How do you add water?

I always dip my brush in water at the beginning to get the paint wet. On a DVD I saw recently I noticed someone mentioning she sprays all of her paint with water. Have anyone tried spraying their paint with water at the beginning? Are there other ways to get the paint moist and wet besides using a brush or spraying with water?

I know people who do it both ways.... I prefer to wet my brush rather than my paints because I feel I can control the amount of moisture in my paints better. It depends on the person and the kind of paints they use I guess.

I add water by the drop to my cakes. When I set-up I add a few drops to every cake, then, when I am ready to paint I have a gooey spot ready to load my DRY sponges and brushes. I just add drops as I need to for the rest of the gig.

The water is ALWAYS pure from a 4 oz squeeze bottle, I never dip my brushes, and use clean brushes as well as sponges for every person.

I find spraying or spritzing causes splatter.

Shannon, what do you use as a dropper for the water? Eye dropper?

Shannon Fennell wrote:I add water by the drop to my cakes. When I set-up I add a few drops to every cake, then, when I am ready to paint I have a gooey spot ready to load my DRY sponges and brushes. I just add drops as I need to for the rest of the gig.

The water is ALWAYS pure from a 4 oz squeeze bottle, I never dip my brushes, and use clean brushes as well as sponges for every person.

I find spraying or spritzing causes splatter.

Sounds interesting. I never noticed that before. I hope you do not mind if I try your idea, Sannon.

I use a 4 ounce bottle with one of those flip top lids... just squeeze out a couple of drops at a time. The bottles are the type they sell for travel toiletries... I get them at Zellers (which is comparable to WalMart) they have them with all the sample/travel size stuff in the bins.

Thank Shannon! I am going to try this! I have been dipping my brush but knew there had to be a better way!

I just got finished playing with your technique, Shannon. I like the moisture it leaves keeping the paint thick and creamy. This might be the answer to what I was looking for to why I joined this website forum.

Shannon, when you are done painting, and if there still is a gooey spot leftover in your cake, what do you do?:
Dry it with a towel.
Put the cap over the cake.
Nothing.
Something different.

Well... generally speaking, by the time I'm ready to pack up only the white and black are still wet... the colours I didn't use have already dried up.

I will blot up excess moisture with a wipe (not a tissue as it will leave bits stuck to the paint) just so it doesn't run, put the lids on my palette... when I get home I set out my palettes to airdry, then put them away once dry.

Shannon Fennell wrote:when I get home I set out my palettes to airdry, then put them away once dry.

If you do not let them air dry, will it cause any damage?

No... but, staying wet means more chance for stuff to grow in them. Stuff gets in the paint - wind blows stuff in while it's wet, etc. Letting it dry out means less chance of contamination causing bacteria growth. Most brands of face paint have an "anti-bacterial" but that is only for stopping mould from growing on the paint - it won't stop other things.

If you really want to work with creamy paints try Fantasy Worldwide - it is a water based cream paint that does not require water, you just use a sponge to apply it. Really nice product.

Shannon Fennell wrote:No... but, staying wet means more chance for stuff to grow in them. Stuff gets in the paint - wind blows stuff in while it's wet, etc. Letting it dry out means less chance of contamination causing bacteria growth. Most brands of face paint have an "anti-bacterial" but that is only for stopping mould from growing on the paint - it won't stop other things.

Thanks, Shannon, your post makes a lot of sense.

If you really want to work with creamy paints try Fantasy Worldwide - it is a water based cream paint that does not require water, you just use a sponge to apply it. Really nice product.

After I experimented with your idea, I like how the paint became gooey/creamy. That is how I saw a persons face paint one day. I thought it was a special paint. I was wrong, it was what she did to it. I will stick to Snazaroo now. Thank you very much.

I spray my paints with a very fine mist. I especially love how easy it is to load my dry sponges with the whole cake misted with water. I agree with the splatter though. I've tried drops of water as Shannon does but I've not been able to get into the habit of using the dropper. The mister is more consistent for me with wider coverage over the cakes.

