What got you started?

Hi everyone, I was just wondering what got you into the painting (faces/bodies)? For me, I feel it's a continuation of my art. I've always loved drawing and creating since a child. I started hairdressing 17 years ago and I've been a make-up artist for 11. I painted a couple of models for projects and then when I fell pregnant I became interested in bump painting, so a girl offered to be another model for me. After various face painting events (unpaid) for charity I felt it was so different and in a way less stressful than say weddings. I put 100% in to my work, so sometimes i applied too much pressure on myself with the weddings. I couldn't say "no" to clients and took on too much work which in turn left me feeling exhausted. Clients were always happy, but I was drained.

Don't get me wrong, i guess the painting may have some stressful moments at times, I'm sure you can just concentrate on the kid in front of you and block the rest out. That's not the case when a wedding party must ready for a certain time and they aren't realising that you need to get on. Bridal parties can become unaware of the time.

The painting seems fresh, maybe cause it's new for me, but I love how kids are so happy and carefree. Since having my little girl this summer, I feel I want to change direction slightly. Still do the odd wedding here and there, but perhaps focus on the painting. It's scary too as I have so much to learn, but it's all so inspiring. I'm glad I found this place.

I'd love to hear everyone's stories about how they started painting?

I started because I had painted my little girl a few times with *gasp* dollar store creams...she saw a book and had asked me to paint her so we did. She loved it so much! We were at a festival and I gave her $5 to get painted and the girl had a little snaz kit. My girl asked for a pink and purple butterfly please. The girl sounded snotty and said "I don't have pink and I don't have purple, pick something else" Oh was I P*%$ED!! In the end, my girl got painted and it was awful...I stormed away, not because of the crappy job...but because of how miserable the painters were acting...I told my husband I could do at least as well and do it while treating the children better!! I had no idea of the world of professionals out here. A week later, I met an amazing artist Shelley Bellefontaine-Bruce, who agreed to show me the ropes and a few days after that I had spent $400, had a kit, knew the basic thin to thick lines and teardrops and I was off. Did my first gig with her 2 days after my first kit arrived. I was so scared! And looking back, it was likely awful work, but the kids seemed happy...and now here we are three years and a successful business later and I LOVE it! Still have a hard time calling myself an artist...but learning to embrace it!

I started shortly after giving birth to my baby (he is now 11 months), so I have been painting for less than a year. I do sunless tanning as a side job, and the salon where I work, got a booth at a tattoo convention to promote the beauty salon (they sell jewelery, hair accessories and more). I promoted my tanning and thought that it would be neat to offer airbrush tattoos, so I bought a kit and it was a big hit with the kids. Then my niece asked me if I could do facepainting and airbrush tats for her birthday. SO I had to say yes to her, but told her that I did not have a face painting kit. Her mom purchased Walmart paints, (bc it was a last min thing) but I did not like the quality of them,,, I hated them. I felt I did a horrible job on the face art that day.

Then my niece uploaded some of the pics online and a friend saw them and asked if I could come and paint for her daughter's bday. I said yes, and quickly ordered a kit from sillyfarm and practiced and viewed vids on how to paint. The party came and I was soooo nervous, but then I started painting and felt more confident in myself and so relaxed. The kids and the parents loved them. She paid me 75 dollars =) Now I practice whenever I have free time.

Hey Gamezgirl isn't it amazing how things come into our lifes. If that face painter wasn't so horrible, maybe you wouldn't have though at that time to take it up. It maybe pushed you on in a way. I really don't know how people can work with kids if they are like that to them. I adore them.

and just like yourself misspixie, it's after having my baby, that I seem to want to paint. I feel that I can fit it in around looking after her.

I love hearing these stories. I doubt many people as a young child say, "When I grow up I want to be a face & body artist. " But, maybe our kids will

For me it started in 2005 when I was teaching homeschool & after school art classes at a not-for-profit in trade for my son's dance lessons. The mother of one of my students was a clown. She had a booth at the air show, but had also booked a birthday party at the same time. She asked if me & my daughter would face paint for her at the air show. All we had to do was charge $3 a face + tips & hand out her card. My daughter was only 12:-) We went to her house & learned what a tear drop was & how to sponge & some basic faces. We made about $200 each that day at the air show. I got a clown costume, learned a few balloons, a few magic tricks, etc. & worked for her for about a year. A few things she did business wise unsettled me & I decided to branch out on my own. I clowned for a few years because I thought that would be the only way I could face paint & finally almost quit completely. My father had end stage cancer & I took on being his advocate w/ doctors & hospice. Life got too overwhelming & I let the business go completely. A few months after my dad passed away my hubby quit his job & went back to school full time. I needed a real income. I didn't want to stop homeschooling my kids & get a 9-5 job so I decided to revamp my business & give it a real go. I ditched the magic show that I hated, handed the balloon twisting to my daughter who loved it & jumped full into face painting. It never occurred to me that someone could face paint without being a clown & doing the magic show, balloons, etc. I was also told that I could "give it a try", but "if" it didn't work I'd have to get a "real" job. I made a website & accidentally found the face paint forum. Most of my real training came from the forum:-) I feel very blessed as now my hubby is happily employed in his career & I have a very successful fulfilling home business that I love!

