How to Paint a Pirate

Paint pirate faces using face paint and brushes.

You may be required to call upon your artistic skills for a Halloween or a birthday event. The Pirates of the Caribbean films may have inspired a child to dress up as a pirate. If you are inexperienced at painting, then turning your child into Jack Sparrow seems like a daunting task. However, a steady hand and a still child will help you paint a convincing pirate face.

Things You'll Need

• Face paint
• Brush
• Water

Instructions

1. Wash the face thoroughly before painting. Mud, sweat or makeup do not mix well with the paint and could ruin your hard work. Use warm, soapy water to clean the face and pat it dry with a towel.

2. Paint the eye patch first since this is the focal point of the pirate look. Dip the brush in a pot of water then dip it in the black face paint. Draw a circle around one of the eyes using the eyebrow as the top edge. It should then curve on the inner side of the nose and drop underneath the eye. Fill it in with black. Be careful around the eyelid to avoid getting paint in the eye.

3. Stipple a pirate beard around the chin. Use black paint to cover the jaw in black dots to create a rough pirate look. It does not have to be particularly neat, but make sure it goes in the area between the lip and nose, and across the bottom of the cheeks and chin.

4. Widen the pirate's eyebrow. Follow the shape of the eyebrow opposite to the pirate patch. Widen it with black or brown paint. Add small flecks of paint coming off the eyebrow at an angle to show tufts of hair.

5. Paint a bandana around the top of the face. First, choose a bright color such as orange or red. Then, draw an elongated triangle from left to right across the forehead. Add a small circle of paint on the right side where the triangle tapers off.

6. Add the elastic that holds the eye patch in position. Paint a line that goes from the 10 o'clock position on the eyepatch towards the top of the head using a thin brush. Stop the line when it meets with the bandana.

7. Add a scar down the cheek to finish the painted pirate. Paint a gash with red paint, and edge it with a thin line of black paint so it stands out.

Tips & Warnings

• Use watercolor paints so you can easily remove the paint later with soapy water.

• Pop on a video or sit your child in front of a garden to distract him while you paint his face.

• Moisturize the skin after removing face paint to replenish it.

• If you use glitter while painting the pirate face, make sure it does not contain aluminum, as this can irritate the skin.

References

• Nick Jr: Pirate Face Paint
• Face Painting Ideas and Tips
• Face Painting Designs: Pirate Step By Step