Happy Clown Face Painting Ideas

Clowns with happy painted faces are always smiling.

A happy clown face is universally cheery and looks good on anyone. Painting a clown face isn't an exact science and there is no wrong way to do it. Start with bright eyes, an up-turned mouth and add in a little nostalgia and imagination.

Bright Colors

Choose at least two or three bright hues of paint for the happy clown face. Many clowns use primary colors -- red, blue and yellow -- for their face, but you can use any color that complements others that you are using. Stay away from dark or muddy tones, because these are usually associated with sad clowns. To make colors really stick out, start with a base of white face makeup and layer the colors on top of that.

States of Happiness

Paint a clown face that is not just happy, but they are in a unique state of being happy. Use an up-turned mouth and raised eyebrows for a clown that has received a happy surprise. Or use pink puckered lips and eyelashes for a clown that is happily in love. A slightly crooked smile and one raised eyebrow denotes a clown who is smirking out of mischief. An over-sized grin and downward-drooping eyes are signs of a blissfully goofy clown.

Happy Pierott

Paint a face with the happy and elegantly dramatic features of the Pierott clown character. Start with a base of all white makeup and use a black makeup pencil to outline the eyes and mouth. Fill in the lips with deep red lipstick, but make sure that the corners of the mouth are slightly up-turned in a subtle smile. Accent the face with a light dusting of sparkles on the top of the cheek, or a heart or star penciled in beside the eye.

Happy Characters

Happy clowns don't necessarily have to be human-like. Use animals with happy connotations to influence the face you're painting. Lady bugs, bumble bees and butterflies can all be given colorful painted faces, smiling mouths and tiny curly antennae penciled into the forehead. Kittens get whiskers, a pink nose and tiny pointed ears on the forehead. A puppy face would include a shiny black nose, a spot around one eye and a tongue that is painted to look as if it's hanging out of the mouth.

References

• International Shrine Clown Association: Types of Clowns
• Face Paint Heaven; Pierrot is an Easy Clown Face Paint Design; Sept. 20, 2010