Help me build a kit!

I am new to face painting and am trying to build a decent kit before my next gig. I have a budget of $50 and need paint, a rainbow cake, some more brushes, and a good storage system. What would be the best brands and colors to get? Are there any good sets that I could buy? Also, do you guys recommend any good step by step books that I can get, as I really need to improve my technique?

Thanks!
-PJ

I started out with youtube, and many of the active people here have videos, so it's a pretty good source. I like seeing it done, and learn that way. My technique and creativity grew leaps and bounds by paying attention here. Both are free, which is way in your budget.

Snaz and Paradise are good for bases, DFX and Wolfe are good for line work, in my opinion. The big containers go a long way if you aren't painting a lot. The small pallets will probably do okay for you, especially if you are just painting for church and to learn on. Then you can see what you prefer and buy larger a little at a time.

As for storage... check out the hardware or tackle isles, because they are way cheaper than most craft organizers. But, if you get the small palettes, they are in their own organizer.

Good luck!

with that kind of a budget (depending on what you're looking for and how many faces you'll be painting) I'd recommend starting out with a few of the small Snaz multicolor pallets. I've found them at Michaels or Roberts but it depends on their local stock and usually the clerks will look at you with a blank face if you ask about it. Check the paint areas and any section that is "crayola" and it's usually somewhere around there if they have it.
Depending on how many colors you need, the shop here is wonderful too.
I typically use basic synthetic watercolor brushes-- cheap multipacks can go as low as $3-- until I can save up to get some nicer brushes. So far they have worked well for me.
Also tackle boxes or briefcase style carriers seem to work well as storage systems. I use a metal briefcase and a kaboodle style makeup box that works wonderfully but the kaboodle thing cost $25 on its own. the multicolor pallets would probably work better in the longer briefcase style container-- otherwise you could use some kind of tote bag if all you need to worry about are the sponges and brushes and such. Just be careful not to carry wet paints on their side unless you want a mess...
I use a "pencil bag" case for my brushes with mesh on the front for drying and a "delicates mesh bag" for the sponges (basically purse sized mesh bag for washing machines/dryers-- I use one for clean one for dirty and the entire bag goes into the washing machine by itself for cleaning after a gig.)

Good luck!

I pmed you since I included some links in my reply. What I forgot to add though was that there is nothing more cost effective than repurposing things that you have around the house for some of your needs. If you happen to have...say... a narrow pencil case lying around, that can easily be cleaned up and fashioned into a brush holder for no money at all!

Thanks you guys! I've expanded my budget a bit to get some more colors. I was thinking either a wolfe palette or the paradise palette and some larger cakes of black and white.
I've already begun designing my own brush holder. It's similar to ones I've made my dad in the past(he's a painter), but will also have pouches for sponges and my liquid paints.
I'll be sure to post pics in a couple of weeks after I get everything set up.

Thanks again,
-PJ

Woohoo! I ordered my paint today!
To start, I decided to go all out and get three paradise palettes(regular, tropical, and pastel). Hopefully they get here by Friday in time for my Chick Fil A gig.
Right now I'm working on finishing my paint brush holder. I've had a couple yards of this really cute peace sign fabric laying around for a while, so I am putting it to use.
Tomorrow I am going to the craft store to get some more brushes and put finishing touches on the set up. I've decided to stick with something simple and portable for now, as all of the church gigs I have lined up already have a table for me.
Thank you guys for all of your help; I truly appreciate it.

You will LOVE the Paradise! The peace sign brush holder sounds adorable too!

I agree with Jen too, this board is INVALUABLE!

Can't wait to see pics... and tell me what you think of the paradise. I've been thinking of trying it.

PJ, To get the most bang for yer bucks, go to Michaels and get a pack of twenty brushes for about four bucks with a coupon, (photo of the tall tube container they come in is shown in my face painters Jam album www.SusanLeeBillings.com ) and the ten round brushes are what I mostly use. Photo of my Party kit is shown here
http://www.facepaintforum.com/general-face-painting-f1/professional-face-painter-travel-bag-t1323.htm?highlight=professional+bag

The cheapest way to go for paints is to buy snazaroo rainbow & sparkling kits at michaels, each have eight colors and both will be around fifteen bucks with michaels or competetor's coupon.