Gamezgirl wrote:I started because I had painted my little girl a few times with *gasp* dollar store creams...she saw a book and had asked me to paint her so we did. She loved it so much! We were at a festival and I gave her $5 to get painted and the girl had a little snaz kit. My girl asked for a pink and purple butterfly please. The girl sounded snotty and said "I don't have pink and I don't have purple, pick something else" Oh was I P*%$ED!! In the end, my girl got painted and it was awful...I stormed away, not because of the crappy job...but because of how miserable the painters were acting...I told my husband I could do at least as well and do it while treating the children better!! I had no idea of the world of professionals out here. A week later, I met an amazing artist Shelley Bellefontaine-Bruce, who agreed to show me the ropes and a few days after that I had spent $400, had a kit, knew the basic thin to thick lines and teardrops and I was off. Did my first gig with her 2 days after my first kit arrived. I was so scared! And looking back, it was likely awful work, but the kids seemed happy...and now here we are three years and a successful business later and I LOVE it! Still have a hard time calling myself an artist...but learning to embrace it!

Your story really resonates with me. There are hardly any face painters where I'm located and the work that I've seen was just awful. Looked like water colors smeared everywhere. But I've always been into artsy and crafty things. I've been looking for something art related that I enjoyed doing and could hopefully make a business out of. I'm so glad that I'm starting to take this step towards face painting. Hopefully all works out.

I started when I took my daughter to the Philly Zoo....it was expensive( I know the "Zoo" everything was expensive) I was watching for 45 minutes and thought I am a master Pysanky Artist I can paint a flower I do swirls....I wanna do this!!! So I waited about a year and last spring I googled facepainting and bought some supplies. I took a few lessons from local lady but was completely discouraged by her demands and non-compete contracts which I never signed...and started on my own after a few gigs and now I have 22 weekends booked for both Sat/Sun...festivals, corporate events and fairs...very exciting!!! Look forward to all the "paintng I will be doing"

I started out by accident. I volunteered to man the penny arcade at our church's fall festival 6 years ago. After my little shift was done I still wanted to help somewhere and I knew the lady doing the face painting booth so I went over to say Hi. She said she had no idea what she was doing and the church had purchased only a few of those Palmer paints samples and horrible craft brushes. She wanted to quit and go help out somewhere else where she was a better fit... so I dove right in. This was only little cheek art we're talking about and it was nearly impossible to do detail work with the paint and brushes... but I managed. Next thing you know, a face painter geek was born.

I've been performing free puppet shows at churches and nursing homes for about 10 years supported by my own money. While on vacation, I saw two clowns painting animal faces at a festival and loved this type of face painting. I've always been crafty and started researching this type of face painting. I decided to offer face painting with puppet shows for a fee at birthday parties and use the money to support my puppet ministry. The face painting became very popular and it all pays for itself now.

I took my son to the San Diego Zoo while visiting family and the highlight of our day at the zoo was the $15 Tiger he got painted on his face...he was so excited and rawr'd at EVERYONE that day. I remember everyone saying "oh my goodness...how cute is that!" and all of my family was AMAZED at how good the face painting was. Looking at the picture of him from that day I can't believe I paid $15 for it AND thought it was the best thing ever...so good that I was inspired to become a face painter ! After we got back to Idaho I started researching and joined this forum, started watching YouTube videos, and just dreamed about it since I couldn't afford another expensive hobby....a while later I had a crazy day at work and ended up quitting on the spot after contemplating it for months. That day I vowed to create my own job and decided I would buy some paints and try it out. The rest is history!

Here's a photo of my son Evan painted as a tiger-
(Painted by someone at the San Diego Zoo)

I'm loving hearing all your stories. x

When I was about 13 years old, a lady down the street (who my parents knew) asked if I wanted to face paint with her for a community event.

I did it, and the rest is history.

I face painted on and off with her for large events, until about two years ago, when I finally decided to branch off and do my own thing. I ordered my own paints and started doing birthday parties just for some extra cash.

