Your Water Routine?

So though I am not an entire newbee to face painting per se, all of my work has been for free up to this point. When you are donating a service for free, I feel you can take a few liberties.

In my case, I have only on a couple occasions taken water with me to a gig (usually I just ask to use the tap) and I have never taken the dirty water with me (I always dispose of the dirty water on site at the nearest sink). But having read through several threads on here, I realize that most pros bring their own water and take the dirty water back with them. Maybe I am over thinking this, but I feel a little confused by this.

So, I would love to know what your water routine is!


1. How much clean water to you take to a birthday party gig vs a bigger event?
2. How many times do you clean your water per hour?
3. How do you dispose/transport your dirty water?
4. How many vessels do you have to clean brushes at your work area?



Thank you!

I use a lot of brushes (I rarely use sponges), so I don't really rinse them out often. I only switch out my water every two hours so rarely do I need to do it at parties. I use a stainless steel cup that is water tight and take my dirty water home with me because I use a gun case that I can shut down in 2 minutes flat. The purpose of taking your dirty water with you is to just save time. If you are outdoors and there is grass right by you - dump it. If not, why waste time? You risk the dreaded "can you paint just one more pleeeeze?".

Not to mention you risk someone bumping you, or tripping while you're on your way to the sink and spilling that gross water in their home. If you do use a sink....pour it directly into the drain, so you don't have to rinse the sink out.

I bring a 1.75 ltr bottle in the bottom of my fat max... more if its a long job. I use a spray bottle to spray paints directly,and a 2 cup system for my water.. one light colours one dark. I keep a tupperware type clippy lid container on my table which i use for used sponges and periodically i dump water there and refil. at the end, i dump all water into that, seal it up and take it home. has the added advantage of reducing staining to the sponges because they are in water. I dump the water at home, and sponges go in the washing machine. If im doing a few jobs on a day, i take several of these containers, one for each job, and if its a big / long job, i keep a bucket under my table for dumping water / sponges.

I just started taking water with me and I LOVE it. I use large (well rinsed) vinager bottles (costco size). I don't take my dirty with me though.

I water trees and shrubs when I am working outside. Birthday parties I use a sink and clean up after myself. (it states in my contract that I need a spot to dump water).

I have a very large bucket that I put under my table for long gigs and dump my painty water in that when it starts looking nasty. Then I don't worry so much about being bumped as it is so large the water never fills up past half. I carry my water containers in it when it's not filled with painty water

1. How much clean water to you take to a birthday party gig vs a bigger event? 
About 1 liter for 1-2 hour booking, double that for a longer booking, or I do a jug refill half way through.

2. How many times do you clean your water per hour?
I have 2 jars, one for rinse (with brush bath) and want for fresh, I clean them around every 5-10 faces as need be. I use a lot of sponges, and go over with a smaller detail brush, so my water doesn't get too dirty too fast.

3. How do you dispose/transport your dirty water?
I never take my dirty water with me. Private parties, i use a sink to dispose of it, always make sure the sink is clean after you dump your water. Be like a ninja and leave to traces that you were there. Out doors I use drains, or even bushes to dump my jar. There is nothing harmful in the water so...
Places where there are no drains, no bushes and sinks are far away, i use a large bucket under my table to dump the water. Then at the end i usually dump the bucket in a sink. At malls, they provide the bucket, so i just leave it there for maintenance to take care of.

4. How many vessels do you have to clean brushes at your work area?
Two glass jars. One is shorter and wider and has a scrubber siliconed to the bottom, and the other is taller, for my fresh water. This is so at a glance i can tell them apart.

I bring 2 liters of water with me to every job, in a tupperware water bottle. (it's sturdy, and I had it collecting dust in my kitchen anyhow)
I never take the dirty water home with me
I have 2 water containers (the black ones by mehron): one for rinsing the brushes, one for wetting the brushes.
How many times I clean my water depends on how busy the event is, and how dirty the water gets really...