How to Learn Face Painting

Face painting can be learned easily and improved as your artistic face painting abilities and knowledge grow. Begin with the very basics of applying decorative lines, curves and designs to the cheeks of the face. Using the appropriate paints and tools, gradually build up your knowledge and ability to do more difficult face-painting designs.

Things You'll Need

• Face paints
• Brushes
• Small sponges
• Face-cleaning papers
• Alcohol to clean area
• Cotton balls

Instructions

Start Small and Build Speed, Ability and Confidence

1. 

   Buy face paints at a crafts store--these should be manufactured only for face painting and can be removed easily. These paints (body paints) are not acrylic or the usual art paints used for canvas or paper.

2. Purchase paints in basic colors: red, blue, yellow, white and black. These can be mixed into all colors you will need. If you are new to mixing paints, buy a color-guide chart to help learn what colors--when mixed--turn into the colors you need for face painting. This will save money from unnecessarily buying extra colors at the onset until you are painting more difficult and ornate designs.

3. 

   Get a few brushes to start. Think of what size brushes you might use if you were painting on paper. Thin brushes would be used for lines and curves, medium brushes could build up the color in surrounding areas and a large brush might work great on coloring large areas on the face.

4. 

   Learn to face paint a few easy designs. Kids love to have their face painted even if you only draw stars, teardrops, round circles, dots or lines. Paint about 10 or 20 designs on paper and have them select which face painting they want. When you learn more, you will be able to ask them what design they want, but for now allow them to choose from the designs you feel comfortable creating.

5. Gain experience by face-painting friends, children of friends or family members. Volunteer at a scout meeting or school function to face-paint. If you have children, ask them to invite their friends over for lunch and have them select the face-painting ideas from your designs or be brave and test bolder designs.

Tips & Warnings

• Purchase medium-priced brushes. The cheap ones will not last and the hair will drop off on the skin as you are painting. Start charging to face paint at a child's birthday party to gain confidence as well as building up a following for more parties.

• Do not paint the face of anyone that has a skin condition or open sores or cuts.

References

• Facepainting Lessons
• Facepainting

Resources

• Video Face Painting