Then a few months ago I discovered this forum, and face painting has become my true love. I'm always trying new techniques now, trying to improve and get more business. It's really become an addiction... a good one though! And I have the forum to thank for renewing that spark in me.

I've always loved art, a few years ago I got into special effects make up and loved it, then I discovered LisaJoyYoung on Youtube and became obsessed with painting. I started with a few basic Snaz colours and went from there.
I realised how much I love working with kids, so mixing that with facepainting just seems idea for me... That's it.

Around the time I had my first son (he's now 20) I was asked to face paint for a school fund raiser my (now ex) husband was cleaning for. They gave me some (hanging head in shame) acrylic paints and said to charge a dollar a time.

After the experience - everyone loved it (oh man, I'm squirming here, thinking of all those poor kids and their innocent ACRYLIC faces ) - I thought it would be a fun way to make some money for myself.

I did some research (20 years ago there wasn't the plethora of wonderful painters willing to share or the medium of videos available like there is today.) and went from there. Started painting per face at festivals (Alliston Potato festival, Beeton Honey Bee festival, Tottenham steam show, etc.) and did Really well, or at least, it felt like it then (I was thrilled to bring home $80 for a day - but then, I was charging $1 a face at first, then $1.50...then, I remember the day I dared to charge $2 and $3!!! )

Ironically, back then PPF were my biggest money makers which then lead into "can you come to my child's party", then "can you dress as a clown", then "can you do animal balloons", then, "do you do magic" - saying yes to each and self-teaching along the way until I suddenly had a popular, in demand, business as "Clowning around with Sunny the Clown"...

Along the face-painting way I had children, then after seven years I had my fourth child and shortly after my two youngest were diagnosed as 'special needs'. (My eldest I already knew was gifted and wasn't diagnosed with aspergers until a couple of years ago.)

Around that time someone else started a business called "Just Klowning around with Sunni the Clown" and not showing up to parties; ruining my reputation. All that, along with my marriage ending, I stopped wanting to clown at ALL with all the stresses going on.

I took a break from everything clown related and focused on our safety, getting to a place where the kids and I were settled again.

I did do some face painting very occasionally - at a shop on Saturdays for a couple of months, a party here and there... but have only just recently (last year) started it all up again - well, the face painting side of it, anyway - that is my main focus.

I am amazed how many resources, products, styles and designs there are now. It's like starting all over and so exciting.

You all have been so supportive and encouraging and so generous in your willingness to share advice and experience.

It's wonderful

Yes everyone seems so nice and willing to learn from each other and exchange information. It helps us all grow as artists. Glad I came.

I got my start in face painting because of my daughter ever fair festival theme parks anywhere we when if there was a face painter she HAD to get her face painted I watch how they did them figured I'm a pretty artist person so thought I'd give it a try. Bought some paints and started painting my daughter everyday!! Lol she LOVED that!! And by the way my daughter is 3 so the fact that she lets me paint her every day and holds still for me is awesome! Lol there was one time I was running late for something and I said ok let's go she said no we can't go yet... You haven't painted my face!!! Lol

aw that's so cute x

I volunteered to be the "face painter" for a mission trip last year. I wanted to do a good job so I started to research and practice. That led to me saying to myself "Palmer's is crap and I'm not going to do crap work".
That led me to buying "good" paints and brushes and more practice and research. Needless to say I didn't do amazing work that first time painting kids but the kids thought it was amazing. I fell in love with that "first look in the mirror" look on the faces of kids and adults!
The more time I spend on youtube, in books, on this forum, and PRACTICING, the better I get. I still don't awe myself cause I've seen the work of some of you guys but am now getting ASKED if I would be willing to come to praise fests, VBS kickoffs, and birthday parties. It feels like a huge compliment when that happens. I have a one-year old grandson (hopefully with other grandkids to come) and would LOVE it if they were PROUD to have their "Nan" facepainting at their birthday parties!
Maybe by the time I retire (10 years or better) I will have a decent reputation and be able to "retire" to a job I love!

I got a starter Snaz kit and that helped me so so much! i still use snaz to this day and love it!

I got started because of my daughter, we went to the circus and there was a painter there, she wanted to be face painted so bad so we waited, and she loved it, and I was amazed at how quick there were. After that everywhere we went that had a face painter she would ask to be painted, I figured I could do it too and the rest is history. So funny to look back at the picture now.

Grr now I have to go and see how the heck I can get a pic in here.... ok hope this works



Thats my little one with the circus paiting on her face.

