Kids Face Painting

While halloween face painting can be a blast for both children and adults, there are some things you should know before starting a face painting project of your own.

Here are some tips to get you started.


Use only paint designed for use on the face. Preferably water based paint which can be removed with soap and water.

Step1 First, you need to choose a paint that is specifically for skin. Using other paints may damage the skin or cause an allergic reaction.

Step2 Keep baby wipes on hand to gently clean up mistakes.

Step3 Use only synthetic brushes. Animal hair brushes may cause allergic reactions.

Step4 Beginners should probably use stencils and then move on to freehand designs once they are used to painting on skin. People with fairly good drawing skills and /or painting skills may be able to paint on skin without stencils.

Step1 Decide what you want to paint, whether it be butterflies, smiles or hearts. It's important to choose what you are going to do, based on your painting abilities and the amount of time you want to spend on each person's face. If you expect to be doing lots of faces, keep your designs simple and easy to paint, so you can paint quickly. Young children get restless easily, so simple fast designs make it easier for them and you. ....

Step2 Make up a large chart of these designs. This gives you something to show people so they can choose the design they want you to paint. Use larger paper or poster board so people can really see what choices they have.

Step3 Arrange your face paints and brushes. Have a good assortment of watercolor paint brushes, from fine tip to broad tip, so you can easily create your designs. Have two watercolor palettes trays--one to use and the other as a back up in case you run out of a certain color. Always use watercolors specifically designed for face painting.

Step4 Prepare your tools. Keep a large jar of water in which to rinse your brushes regularly. Depending on how many faces you do, plan to change this water frequently so it rinses effectively. Have a damp sponge to erase mistakes, and rinse this frequently to keep it free of paint build-up. Keep a roll of paper towels handy for spills, to dry your brushes and as another way to erase mistakes.

Step5 Practice your designs a few times. Get comfortable with each so you know what brushes and colors you use for each one. This will save you time and indicate if you may need extra amounts of a particular color.

Step6 Practice on fake skin. While this may sound weird, practice on a smooth rubber ball or a balloon, which is very like the texture of skin. Skin tends to "drag" on the brushes as you paint, causing the the brush to "stutter" or spatter paint, which can ruin your design and force you to sponge it off and start again. This practice will help you determine the right paint and water blend for your brushes.

Step7 Garnish your design. For extra pizazz, mix a dab of petroleum jelly and glitter to add sparkle to you work with a brush dedicated just for this. Do not use this near the eyes, as the jelly can "creep" into the eyes via heat or perspiration. Do not use metallic craft glitter. Use only glitters specifically designed for face painting.

Product DescriptionIncludes: 5 color sticks, 8 stencil sheets, and sponge.
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Face painting can be a great profession and you could paint kids faces for a party or an event. Avoid colours and try out the magic of black and white. Use gold dustings or silver hints at the edges. Face painting should be in sync with the dress. Clown faces are very common and you could be the macho Spiderman or the cat woman.

Be an alien, starfish or the Indian kathakali mask. Being comfortable is important while painting faces. Choose a position for the model and yourself so that you do not strain your back or need to arch your neck strenuously. Perfection happens with practice. Keep a chart ready for models to choose and for starters you could play with water colour effects on the back of the palm. Face painting is for all of us to enjoy and grab the attention.

For children, the simplest face-painting designs are those of a pirate – one big, scary moustache and a black patch over one eye – and you are the fearsome lord of the seas!

Other popular ones include butterflies, rabbits and sunflowers.

Most people just use watercolours for face-painting. But you should remember to be careful while using paint on the face. Some might contain harmful chemicals, which need to be kept away from very small children. Or you might have allergies to paint. It is best to test it on your hand or arm before applying on the face.

You can also make you own face-painting material, using food-colouring, cornstarch and cold cream. They’re more economical and will be washed off easily. Use a sponge or brush while making the design and be careful when painting areas like the eyes and the mouth. A little glitter and coloured gels combined with paint does a very long way. And If you get really good at this, you could even begin your own little enterprise.

Named for the adorably depressive donkey in AA Milne's classic children's book Winnie the Pooh, Eeyore’s Birthday Party began as a celebration of spring for UT English students and faculty, who would set up a Maypole and borrow a live donkey – a tradition that persists to this day. Originally held in the tiny Eastwood Park close to the UT Campus, the celebration’s popularity soared early on, and in 1974 the party moved to Pease Park, where it continues to be held.

As the attendance swelled to the thousands, Austin's Friends of the Forest Foundation got involved, both to provide much needed food and drink concessions to the participants, and to utilize the proceeds to distribute among Austin charities. This humanitarian aspect of the festival, for which admission has always been free, differentiates it from the other commercial festivals, engendering a feeling of longevity and community. The foundation has raised as much as $15,000.00 in one festival, making grants to a diverse number of charitable organizations including the Green Corn Project, Groundworks Music Project, Hearts and Hooves, Hospice Austin, and the Mother's Milk Bank.

The party usually begins mid-morning, and lasts until the sun goes down, and a dedicated children’s area is manned until 4PM. One of the hallmarks of this event is the drum circle, an amorphous group of drummers that constantly expands and ebbs and splinters and regroups during the course of the day. Although costumes are not mandatory, many take the opportunity to don colorful and festive outfits, trimmed with feathers and sequins, with big hats and silly masks. Musicians are invited to bring their acoustic instruments, and groups, both established and spontaneous, entertain throughout the day.

