| Never was there a more fitting time for face painters | | | | within your comfort zone. Think about the likes of a |
| to get their brushes and paints out as we close in on | | | | witch, Shrek or The Hulk; these designs give you a |
| the glitziest street party of the year, when the dazzling | | | | head start straight away. Paint the whole face with |
| sequinned outfits adorn the daring and, for the more | | | | your chosen green base colour. Don’t forget to let |
| modest, sensational wigs, long dresses, wacky jester | | | | each coat dry first, then add your shades and |
| costumes and beautiful jewelled, sequinned and | | | | shadows around the eyes and mouth. Clown face |
| diamante masks are the order of the day. Are you a | | | | painting is easy, too. Do a full face base coat of white |
| beginner on the verge of breaking new ground with a | | | | then add your red cheeks and nose, not forgetting |
| Mardi Gras face painting party? If you’ve already | | | | some blue crosses over the eyes. Spiderman is the |
| hosted your first, then you will have a better | | | | same. A full red base coat then, with a fine brush, |
| understanding of what to expect. That first time is | | | | carefully paint your spider’s web, either on a cheek |
| always the hardest, but it is also one of those great | | | | or over one side of the face. Ladybirds and bugs are |
| feeling moments when you realise that it wasn’t so | | | | also good. Get the right sized brush or stencils and add |
| difficult after all and you actually had some real fun! | | | | the spots as required. |
| Here are a few tips. | | | | GLITTER AND JEWELS - These little extras will help |
| COLOURS - Remember it’sMardi Gras so we are | | | | make your designs not only stand out but look stunning. |
| looking at vivid and vibrant colours, glitter and stick-on | | | | Any mistakes you make can easily be covered up |
| jewels. Your face painting skills will dictate the designs | | | | with a hint of glitter here and there. Once you have |
| you choose. If you know you’re going to be busy, | | | | your basics conquered, get your first party under your |
| just have a few selected designs on hand for the | | | | belt . Keep things simple and your face painting |
| kiddies - and adults too! - to choose from. | | | | customers will walk away happy chappies. Your face |
| MARDI GRAS MASKS - Get clever and be creative, | | | | painting designs will improve with time and the more |
| pick a style of mask you could face paint. Have two | | | | experience you acquire. |
| styles available, one for the boys and another for the | | | | DON’T FORGET |
| girls. If you’ve never done it before, then look up | | | | MIRROR: For your customers to admire their |
| some pictures of people wearing masks. Take note of | | | | wonderful face painting design. |
| how much of the face is covered up. Study the line of | | | | WATER: Have an extra bucket of water to hand, |
| the mask and how it looks on the face with a view to | | | | especially if you know you’re going to be busy, to |
| how you would draw the line. It really doesn’t seem | | | | keep your brushes clean. |
| that hard, does it? Reserve something like jet black | | | | CHAIRS/STOOLS: Make sure you sit your subjects |
| and silver for the boys, while, for the girls, well, the | | | | on a chair or stool where you can alter the height. |
| colours and designs are endless. Choose warm, | | | | Think of your back and health at all times. |
| vibrant colours and mingle with some great contrasting | | | | WIPES/TISSUES: Take plenty of wet wipes and |
| shades. Add sequins and stick-on jewels to make the | | | | tissues, not only for your customers but for yourself as |
| design stand out. Have some sparkly feathers or | | | | well. You would be amazed how many you will go |
| glowbys and bright glittery bows available to add to | | | | through. |
| the design and don’t forget to sort out your price | | | | SPONGES: An important part of your face painting kit. |
| for any extras. The glitzier the better. Get practising on | | | | Perfect for applying all over base coats or large areas |
| your family and friends now to perfect your face | | | | and great for blending colours. |
| painting creation. | | | | COLOUR PALETTES: Don’t make the mistake of |
| | | | rushing out to buy every colour in the rainbow. |
| CHEEK DESIGNS - These are so quick and easy and | | | | Remember that you can achieve any shade you want |
| kiddies love them. Probably the most popular for the | | | | just by acquiring the primary colours of blue, yellow, |
| girls are butterflies, while boys love spiders and | | | | red, black and white. It’s a personal choice that you |
| spiders’ webs. Stars, flowers, bugs, dolphins, | | | | can make based on your budget as a beginner face |
| octopuses, balloons and scars are other great and | | | | painter. |
| easy cheek face paintings you could think about using. | | | | TICKETS: Try using a ticket system if you’re |
| STENCILS AND STAMPS - Don’t be scared of | | | | expecting a large crowd. This will save any arguments |
| using stencils and stamps. Even professionals have | | | | and pushing in. Also the designs you have chosen to |
| them and they’re ideal for tiny little stars, etc. The | | | | do would look professional in an album so the kiddies |
| rubber stamp will place the design exactly where you | | | | can be looking through and choosing which one |
| want it, leaving you to just fill in the colours. Kiddies | | | | they’re going to have while waiting. |
| really won’t mind as they love their faces painted | | | | Have fun, fun, fun. Even the most basic designs done |
| FULL FACE PAINTING - Make life simple for yourself. | | | | well are all you need to get your first Mardi Gras face |
| Just because you’re a beginner does not mean | | | | painting party off to a good start. |
| you can’t do popular full face painting designs. Stick | | | | |