Old school

I agree yep you need to know the basics, but splits have there place too, and as they are a huge trend I would like to see them cattered too an FABATV. I will be looking forward to the class.
I think it may be reguarded as a bit cheap in that I sopose alot of people could pick one up doo a crown outine for example and add a few swirls. But at the same time there are also some very cool designs, or it incorporated into normal painting I would love to see.

and Tash when you were painting my arm at the workshop, I was thinking unicorn split - lol.

I love, love, love my Ben Nye powders Denise! They make a great easy base. I have the lollipop applicators you love and use them for that! The gold and silver are really great for teen eye desings. Don't drop them though, you won't like it

I actually really like to use a dry sponge for the ben nye Lumiere powders. Have you tried it? They can be pretty vibrant that way. My pink kitty is done with powder and the base goes on in like 10 seconds. AMAZING. (and I use Lumiere powder as a nice backdrop for my cheek art all the time). It sponges on (dry) like a dream.

I have been painting for almost a couple of years and only this year discovered the split/rainbow cakes. I love love love the small split cakes for eye designs, outlining etc.

However I can not get what I want when using a full rainbow cake (that you use with a sponge). I think it is probably more to do with the fact that I prefer and am faster using a brush (unless its a completely full face).
Blending two separate colours works so much better for me as I have more control over where I am shading and more control of the shape.
It is definitely a personal preference and if you are able to make the rainbow cakes work to your advantage then good on you!

Face painting mom...don't scare me! Let me guess. SHATTER!

Daizy, now that I've been painting awhile I'm finding the same thing. I can't control the colors/shape as well with a sponge as I can with a brush...I guess that's why I'm gravitating toward one-stroke. I still like using a double loaded sponge for animal faces because it covers so fast but even animals are being done with one-stroke now.

I guess this is what I LOVE about face painting...it's always evolving and growing and changing and you literally can learn something new everyday.

D.

Tash wrote:I just did Pashurs workshop and had the same frustrations - I actually asked him if a spit could be used for a particular design he was doing and he told me " split cakes have there place"... I took that to mean he doesn't use them.

I agrre eery artists needs to know how to paint without them....
but it would also be good to see the 'experts' use them.Perry - when I stared I mad al my own spits from Paradise as I didn't want mixed brands.. but now I stick with the TAG ones as I know they are all TAG.

Yeah, but I'm allergic to TAG and can't stand the smell of Paradise... main issue is that they don't make them in Snazaroo or I'd try it... I don't want to cut up 6 perfectly good, brand new cakes to make my own rainbow (and they would all have to be brand new or Snaz doesn't cut well... it's great to work with when it dries out a bit but it's impossible to cut it at that point without making a mess) so while I have a plain rainbow with a pot of gold design on my board, it is painted one colour at a time and I don't do rainbows in other designs.

Perry, I know of a few vendors who sell Snaz rainbow cakes. I know they are made by the vendors but they are 100% Snaz and are great! I have one pink/bright pink/white that I use on butterflies and princesses. It makes things so super quick.

I just finished off the last of my Snazaroo pastel rainbow cake, I will be ordering 5 more after christmas to make new ones. I love the rainbows for sponging quick butterflies and tigers. However I prefer to use my large foundation brushes for everything else. I have discovered the unbelievable staying power of wolfe recently, but I still prefer the way I can blend Snazaroo and paradise, compared to the other paints on the market. I am not sure if I will ever jump on the arty cake train fully. Rebeccas designs are amazing, but I still am not sure how much I would do them. I am going to try to be the best I can be at the basics before I start trying to train in another area. It took my forever to just be efficient at sponging the rainbow

Perry Noia wrote:

Tash wrote:I just did Pashurs workshop and had the same frustrations - I actually asked him if a spit could be used for a particular design he was doing and he told me " split cakes have there place"... I took that to mean he doesn't use them.

I agrre eery artists needs to know how to paint without them....
but it would also be good to see the 'experts' use them.Perry - when I stared I mad al my own spits from Paradise as I didn't want mixed brands.. but now I stick with the TAG ones as I know they are all TAG.