I let mine air dry as well, if not at the gig, then after I get home.

I've not noticed splatter, but maybe it's the way I mist my cake. I pick them up and hold them away, spraying about 12" above or more at 90 degree angle. Folks who keep their paints stationary would have a problem, I imagine. But I only have to mist when I reload my sponge.

I may have to try something different though. I am still having a tough time with consistency if I have to do a single color of base, so I have to work on my technique. I have yet to achieve that beautiful, flat, even white. But I dare to dream.

What white are you using, Jennifer? Snaz white is perfect for bases. (And not much else, lol)

I use a spray bottle. It gives a nice even wetness over the surface of the cake which helps to use the cake down more evenly with a sponge rather than creating a hole. Before starting a design, I spray all of the colors I know I will need for that design.
I have never had any splatter problems.
How you should wet your make-up will really depend on how you work and what works best for you.
I suggest trying a few different options and seeing which method feels more "natural" for you. You want to use methods that help with your efficiency, not methods that detract from it.

modernmagik wrote:I suggest trying a few different options and seeing which method feels more "natural" for you. You want to use methods that help with your efficiency, not methods that detract from it.

I agree. I will experiment with all of the methods mentioned in this thread to see what fits me best.

I find it spatters a bit if I spray the cake too close. Depends on how forceful the spray is too.

Glenda

I use the drop method like Shannon.
Gary showed us a cool way to store your brushes. He says he keeps one brush for each color--maybe a flat and a round each--blues with one, greens with one, reds & pinks with one, orange & yellows with one, etc. Then he only lightly touches his brush to the top of his water if he needs to refresh the brush or color. He NEVER washes out a brush during the event. This does save your brushes a beating, and keeps your water pretty fresh.
Then after the event, he takes them all in a bundle in his hand and washes them all together in a group. THEN--and this is cool--he puts them all upright in a tennis ball container that has several holes punched near the top to let air in. That's where they stay and dry. He's so smart! I also purchased one of his "Geckos", a little spongey Gecko dude that has cut-outs in it to hold your brushes as you paint. INGENIOUS!! It way beats the floral foam thing I've been using!! I love it.
Good luck!!

I like that idea. It will require less/no dipping the brush in water to rinse them out, until the end. I will need a lot more brushes though.

Is it true that Fantasy Worldwide doesn't really ever dry? I read that somewhere.

Fantasy Worldwide stays slightly tacky to the touch, but, it does set up pretty well. Is it the nicest to wear - so light that you forget you have it on.

Personally, using a brush over and over without washing turns me right off. You won't be painting me or my kids ... oh wait, I don't have any. Nevermind...

And I had one of those geckos... they aren't stable. They are cute and people love 'em, but if you fill it up with brushes and then try to grab one quick the whole thing lifts up... not terribly efficient to have to use two hands to get your brush out of the holder. I've heard some people glue them to a hard or weighted base.

Hehe Shannon. I have one of those gekos...cute, but you are right...it tips over easy (especially if you are a brush tart!)

Last night I did purchase a small sprayer, dispenser, and a dropper. I have been playing with each one as you will see in the photo: http://www.facepaintforum.com/gallery/Personal-album-of-Dynamike/Dynamike-s-set-up-pic_1239.htm

Please excuse the mess.

Shannon, I finally caught on to your method, the hard way. If you can see the links to my photos above, it will show what I tried. I made a mistake and thought you meant an eye dropper at first. I tried that method and discovered it takes too much time. Yesterday I was painting a lot of faces. The dropper you described earlier (I misunderstood) is what I used yesterday. That is what I called a dispenser in my previous post. I fell in love with using that dropper. Finally, I made that connection yesterday, I said to myself, "I like how this drops water. It works fine. Oh, this must be what Shannon was talking about she uses. I did remember her mentioning 4 ounces." Will the idiot please raise his hands. (me)

I tried a small spray bottle too. The disadvantage is the lost of water outside of the cakes. The bottle is only 4 ounces.