Each kit comes with a brush and more importantly, a sponge. Bring it with you to a dollar store to get the big car wash sponges that are of the same density and cut em up to shapes that are comfortable in your hand ; ) Mirrors, wipes, bobby pins, table cloth, placemat, boxes for sponges, etc are available at the dollar store, too.

I got the ice tube tray to hold my brushes and a bag of ten daubers in three sizes at walmart, each for just under four bucks. All the afore mentioned supplies comes to under fourty bucks.

Metina has the Professional Face Painters Travel Bag for just under ten bucks. Nice kit to start with for fifty bucks ; )

Happy Painting,
Susan

pjhamel wrote:Woohoo! I ordered my paint today!
To start, I decided to go all out and get three paradise palettes(regular, tropical, and pastel). Hopefully they get here by Friday in time for my Chick Fil A gig.
...
I've decided to stick with something simple and portable for now, as all of the church gigs I have lined up already have a table for me.
Thank you guys for all of your help; I truly appreciate it.

Hi there,

I don't want to sound rude but could you tell us, how did you get gigs (paying?) w/o a set of professional paints? And yes, I ask b/c I'm jealous - I haven't gone out and tried for any restaurant gigs yet!

~Michelle

I'm with you, Michelle!
PJ, inquiring minds want to know how you got the gigs without paint or samples of your work?
Green with envy,
Susan

I had a small set of paints that I bought at a local costume shop. I think that they are by Snazaroo or mehron, but they are really small. I used them to paint at a church festival a couple of weeks ago, and I guess I did pretty well because my booth was packed all day. By the time the festival was over my paints were half gone.
My mom is the youth leader at our church, and she has several fundraisers and festivals planned for this year. She's seen me practicing on myself and my sister, and she saw the kids that I painted at the Festival, so she wants me to work the upcoming events. Most of them are going to be on a volunteer or barely paid basis, so don't get envious yet. I figured that it would give me a good chance to get some practice and to get my name out there.
The reason I'm actually putting together a more professional kit is for a fundraiser we have this Friday at Chick Fil A. They have what are called "Spirit Nights" there, and different churches or schools receive a portion of the proceeds. The lady who runs the community outreach for the restaurant said that if we had some kind of entertainment it would be better. My mom told her that I could do face painting, and she said that if I am good, she will hire me on a weekly basis. So needless to say, I ordered my paints immediately and put a rush on the shipping. I now have three days to get set up and to practice, which is actually what I should be doing right now.....

sounds awesome you are jumping right in! good luck!

INMHO, since you are volunteering your services to attract more people and raise more money for the church, the very least the church could do is front the money for your supplies, especially since this is not the only time you will be at a church fund raiser.
Go For it Girl,
Susan

Susan, right now the recession has kind of hit my church pretty hard, so I won't be asking them to pay for any supplies. But I will be able to put up a tip jar at most of the functions, so that should help pay for most of the disposable supplies. My mom did say that after the fundraiser the youth group will give me something towards the cost, but it depends on how much we make.
Thank you guys for all of your help!

pjhamel wrote:Susan, right now the recession has kind of hit my church pretty hard, so I won't be asking them to pay for any supplies. But I will be able to put up a tip jar at most of the functions, so that should help pay for most of the disposable supplies. My mom did say that after the fundraiser the youth group will give me something towards the cost, but it depends on how much we make.
Thank you guys for all of your help!

I volunteered for my church as well in the beginning.. don't worry about it. When it comes to your church, you can have a tip jar.. but if the Lord lays it on your heart to help out, then go for it!

