How to Paint a Dog on a Face

There are many different dogs to choose from for face-painting!

Whether heading out to a costume party, at a county fair or just for fun, face painting is great for kids and adults. Painting a dog on your face can take on many different forms, such as a Dalmatian, husky, spotted dog or bulldog. Don't be afraid to think outside the box. Get creative and make up a blue, pink or even rainbow dog.

Things You'll Need

• White face paint
• Black face paint
• Brown face paint
• Red face paint
• Paint brushes
• Makeup sponge
• Red face paint

Instructions

Dalmatian

1. 

   Have a Dalmatian picture for reference when drawing your dalmatian face.

   Using a paintbrush or makeup sponge, cover the entire area of the face, including the eyes, with white face-paint. Make sure you blend well using circular motions into the hair and neck. Be careful not to get white paint in your subject's hair.

2. Make the spots. Using a small brush, make three circular spots of different sizes above the left eyebrow. Color in only the left eyebrow with the black paint. Also draw two circular spots on each cheek, one above the other. Next, draw and fill in a large black circle around the right eye.

3. Draw a nose and mouth. Still using the black paint fill in the tip of the nose to make it more of a dog's nose shape. Next, draw a black line connecting from the nose to the lips. From the end of the black nose and lip line, branch off the line into two directions to form the "dog's" mouth flaps. This can be achieved best by using a U shape, curling up the sides of the lips. Next, draw three tiny dots in each "flap" to represent the whisker base.

4. Draw a tongue. With the red paint, draw a tongue coming out of the mouth and extending to the chin. Accent the shape of the tongue by drawing a thin black line down the middle of it. This step is optional.

Bulldog

1. 

   Bulldogs come in many colors and markings.

   Create definition. Using white face paint and a sponge, cover both eye sockets with white. Next extend the white paint over the mouth and halfway up the cheeks.

2. Create the color. Using the brown face-paint and a sponge, paint the remaining skin-colored area until no skin color is remaining. Shape your "dog's" expression painting over the eyebrow area where the white paint is using two slanted brown strokes, creating an angry look. Blend the brown out into the hair.

3. Outline features. Taking a small pencil brush and black paint, outline the white around the eyes and mouth. You may choose to accentuate the eyebrows by drawing exaggerated frown lines in black. Using the pencil brush or your fingers, fill in the tip of the nose with black, extending the paint to both nostrils.

4. Create a mouth. Over the mouth, draw a sideways oval shape in black and then draw in jagged teeth. This will create a snarling dog look. You may instead choose to fill in the lips in black and draw a black line connecting to the nose instead.

Tips & Warnings

• You may also choose to draw a small dog or dogs on your subject's face. Outlining the shape of the dog you wish to draw with the appropriate color face paint. Accentuate different features with different colors and finish by outlining the dog in black with a small liner brush.

• Always use non-toxic face-paints made specifically for the face. Never use acrylic paints, as some can be very allergic.

References

• Face Painting Designs - Dalmatian
• ICT4US: Face Painting Examples