Yeah, but I'm allergic to TAG and can't stand the smell of Paradise... main issue is that they don't make them in Snazaroo or I'd try it... I don't want to cut up 6 perfectly good, brand new cakes to make my own rainbow (and they would all have to be brand new or Snaz doesn't cut well... it's great to work with when it dries out a bit but it's impossible to cut it at that point without making a mess) so while I have a plain rainbow with a pot of gold design on my board, it is painted one colour at a time and I don't do rainbows in other designs.

Hey perry!

i bought a heap of snazaroo pallets ( you know the ones they have for halloween in the kits?) well anyway lincraft in australia had the lot of them discounted to 50 cents each!!! i grabbed all of them so i made onestrokes out of them. i have to admit they are alot softer than my tag but really i didnt have too much trouble. i think the trick is a stanley knife. and you know those icing spatulars? i use them to get them out they work great! and they look great too

yeah, when they are fresh, no problem! But anyone who works with Snazaroo for a while is familiar with what happens to them after a month or so of use, they get dry and crumbly... they are still fine for painting, but you can't cut them to put into another cake, so using the leftovers from mostly used cakes isn't an option is what I meant.

Where are you guys buying these Snaz rainbow cakes? I only ever see the Wolfe/DFX/TAG and unlabelled ones.

Perry Noia wrote: they would all have to be brand new or Snaz doesn't cut well... it's great to work with when it dries out a bit but it's impossible to cut it at that point without making a mess

I know what you mean, Perry, they go hard as rock when they are really dried out. I foolishly tried to repot some one time and it was an awful mess. I pretty much had to pulverize it into powder then moisten it again and smoosh it into the new container (and then I never used it because it looked so lumpy and gross). I was wondering if a spritz of water with a couple drops of glycerin in it would soften it enough to cut, others have recommended that...but then I was reading about how glycerin can irritate some people's skin, and that some people have a glycerin allergy. So I don't really want to add anything to the paint if I don't have to. I do find the electric and some of the sparkle colours stay soft much longer, I've made some nice splits with those.

I'm thinking of subscribing to FABATV for the winter, I'm looking forward to checking out all the different techniques and the methods that the pros use. It'll be interesting to see and compare styles...

My first splits were actually snazaroo paint! A helpful hint I found to get them soft enough for cutting was to lift the cake out, spray the cake, wrap tightly in saran wrap, place back in (still in saran) and wait a day for the water to absorb. Soft and ready to cut! MUCH fewer if any crumblies.

I got into all the hype with the big retail splitcakes, but now I just load my sponge with the colors I want. I really love the way Lynne loads the back of the sponge. You can get more colors on that way

I have way too many rainbow/split cakes. It's silly when I have a lot of colors in full pots to pick from. Just preloading your sponge will create any color combo you desire.

I also learned that when you are doing videos and talking, it takes twice as long because you are teaching basics. My 3 minute butterfly took like 10 minutes to do a video! LOL

Rebecca, I'm hoping to take a class of yours in Vegas in March

I have not seen any FABATV yet(maybe I'll get a subscription for Christmas from my hubby:-).

I did want to write about the difference between painting at a gig & teaching. A good teacher slows down the process so the students can see what's happeneing. While many of you understand much of the techniques there are a lot of new students that are just learning & the teachers may be slowing down the process for them.

The older techniques have their place & are good to learn for when you have clients that want a more detailed face or body paint. I use a wide range of styles, techniques & tools. All have their place. This makes it possible for me to do a 3 minute zombie or a 30 minute zombie.

Hi you guys...

gosh...i could say so much on this subject...but, like psalm said. many instructors (including myself) slow down when we teach...to explain each step.

also...many instructors feel that the Arty Brush Cakes are my area of expertise...and, not theirs to teach. i've been told that by a few of them anyway...but, i know for a fact... some of the top painters in the world do use the abc's. i've painted along side of them, while we are both painting with them.

also...i've found while teaching.. that the painters that have been painting less than 10 years seem to pick up the abc tehnique quicker, and easier than the "old school teachers". in my past life i was a psychotherapist...and, it's actually more difficult to learn a new technique when an old way is ingrained. because...you have to build new neuro-pathways....blah, blah, blah...

this has been a crazy year for me...and, i asked heather to please teach the abc's on faba tv...as, i just couldn't make it to fl.

but...

