Face Paint Step-by-Step
Face painting is an enjoyable, popular practice commonly seen in costumes, holiday events and festivals. Whether a small design or a full mask, face painting is an art that uses the human head as its canvas. A few procedures helps you safely apply paint to skin without causing irritation or other hygiene program, especially when painting multiple faces with the same tools. Does this Spark an idea?
Other People Are Reading
Things You'll Need
- Hair band or hair clip
- Sponge
- Water-based face paints
- Paint brush
- Mild liquid soap
Instructions
-
-
1
Move any hair away from the face so that you can easily access the skin. Use a hair band or hair clips to pin the hair back, exposing the face completely.
-
2
Dampen sponge in water, and then wring it out to leave it only slightly moist. Dab the moist sponge in the paint then pat the paint onto the face lightly, covering the area you wish to paint with the base color. The base color is the primary color of the design. Other colors create the accents and top coats on top of this base. Use a base of white paint applied over the entire face to create the base for a clown face for example.
-
-
3
Outline your design using a paint brush to apply fine paint lines. Use moderate strokes with the brush, applying smooth even lines. Too light a stroke causes a ticklish sensation, forcing the painted subject to move and ruining the effect. Warn the subject beforehand if you need to make light marks not to move. Make an outline following the shape of the mouth about 1/4-inch from the mouth for a clown face. Shape your mouth outline into either a smile or a frown to follow traditional clown designs. Use the brush to create eyebrows on the white clown base as well, covering the actual eyebrows with exaggerated eyebrows for comedic effect.
-
4
Fill in the detail areas with color. Use the sponge application with larger areas, dabbing the color into the spaces between the lines, then switch to a brush to fill in smaller areas. Wash the brushes thoroughly with clean water before switching colors to avoid color contamination. Continue with the clown design by placing large circles in the center of each cheek, and a third circle centered on the point of the nose. Fill in the mouth outline with red paint as well.
-
5
Apply lightly colored paint before dark colors, otherwise, you have to apply thicker layers of lightly colored paints to cover the darker paint color. Complete the clown face by adding whimsical carnival type objects. A small bunch of balloons drawn and colored above a cheek, or three bowling pins placed in the center of the forehead would go well with the white base paint for example.
-
6
Use two coats of paint when you want a deeper shade for a section. Allow the first coat to dry before applying the second.
-
7
Clean all painting tools between subjects as well as your hands. Wash brushes in hot water, and then clean sponges with warm soapy water.
-
1
Tips & Warnings
Be aware of the chemicals in your paints. Ask about any allergies if face painting for another person you do not know before beginning the process.
f the person has a history of allergic reactions, test the paint by applying a small amount to his wrist and wait 60 minutes to note any reaction.
References
Resources
- Photo Credit Jupiterimages/BananaStock/Getty Images
