glitter gels for face painting, but they have a tendency to smear the design, so just use around the outside. Don't choose any kind of glue or adhesive, beyond gel. You can use Q-tips dipped in water and slightly wrung out. Another way to apply glitter is to use a big loose powder brush, dip it in extra fine glitter, and apply.
Find Design Ideas
You can find design ideas in coloring books, comic books, cartoons, animated features, fabric patterns, doodling, how-to-draw books, talking with kids and adults about what they would like to see. Then try them first on paper. If you like the design, practice it until you are comfortable.
Light Colors First
When you are "building" your design, have a mental image of what the design will look like when it is completed, and start with the light colors first. Then add darker colors. The last part is usually the outlining, to make the design "pop" out and really look bright.
Basic Supplies
To start face painting, you need paint, brushes, and water in a jar with a lid. You should have a mirror to show your clients their designs. Then you can add glitter, baby wipes, toilet paper, a brush holder, business cards, a sample book, a menu, and a tip jar. Keep it in a bag that is easy to carry and quick to set up. A fishing tackle box works too.
Hobby or Profession?
Face and body painting can begin as a hobby doing it for yourself, friends, and family. If you like it, look for opportunities through school or church, and then when you're ready, get a booth at a weekend craft fair.
Paints
Always use water-based, non-toxic, real theatre make-up for face painting. You will be working with all kinds of skin, including some that's very allergic. Water base comes off with soap and water, it usually dries very quickly, and it looks good. Never ever use magic markers, or pastels, or a product not designed for skin.
Mixing Brands
Try mixing brands of face paint in a small quantity before you try it with the whole pot.
Face Painting Crayons
If you like the feel of a crayon for face painting,make sure they are for the face. They usually work by dipping one end in water and applying the color. You will get big bold color lines, but not much detail, and the designs look child-like. To help refine, use a detail brush, dip it in water, and load up on color from the crayon, then apply it to the skin from the brush, not the crayon.
Base for Full Faces
To make full painted faces look brilliant, you need to master the art of applying base with a sponge. It needs to be smooth, even, not streaky.
What To Use for Outlining
For outlining when face painting, use a very thin outlining brush with regular paints. Alternatives are liquid eyeliner tubes or liner pencils.
What Kind of Glitter?
Try pure glitter, in the ultra-fine category, for face painting. Look in the crafts section of fabric stores.It does not come in a gel base, which you can find in most cosmetic sections now. It is very finely-ground, won't hurt skin or scratch, and comes in many color combinations.
What About Water?
When using water based face paints, take your water with you. Snazaroo includes in some of their professional kits a wonderful water container with a snap-on lid. You can bring clean water with you and take the dirty water away. A jelly jar with a nice lid works too.
Mixing Brands or Colors
Some black colors don't apply as "black" as others, so by mixing, you can get a richer black. Some greens are funny-looking alone, but add a little blue or yellow, and the color pops out. You can mix for custom colors.
How Much Should It Cost?
Face painting will usually start around $3 or $4 for a basic simple design, and increase from that base to some expensive designs: the more detail, the more time, the more cost.
Full Face Ideas
These are successful full faces--exotic tiger, magnificent leopard, batman, spiderman, t-rex, fairy princess, wicked witch, vampire (male and female), fantasy cat, flower garlands, butterfly. Keep the time to no more than 10 to 15 minutes per full face.
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