It is acceptable to have a large tip jar (seeded with a few bills ; ) any time you paint, except for paid party gigs.
Wishing you success,
Susan

I started out with just a Wolfe essentials palette and a few brushes I picked up at the dollar store, so you're doing great! I started out by looking on youtube and watching face painters on there to pick up some pointers, then I found this forum and the amazing artists here have helped me sooo much! They're always ready to answer any question you may have, whether you think it's silly or not, because there are NO silly questions

Check out '3 Faces in under 6 minutes' on youtube and Cryss has three other videos showing how to do each design in the first video. I reccomend this to my students to get a feel of real world speed in facepainting. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZSs3OuBElNo

Forum member Becky from down under, known on youtube as Becxstar123, has 11 fabulous must-see videos https://www.youtube.com/profile?user=Becxstar123#p/u/3/PIDddbOx5rc

Sillyheatherb has quite a few how-to videos on youtube or available on www.SillyFarm.com Scroll down to the video corner that she adds to each month.

The first sixteen will give you a great start for your first gig, just keep watching those again & again to become familiar with the designs, so that painting them will be almost automatic.

Once you have those popular designs down pat, then go on to Heathers videos. Seeing hers all too soon will give you confusing design overload. I added them here to give you a good youtube video reference in one post.

Let me know what you think,
Susan

Got my paint today!!!! I used it tonight at Chick Fil A, and it is awesome. Things went really well considering how new I am at this. Now I just need to buy some glitter and a rainbow cake.

hey all! I haven't been on here in a while because of school but have gotten some repeat gigs from last year. I have two questions after reading:
Winger1200: have you used the cut up car wash brushes. I tried it once and felt like the spnge sucked up ALL the paint. Maybe I need to compare the density better and try again?

And as far as tip jars go: I painted tonight at an Elementary School, and while it was paid for by the PTA as opposed to volunteer, would it be bad fashion to have a tip jar? I always have a few parents that try to tip me whether there is one or not, but I just thought I'd get ya'll's thoughts.

Congrats PJHamel! Tell us more about the Chic-Fil-A thing? How did that come about? Details so we can all run that direction right now.

PrincessMeg wrote:And as far as tip jars go: I painted tonight at an Elementary School, and while it was paid for by the PTA as opposed to volunteer, would it be bad fashion to have a tip jar? I always have a few parents that try to tip me whether there is one or not, but I just thought I'd get ya'll's thoughts.

It depends. If I'm getting my full rate, then I would not put out a tip jar - seems a bit greedy, I think. You know? However, if someone offers, I tell them no, it's okay, I'm paid to be here - and if they insist, I thank them, accept it and put the money away.

If it's a gig where I've cut the client a deal, I will sometimes ask if I can put a tip jar out. I've got a 3 day balloon gig coming up where I've given them a deal, and get to put out a tip jar - and you can bet I'm going to seed it with $5's!

thanks for the input Kristal! I agree that if I'm at full rate then I don't put one out but I often cut the PTA's deals so I can come, pass out business cards, and I set up a display of my event planning that I plan full kids parties too.

I do the same that if someone insists I'll take the money, and if children try to give me money I always refuse and tell them they can spend it on something else at the school event. I do this bc I always think their parent probably sent them with money thinking it wasn't free and I'm not going to take the proverbial candy from a baby. hahaha

And seed that thing with fives and a stack-o-singles girl! We're all with you! 3 days!!! I'm sore already for 3 hours. lol

Haha, If we Canadians had singles I would put them in there! As it is, I'll be using 5's and some good ol' toonies.

It's going to be madness. It's 18 hours over the course of the weekend (4, 8, 6 - I'm so icing my arms every night, haha), at 25% less than what I'd normally charge (I just upped my price - gah!). It's a company who's hired me 3 or 4 times in the last year, so I don't mind them getting a deal, and they don't mind my putting out a tip jar - we both win!

And ooh yes, it's different if it's a child offering you the money - unless their parent is right there and is telling them to tip - then it's ok!

totally agree... if the parent is right there that's ok.
omg girl. maybe you can spend your tip $$ on a massage.

that's good though that it's your repeaters. that's obviously the best compliment. that's pretty much all I've been doing right now. I've had no time to market because I've been soooo busy! ahhhh!

let us all know how it goes.