How to Paint a Harlequin Face

Although traditionally black, harlequins' faces can be painted any color.

Harlequin characters date back to at least the mid 16th century and their painted half masks were traditionally black. Nowadays they appear in a wide variety of colors and designs, but the key features are the designs around the eyes. These are often a diamond shape -- referring to the diamond patterns on the character's traditional costume. It is also common for harlequins to have raised quizzical eyebrows. Frequently the lips are painted in dark colors to stand out on a white face.

Things You'll Need

• White face paint
• Face paint brush
• Black face paint crayon
• Red face paint crayon
• Face paint crayons in other colors

Instructions

1. Draw a diamond shape around each eye with the black crayon. The highest point of the diamond should be about 1 inch above the center point of the eye and the lowest point about 1 inch beneath it.

2. Draw a mask shape around the diamonds with the black crayon by starting at the mid point of the nose between the eyebrows and sweeping the crayon up in an arching line that reaches about 1 inch above the top of the diamond around the eye before sweeping down to a point half way down the ear where it joins the cheek. Repeat on the other side. Then, starting at the same point on the bridge of the nose, draw an arc under each eye, sweeping down 2 inches beneath the bottom of the diamond before curving up to reach the mid ear point. Do this for both sides.

3. Paint the rest of the face white using the brush to apply the white face paint until the skin is evenly covered.

4. Fill in the diamonds round the eyes using the black face paint crayon.

5. Draw a line round the lips using the black face paint crayon and fill the rest of the lips in with the red face paint. Then use your finger to blend the black crayon in with the red by rubbing from the out of the lips inwards until the colors are combined.

6. Draw a criss cross pattern with a crayon of any color between the mask outline and the edge of the black diamonds around they eyes to create a series of diamonds noticeably smaller than the black ones round the eyes. Using whichever colors you like, fill in those smaller diamond shapes with the face paint crayons until all the skin inside the mask outline has been covered.

Tips & Warnings

• Many people are sensitive about having make up applied around their eyes. After working close to the eyes on the black diamonds, it is good to leave the person to relax a moment while you paint other parts of the face and then return to the eye area and fill in the mask at the end.

References

• "Encyclopaedia Britannica" Harlequin

Resources

• Read this Article in Spanish