With the proper instruction, anyone can face paint like a professional in no time. Each month, Julie Tattam from Making Faces will share face painting tips and techniques, drawn from her experience painting thousands of faces as well as teaching beginners and advanced face painting classes.
Today’s Tips:
- Use good quality Taklon or synthetic paint brushes.
Don’t be tempted by bargain store brushes as they are uncomfortable on the face, don’t give a fine enough line, and are often harder to sterilise effectively. Invest in a good quality paint brush with a fine point. Contact Julie to enquire about the best brush types and sizes to use, and where to get them in your local area.
- Use good quality professional face paints.
Liquid face paint is slightly cheaper, but a much better result will be achieved with professional dry-cake face paints from reputable manufacturers. We always recommend Snazaroo as it contains a preservative which prevents bacteria from growing in the paint when it is stored. NEVER use water colours or any sort of craft paint on the face as it can cause skin staining, eye damage and severe skin irritation.
- Practice on paper first.
To get used to the basic shape of a new design (eg. a batman mask or princess crown), draw a rough outline of a face on paper, and repeatedly sketch the design onto the face. This will get you used to drawing the design quickly and accurately, without wasting your face paints. You can also experiment with developing new designs this way.
- Never use craft glitter.
Glitter is an essential tool to add that “Wow” factor to your face painting, but to avoid eye damage and skin irritation, it is essential to only ever use cosmetic-grade, 100% polyester face painting glitter. It is specially cut to avoid the sharp edges which craft glitter has, which can seriously damage little eyes. This type of glitter is not readily available in craft stores, so contact Julie to help you locate them in your local area.
- Always have a couple of cheek/hand designs available.
Some children don’t like having their face touched, but really love having a little design painted on their hand or cheek. By having a couple of these designs up your sleeve, you are able to ensure that the more timid kids are not left out. A good selection of cheek art designs can be seen in Making Faces online gallery.
Topics to be covered in our next “Quick Tips” blog will include popular girls and boys designs, face painting hygiene and safety, must-have equipment and other tips to get you face painting like a pro!
If you would like to learn more, contact Julie Tattam at Making Faces on 0414 783 106 or julie (at) makingfacesaustralia.com about attending one of their fun and easy 2.5hr Learn To Face Paint courses. You will receive individual attention from a highly trained professional face painter, and come away with all the skills and knowledge to face paint confidently and safely after one class. Visit the Making Faces website for details and to view examples of their work.
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