I'll be demo-ing at Silly Farm's Paint a Ton Dec 2nd. It will be aired for FREE on FABATV!! 12 great fabp's...including...the Wolfe's, Margi Kantor, Heather Banks-Green, Marcela, Jinny, myself...and many more!! and... it's FREE!! the Paint A Thon is a fund raiser for a non-profit http://www.covenanthouse.org/.

please join us on the 2nd for a great day of painting;) i'll also be filming a fabatv on Arty Brush Cake Christmas design, as well as a couple of other topics...

here are a few of my new christmas designs...you can see more of them on my Face book page.

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150417636419437.375592.643069436&type=3
hope you can join us on the 2nd! ttfn, rebecca

thanks everyone...for your kindness!!

ttfn
rebecca







ps...please forgive me if i post some of this on the christmas design page. Thanks!!

Beautiful work!

Rebecca, I just love your style, very ethereal.

If you are ever in the UK let us know as I would love to get into a room to learn from you (and also get my hands on a bunch of your arty cakes too).

Beautiful Rebecca! I so wish I could make it to Tallahassee when you have your class, but have a previous booking

Once again Rebecca... You are inspiring!

So pretty! Can't wait to take your class!

Learning so much from you guys going into 13 months of painting! Can't thank you enough-everyone! MWAH! Seriously, my life was so boring before, this new found talent I have stumbled upon has changed my life so much. I was so depressed thinking I would have to go back into retail now that my youngest started school. I hate working a job I hate, and now I am so blessed!

I feel the same way scgilland!!!

I would love to see a pic of your pink kitty Kat! I use white and tag pearl pink right now, but I am always looking for new ways to spice it up! She is one of my most requested designs. Never just tried a sponge! I usually use them for eye designs and mask bases.

There's NO way the "old school" teachers paint anywhere near that slow for a gig - they're significantly slowing down for teaching purposes. Ever try to teach and paint at the same time? It's not easy.

Case in point - ever see the Wolfe Brothers in action? They'd be done and knocking your split cake out of your hand before you'd even layed down the first pat - and their design would rock your socks. =)

I do like splits and rainbows - but I feel like most of the designs I see created with splits (on this forum and a few others) are tired variations. That is unless, of course, you're Rebecca or a few other whizzkids who can create new masterpieces with them.

Okay...now this is where I have to step in and say something....because this subject peeves me a bit....

I love really cool face painting designs but that is not the reality of day to day face painting for most of us. Most of us only have time for about 8 minutes per child IF WE'RE LUCKY and literally 3/4 of my money has come from quick designs with one-stroke and rainbow cakes either at corporate events or huge birthdays.

Yes, wonderful full face detailed designs have their place but mostly in competitions. In fact, I was THRILLED that Christy won the TAG competition because hers was one of the few top ones that followed the directions of "Can be completed in 5 minutes" designs and yet it was still beautiful.

This thread started because we were frustrated that there were quicker ways to accomplish the same thing using "tools" like one stroke and rainbow cakes. I don't know if you saw the Lynne Jamison FABAtv class but it was really frustrating when she didn't have enough paint on the sponge and literally had to pick up the same 3 cakes again to reload....and this was on ONE eye....she has to do that for both eyes every time. Maybe Rebecca will make her a convert! That was the point...not that she's not a fabulous teacher or a fantastic painter.

I think we can all agree that the Wolfe Brothers are WONDERFUL but I have only used their designs twice! I've done one zombie and an owl. Maybe I am using derivatives of their designs and I don't know it (like we all use Mark Reids tigers) but most of the designs take too dang long for me....and I'd dare say most of us.

And one last thing, I've done Youtube videos and talked while I tried to teach and YES its a pain, yes I'm forgiving of instructors, but don't tell me a design takes 3 minutes and proceed to take 20 minutes completing it.

I hope that we don't discourage each other from showing our quick designs, sponged kitties or a new way to do the same old butterfly or spiderman...it's what makes us all...and the profession better.

D.