First RUN ever - I need all the helpful tips you have!

Hello! Tonight I'll be face painting for the FIRST TIME ever (excluding practicing on myself) and in need of some tips! Also, I have a few questions that I can't seem to find the proper response for by searching. So here it goes....

1) How do I avoid contaminating the paints while I am working on a client? I understand you must never double dip, but what if I need more of a certain color? New sponge? Clean the used brush I just used on the client? I know this may seem like a obvious answer to most, but I am not most!

2) How much time should I spend on a client? Tonight's event is a "donation only" gig! I have a possibility of making a lot since it's a well known event.

3)How many brushes or sponges should I use? I have a palette of 8 colors (Paradise - Tropical Palette), Ben Nye White Cake., and a Cinema Secret black!

4) I bought "water activated" paints since another painter said it saved time and money! Is this true? I have never used the items I bought in my life! I usually paint my face with clown white, which has a thick creamy texture, and eyeshadows!

5) How do I sanitize after each client? Do I have to let brushes dry before the next one?

Thank you in advance to whomever read this far! I appreciate any feedback!

Hi and welcome.

1 & 5) There has been quite a bit of discussion on cleaning brushed/sponges in other threads. I recommend searching like this from a google window:
site:facepaintforum.com "brush cleaning"
There are pretty much 2 main thoughts:
- One brush/sponge per client. Wash and sanitize with alcohol and let dry
- One sponge/color, dedicated white and black brushes, rinse between clients.
Note that painting at a hospital requires the first option

2) 3-5 minutes per person
3) depends on your cleaning strategy and personal preference
4) I would recommend a good/safe brand of water activated paints for face painting. If you have not used the product, you should practice before tonight. It will be very different than white clown grease paint.

Happy painting!

I am a face painter in Jackson, Mississippi. We have a large Children's Hospital here and I have been asked several times to face paint at their events. Your suggetion of using a fresh brush with each client is ridiculous! How in the world could anyone afford to buy and carry that many brushes? I always use antiseptic in my water and try and use alcohol on my hands between each client. Is that not sufficient? I really need an answer to this question since I will probably paint there again in several weeks.

Thanks, Sherry Burdsal

Sherry,

Hi and welcome!

I believe that you do need to use a new brush/sponge for each client. (And I don't mean that you throw away each brush after using it but that sanitize it properly and let it completely dry before using again.)

Fesspenter has been painting in hospitals for years and describes her process in the following thread:
http://www.facepaintforum.com/t11740-painting-in-hospitals

Hope this helps!