For as long as I can remember, I’ve wanted to be an art teacher. But what I didn’t expect was that I’d also get pretty good at face painting along the way! You might wonder how these two became connected. Well, many years ago, as a new teacher with limited funds, I was looking for a cheap (or better yet, free) incentive to encourage my students. After months of picking up rewards from the dollar store, I realized I needed to work smarter, not harder. That’s when I landed on face painting.
Face painting became my go-to incentive for good behavior in the art room, and it’s been my number one reward system throughout my 15 years of teaching. With a few solid classroom management strategies in place, I created a system where students could earn a face painting at the end of each quarter. I’d provide a sheet of quick, fun designs they could choose from. The students were always so proud to see their face in the mirror, excited to go home and show off the reward they’d earned for making good choices in the art room.
Even though I’ve painted countless faces over the years, if you asked me if I’m a “face painter,” I’d probably say no. But last year, a friend of mine asked if I could paint faces at her daughter’s birthday party, and I thought, “Why not?” I decided to invest in proper face paints and try my hand at creating larger, more intricate designs that I knew kids would love.
I have to give a shoutout to all the amazing face painting artists on Pinterest who inspired me, and to the wonderful artist I met at our local Renaissance festival who recommended some fantastic face painting brands. They are the true professionals! I’m just a teacher trying to be the fun mom and aunt who can face paint all the kids in my family at birthday parties, haha.
So here I am, diving into the world of face painting! Here’s what I’ve learned so far.
1. Types/ Brands of Face Paint
The brands TAG, Mehron, and Fusion were recommended to me and I can say that I have used this TAG set, and love it! I also purchased this 1 stroke face painting kit by Bowitzki that my kids LOVE. These paints are super pigmented, but also thin and light and have great coverage. I also have yet to have any issues with skin irritations but please do your own research regarding skin allergies.
Tag Face and Body Paint - this is the set I have!
We love this "1 stroke" Bowitzki set for gorgeous gradients!
2. Brushes
You want to have a set of different sizes and shaped brushes for sure. Anything more soft bristled and synthetic is great. Here is a few brush pack options:
Or literally any set of brushes by Royal Langnickle are great. Here is a great set
3. Face Painting Designs:
When I first started face painting in my classroom, I stuck to small, simple designs that could fit on each student’s cheek. With limited time and a large number of students to paint, it made sense. But when I began face painting at local events and birthday parties, I decided to expand my option board. No matter the complexity of your designs, the key is to offer children clear options to choose from. If you ask, "What do you want?" without anything displayed, you could end up there all day! Make life easier by creating a few designs based on your comfort level. Draw them on a poster board and display it for the kids to choose from. This also helps while they’re in line, so by the time they reach you, they already know what they want.
4. Set Up
Here are some things I recommend bringing with you to face paint:
-Folding card table and folding chairs (if needed)
- Paper towels
- Baby wipes (for any mistakes)
- Cup or jar for water
- Your paints/ brushes/ and posters
- A mirror (to show the kiddos their faces after you're finished!)
- If needed- capability to accept payment (square, cash, whatever you prefer)
5. Practice, practice, practice!
Like anything, the only way you will get better at something is to practice! Even with my years of face painting in my art room, I certainly had alot to learn regarding technique. Head to youtube for some free tutorials and practice on paper, first, then try on real kids! My kiddos loved being my guinea pigs before parties! Just get out there and try, it's so much fun and kids absolutely love it!
Face painting can be a fun and rewarding skill to pick up, whether for classroom rewards, birthday parties, or community events. I hope these tips will help you not only get started, but learn how to face paint with confidence! Happy painting!
