Facts on Face Painting

Face painting is a fun activity that has been around for years. This fun activity began many thousands of years ago by tribes who used it to identify themselves. Today, face painting is used all over the world to entertain kids. The art of face painting is something that has developed both artistically and culturally over the years.

History

Face painting began thousands of years ago by Indian tribes who used different face painting designs and techniques to identify their status, culture and tribe.

Identification

The colors in face painting had different meanings. Red stood for war; white for peace; black in preparation for war; green was worn under the eyes to give a person night vision; and yellow represented death.

Types

There are many types of face painting. Some face painting is used for fun on children to create different types of animal or facial expressions, while other types are used to identify religions or orientation. Face painting is often done at carnivals or family fun events. It is often popular for children to have their face painted during Halloween.

Famous Ties

Face painting has been used in many popular Hollywood movies. Jim Carey had his face painted in the movie "Mask." Heath Ledger had his face painted to portray the Joker in the movie "Batman: the Dark Knight."

Geography

Face painting is practiced throughout the world. Some Indian tribes still practice the art during tribal celebrations, it is used in Africa and Asia, and it is a fun form of entertainment for children in the United States.

Resources

• Face painting designs
• Tips for face painting