I got started, because Halloween 2010, my girl had a cute costume but her face looked so plain, so I went to a party store and got some of their "cream make-up". At the end of the night it was smeared all over the place and I was frustrated. I knew there was waterbased face make-up out there as my mother had a little palette to paint us for carnival every year (and only for carnival) back in Germany. So I googled water based make-up, the Snaz page popped up and I found a supplier a 15min. drive from where I live. The next day I went and got a snaz wheel. They asked me what I wanted it for and I answered that I just wanted to paint my girls for fun and dress-up. I got home, googled facepainting, my girls saw the pictures and picked something they wanted me to paint on them, so I did and with the first face i finished I was hooked and knew that this was something I want to do. I copied the images as good as I could at first. For a couple of days I searched the web for any information on facepainting I could find and found the forum. about a week later I was at the store again and got my first Wolfe FX cakes. In the beginning all I did was practice on myself, my kids, my friends' kids as I didn't have a workpermit. I took workshops and in the summer I was back home in Germany and started doing bodypaintings on my sister and friends. After the summer I finally had a workpermit and was able to start working as a facepainter. Now I am in the middle of creating my website, building my portfolio for belly and body painting and coming up with new designs for facepainting. I love it.
So basically, I got started because of "just something that popped into my head that I could try". Who knew that that crazy idea (at that time that's what it was) would turn out to be the exact right thing for me to do?

I started because I had no money and no one would hire me.... no, seriously. I couldn't get a job. Bachelor of Musical Arts, Bachelor of Ed... I was a supply teacher for a year and couldn't stand it. I took 3 years off to raise a couple of kids and couldn't get a job anywhere. "Over qualified" ... as if I care, I"M the one that wasted all my money on an education, and they won't let me bag groceries.

So, having never even SEEN a clown in my life until my oldest daughter was 2... I decided after hiring a clown for both of my girls' 2nd birthdays, that I could do that. I'm a musician, I'm a teacher, I'm a mom and I'm artistic.... I can do that. So I jumped in with both feet and haven't looked back. It's not easy, it's not for everyone.. I had several friends tell me as soon as I started doing it, that I had found my calling and it's been rolling along ever since.

Having retired from nursing 2 years ago, I never thought I'd be facepainting. Like Martha, it was a church activity that started it all. We have an annual church fair & last yr. I tried to hire a face painter. They all wanted over $350 for 3 Hrs, which we couldn't afford. Although I found someone for much less, I got much less! She only had a few paints & was obviously starting out. This year I volunteered. My niece Kathie is a portrait artist & face painter www.ButterflyKissesStudio.com who gave me invaluble advice & encouragement. Using the internet like a lot of you, I found Lisa Joy Young, SF, Anna W. then FPF in that order. I got my initial paints from SF, which is driving distance. Most of my brushes & other supplies are from michaels. We owned both my canopy, rolling bag & the table I use & I've since ordered paints from Metina.I'm def addicted to FPF!!! Taking LJY's advice to have business cards to hand out...I came up w/a business name, opened an account &, w/my son-in-law's help designed a web site & ordered business cards...all in time for my 1st gig. Did I mention I practiced day & night on anything that moved & some that didn't for months? Bet that sounds familiar to a lot of you! In 4 months, after 3 volunteer & 1 paid gig, I was ready for our fair. I had enlisted the help of my friend's 12 yr old daughter, who learned along w/me. Together, we got our technique & speed up so we handled over 80 kids in one evening (PD$) Learning from FPF, I realized I could have offered those FP's last year a few other options, like covering the cost of materials or PPF w/a % to our church. I feel so blessed to be able to do something creative, that I love AND get paid. AWESOME RETIREMENT!!!

To get paid for it? Out of sheer desperation. I was really broke and a friend suggested I do it.

I used to work/live on a tropical island (sigh...) and work in the kids club. We had to face paint up to 3 times a day for the kids that came, and I loooved it. I got addicted to hearing "oh look how cute you look" and amazing and all of those lovely things.

So when I was needing money and the friend suggested the markets, I bought some basic tag colours and off I went. The first hour I was being asked about birthdays and it just grew...

I graduated from college in 2005 from SCAD (Savannah college of art and design) with a B.F.A in sequential art (aka comics) what I am doing now is working 2 retail jobs and barely making it, starting in 2009 I got the wild hair when I got a booth for $75 at the Jessamine Jamboree it is a local festival that happens all over the town here in Nicholasville Ky. I was selling tatted chokers and slave earrings i had made with some friends other crafts but wanted something to bring to bring people in the booth so I started doing my research got 2 snaz kits from Michael's funny thing is I did not sell any of my crafts made all my money back and then some just in face painting and that was all she wrote. Now I have a website done 2 gigs and hope it grows from that.