Ideas for Face Painting - What are you Waiting For?

Face painting is fun activity that anyone can learn. Whether for use at Halloween for a costume or as a childs activity, everyone can have fun! My interest in face painting began when I took my children to a local art fair at the park. One of the most popular booths was offering face painting. As we stood in the long line all the children were discussing what THEY were going to choose to have painted on their face. They each would happily announced to the painter what they wanted painted on their face. I saw butterflies, hearts, balloons, animals, sports themes, spiders and tons more. The options were limitless. So I bought some paints,practiced on my children and at my daughters birthday party I painted faces. It was a huge hit! You don't have to be an artist to paint faces and there are many guides and basic rules to follow to be successful.

Materials You Will Need To Get Started

You can't get just any paint that you find at your local craft store. You will need a paint made especially for face painting in order to get desired results. There are many inexpensive options available that have been tested for safety and that comply with European and American regulations. You can purchase face paint colours individually or in variety packs. To begin I suggest getting a variety pack of not more than 6 colors. Once you get used to them and see how they apply and mix then you may want to order additional colours and application tools.

Which brings me to the next subject.

You will need a variety of a few different types of brushes and some sponges. Brushes come in many different shapes, sizes and materials. So which ones will you need? It is best to get sythetic brushes that are soft for young skin and sensitive faces. I suggest a fine tip brush for small detail, a medium size pointed brush for bigger strokes,and a large brush for covering larger areas. These should be sufficient
to get you started. Because most face paints are water based they are easy to apply and easy to wash or wipe off between applications of different colours. Ordorless baby wipes are an efficient and quick way to clean brushes between applications. As for the sponges, there are many types made specifically for face painting. I usually cut mine in half for two reasons. First, to get more for my money and also to straight
edges that are usefull in painting clean lines if the design calls for it. The sponge is particuliarly good at covering the face to acheive a base colour. For example if you are making a ghost face for Halloween you can use the sponge to cover the face with white paint. If you dampen the sponge first with water it will give you a thinner base or an irredescent look, changing the shading and intensity.

Now that you know the basics. Order your supplies and then go wild. Use your imagination and creativity to make one of a kind designs. Both you and your children will have hours of fun!