Parking is scarce, so the Friends of the Forest Foundation organizes shuttle service from designated parking lots downtown. No bottles, cans or coolers are allowed, but visitors will find countless food and drink concessions, including Texas beer and BBQ turkey legs. Crafts, commemorative tee-shirts and other curios are also for sale in the kiosks. Eeyore’s Birthday Party is a celebration of spring, but also a celebration f Austin. The things that have made Austin unique – music, food, counter-culture, whimsy – these are the backbone of this long lasting event. This festival has been doing its part to keep Austin weird for over forty years, and will likely continue for 40 more.

Face Painting Safety Tip No. 1: Use Suitable Paints
“Non-Toxic” does not mean “safe for skin.” Acrylic craft paints are not meant to be used on the skin – nor are watercolor markers or pencils. Just because the package says "non-toxic" does not mean that it is safe to put on skin. Many people are allergic to the non-FDA approved chemicals and colorants used in craft paints (such as nickel), and will break out in a rash from these paints. Watercolor markers (or "washable markers") do not remove from skin easily – it can take days to get the stain removed. The "washable" part of the name refers to fabric, not skin. There are many brands of safe face paint readily available (Snazaroo, Wolfe Brothers, Fardel, Fantasy World Wide, Paradise, Mehron, Kryolan, and Ben Nye, for example) and they are not more expensive than craft paints since a little bit goes a very long way!

Face Painting Safety Tip No. 2: Check the Glitter
Metallic craft glitter should not be used for face painting. The only safe glitters for face painting are made of polyester, and should be .008 microns in size or smaller. That is the size that the FDA classifies as “cosmetic size” and safe for use on skin.

Face Painting Safety Tip No. 3: Cleaning Brushes and Sponges
Alcohol is not an effective sanitizer for brushes and sponges -- it can actually promote the growth of bacteria if used in small amounts. Any traces of the alcohol left on the brush or sponge can cause pain to sensitive tissue (like the eye area).

Face Painting Safety Tip No. 4: Health Considerations
Do not paint anyone who has a contagious illness, or who has open sores or wounds. Even acne should be avoided, as the necessary rubbing to remove the paint can also cause irritation to the sensitized skin. In cases like this, suggest painting another area, such as the arm, or offer them a sticker instead.

Face Painting Safety Tip No. 5: Wash Your Hands
Wash your hands between each customer, using either baby wipes or a hand sanitizer (I use Purell). This will help keep you healthy, too!

Face Painting Safety Tip No. 6: Avoiding Head Lice
Check each child as they sit in your chair to make sure they don’t have head lice. Since many painters hold the child’s head to steady them while painting, this can be an easy way to transfer head lice. It is also a good idea for painters with long hair to keep their hair pulled back in a pony tail or braid, to prevent possible contamination with lice.

Face Painting Safety Tip No. 7: Ensure You’re Comfortable
Make sure you have a comfortable chair for yourself, if you paint sitting down, or very comfortable and supportive shoes, if you paint while standing, to protect your back. It is very easy to do long-term damage to your back by holding an uncomfortable position for hours, and face painting is an activity that can easily cause repetitive-stress injuries.

Face Painting Safety Tip No. 8: Avoid Repetitive-Stress Injuries
Organize your work space to minimize the amount of repetitive bending, stretching, and twisting that you have to do while painting, again to avoid repetitive-stress injuries. Stop and take a stretch break after every few paintings.

Face Painting Safety Tip No. 9: Consider Yourself
Make sure to drink enough liquid, and eat at least a snack every few hours. You don’t want to faint from exhaustion or hunger!

Face Painting Safety Tip No. 10: Think About Insurance
For your peace of mind and the client’s, consider purchasing face-painting insurance. If you’re working in the USA, two places that sell insurance for face painters are Clowns of the U.S. (you don’t need to be a clown to qualify) and the World Clown Association (you’ll need to become a member). In the UK, members of FACE (UK Face Painting Association) get automatic public-liability insurance.

As a member of FACE you are automatically covered by our block public liability insurance policy which gives individual members up to 5 million coverage. Our insurance brokers are Towergate The contact number for general enquiries to Towergate is 01743 284664

The contact for existing FACE members is Paula Whitrick on 01743 283278 .

The policy runs from 1st April and for this reason our membership renewal date is very strict. It is up to you, as a member to make sure your dues are in on time or your insurance will lapse and you will have to re-apply for membership (and no-one wants to have to take that test again!).

If a member is aware that a claim is potentially being made against this policy, they must contact Towergate direct, and pass all the information to them in the first instance. It is essential that no response is made in acknowledgement of a claim without contacting Towergate first.

It is important to remember that an allergic reaction can be caused by any number of things and only a medically qualified expert is in a position to state the cause. Whether this cause is potentially from a paint product, wet wipe, something eaten by the child or anything less obvious, please ensure you are clear on the immediate circumstances.

If there has been an allergic reaction please note any symptoms and what brands and colours of make-up were used and pass the information on to Liz Bylett for inclusion within our register.

Data From: http://www.facepaint.co.uk/whatis/insurance.html