Volunteering for Practice

I don't have children of my own, and I've been using practice heads for my practice. But I'd really like to paint real kids. The dummies aren't anything like real skin. I went to a clown camp this summer and painted at a festival there, but I was really rushed and wasn't able to take my time with the designs. Do you all have a suggestion where I might volunteer to get some practice? I was thinking a nursery school, but how do you get the parent's permission for such a thing?

Thanks!

If you contact the director of the childcare center they can put permission slips in the kids pockets for the parents.
Getting photos of them is another matter entirely.
Some people go and set up in the park and paint for free or tips..... you take the chance your council won't be ok with this - but most are ok if your not charging money for it.

I go to parks that have homeschool park days. They are usually very receptive & generally more creative(and challenging) in their requests. You'll get older kids, so it's not all preschoolers. Also, a little league ballpark would be a great place w/ lots of school age kids.
Let the kids know you have set designs you want to work on(the 1st one I did I had a blue butterflies & it was a complete waste).
Make sure you have photo consent forms, business cards & you Daily Planner. You may actually get gigs(I just did a homeschool co-op kick off party today for families who'd been at the park day).

It also depends where you're located. I'm in Massachusetts, USA and here, to volunteer at many day cares and schools you must have a CORI (Criminal Offender Record Information) check on file. It takes 6-8 weeks to process.

If you attend church, do they have any festivals you could volunteer for?

Also, I volunteer for a great organization called www.birthdaywishes.org that holds birthday parties for homeless children and they are always looking for volunteers. Again, I don't know where you're located, maybe this would be an option.

Thanks, everyone. Great ideas. Cheryl, I do attend a church, and every time I've volunteered to face paint there, the kids only want cheek art, and they are specific about what they want (only sports teams logos, grrrrr). It's been a bust with my own church, go figure.
Thanks again!

If your church has Sunday School classes, Pioneer Club, or Awanas, check with a teacher well in advance to see if you can incorporate a face into a future lesson. It's generally a smaller group of kids and everyone gets, say, a lion for Daniel in the lion's den, a whale with the story of Jonah, a crown with any lesson with a king or queen. (Just be forewarned, with time constraints it's most certainly trial by fire, but you'll learn alot! lol!)

I'll do that! Thanks!

Hi Pinky, I suggest going to Cici's Pizza or a Fuddruckers and paint for tips (these chains dont normally pay for entertainment, but you get free food) to practice. You can also try a local church and paint at their vespers or church event.

Good Idea.....I have a Cici's here. I WISH I had a fuddruckers (but it's prolly best for my hips that I don't!).
Thanks!

I volunteered to paint for free at our local farmer's market for practice. My daughter had painted there in previous years on a pay-per-face basis but they have not had anyone regular since she went off to school, and the market manager was pretty happy when I offered. I had several people insist on tipping me even though I insisted it was free, so this week I will be putting out a tips jar, just to see how that goes. I will probably do that for the rest of this season and then next year I will charge.

You're right, there is no substitute for proper hands-on practice! I was in the same boat as you so I was pretty happy to get the chance at the market. What about contacting the children's librarian at your local library? They may have something going on or know of some event.

Grea Idea, Hazel! I'm getting lots of good suggestions!
(I did the same duck on a bicycle, LOL but yours looks better; i had a terrible time with that bike!)

I volunteered at grocery stores in my neighborhood to try to get work closer to my house. It worked!!! I got 5 bookings from 1 hr. of painting at a grocery store.

Awesome! Where I live is mostly retired folks, but I think if I was willing to drive a ways, I could certainly do that. Thanks!