I suck at butterflies!!!

Hello everybody...
I have to confess something....I SUCK PAINTING BUTTERFLIES!!
I avoid them...and only have one on my board..(My avatar) but I have noticed that kids ask for more butterflies and I ended up painting a quick and basic one...they love it but I'm not satisfied with it...
Can any of you show me some quick and cool looking ones???

Wish I could, but my butterflies are just starting to not make me cringe when I finish, lol!! Def my least fav face to do. I'll be watching this thread closley!!!

I like this step-by-step one that Ashey Pickin posted: http://www.facepaintforum.com/general-face-painting-f1/step-by-step-butterfly-t2827.htm

I have used it in a couple of different ways - I did it as a smaller version on a cheek and I did it as a full-face version. I haven't actually done it as a single-eye version yet. It's very versatile - and pretty!

Ahley's is fantastic, but you said quick right?

For the quickest I use a rainbow cake and apply it with a sponge.



It is the most popular butterfly I have even though I offer way more detailed and (in my opinion) way cooler ones, but they always want the very simple design like in my avatar.

Good luck,
Cheryl

I tend to never do the same butterfly twice.

Maybe just do a little cheek art? I know LisaJoyYoung has the cutest design on the eye. I also saw another design with tiny wings on each eye, but I can't remember who did the video.

Here are mine. I still need more practice on them.

I think there is a whole thread about this somewhere, so don't feel alone!

I've got one down that's okay, but I'm not in love with it. So, each time I get a request, I try something different. Kids will love whatever you put on them usually, so I try to push myself.

Hallo Jennifer,

i am from Germany and my english is not so god. Show of the site from Snazaroo. There are many lots of pictures.

www.snazaroo.us/photos.htm

I hope you find what you want.

Greetings from Germany

Daniela

I never do them the same twice. I use & mix tear drops, swirls & use different kinds of brushes. I like doing a quick one w/ a chisel brush. I also like using an angle brush. I mix in dots, sometimes do 1 eye butterflies w/ flowers on the other side, etc. Try not to make the butterfly so big. I like to not let them pass too far past the cheekbone. It makes them more dainty. Try making the top wings bigger than the bottom wings & always remember the kids love them anyway!

This is actually a progression of my butterflies throughout the last year(my avatar is the final product).

I'm not sure of the number, but I use my largest round brush to make the outline and it makes it much faster.

Love them!!! Thank u ladies!!! I'll be practicing lots of butterflies this week...
I had a party today..and don't know what was wrong with me that some of my designs didn't even look like the ones on my board..(which I paint them too)
It wasn't a good day at all...My chair broke!!

Sorry to hear about your chair... that sucks

Just wanted to say that I really like the butterfly in your avatar

Yeah, your avatar is beautiful!

I love butterflies, they are my favourite!! I have so many different ways of doing them I am not sure which I like best.

Love the butterfly over one eye. Adorable models, too!

what colours dod you use..the first pic is my fav! did you use a rainbowcake???

Love the designs Daizy!

Mirandas, don't worry about it. All face painter have bad days where it just seems like it's not happening. I had mine yesterday & the kids still loved what I did. I just knew I could do better. So sorry about the chair. I lost the back to mine a few weeks back & had to make a new one. It's starting to stretch out from all the kids leaning so hard on it(sometimes they just push in).

*hugs*

I had a day like that at my niece's birthday party. I didn't have time to practice at all. I wanted to impress my inlaws and I think it made me really nervous. They still thought I did a great job, but it was not even close to my best

Daisy, those butterflies are amazing! WOW! What size brushes do you use? I think we need a lesson from you

Thank you all!!! I feel better now...I just have to look for another chair...lol
Psalmbook is right, the kids still loved what I did..few adults also..but still wasn't my best.
I'm having so much trouble with them butterflies! lol
I even cut some sponges in 4ths so I can paint on the little ones..but I don't practice at all, since I "hate" them..lol
Do you ladies use a sponge or a chisel brush?

Psalmbook wrote:All face painter have bad days where it just seems like it's not happening. I had mine yesterday & the kids still loved what I did. I just knew I could do better.

Me too. I don't know what it was, but I knew my work is better than that. BUT A) the kids still loved it, and B) there was a new entertainment paper there; the photo journalist not only took pix of the last 3 kids (then with their moms), but came and told me she'd never seen fp that good (lol) and took out photos/names too! Don't act like your work is off, and they won't know

I use a sponge, but I'm thinking of getting a good chisel brush for smaller butterflies around the eyes.

Honestly, your avatar butterfly is GORGEOUS! I think sometimes we are our own worst critic!

Sometimes I use a sponge & sometimes I use a chisel brush & sometimes both. I like to double & triple load my sponge & press the colors in around the eye(fanning it out along the outer edge). Then I like to use a chisel brush along that edge. It makes a cool quick scalloped design that feathers in(if this makes sense). Then I do the linework/tear drops/dots. I practice this on my inner arm all the time. It may be only the upper wing or the lower wing, but it gives me a chance to practice different ideas & see if I like them... and my arm is always a willing model

schmalfisch wrote:what colours dod you use..the first pic is my fav! did you use a rainbowcake???

Nope still haven't got the hang of rainbow cakes. I just used my DFX Metalic palette.
I do most, if not all, my butterflies with a brush. I have a 14..?? A flat brush which curves around the top which I use, I usually do the outside shape first and then blend in another colour. Then I usually do a bunch of tear drops towards the centre and join them up. If I am not happy with my lines I feather them out. Then I just add lots of dots, star bursts or flowers.. or what ever else I feel like (like peacock feathers)

Whoops I lied about sponging... although I do find it so much quicker to brush it on and would probably use the brush next time

Daizy WOW!! Those butterflies are the bomb!! Thanks for sharing!! I will definitely try to do those, they look amazing. Did I mention I really like those, hehehe!

Daisy, those are gorgeous! What size/brand brushes do you use for the details?