From: Ellietc@aol.com
Date: Tue, 15 Feb 2000 01:21:49 EST
Subject:  face painting help :-)
To: whaley_f@popmail.firn.edu

Hi and welcome to the wonderful world of kids parties.  As you are inquiring 
about facepaint, I am, of course assuming that this area of the field is a 
bit new for you.

The long and short of it is as follows: 

THE FACE PAINTS

KRYLON WATER BASED MAKEUP.  Most professional theatrical costume and makeup 
supply sources have, or can get it for you.  Expect to pay about $20.00 for a 
6 color palate.  They make both a primary/secondary set and a Day-Glo set.  I 
use both and the Day-Glo colors even glow under black light!  These paints 
are brush applied and a little skill with a paintbrush is helpful, but not 
necessary.  

MEHRON FACE PAINT PENCILS/STICKS.  These are a water activated makeup in a 
makeup pencil format.  Very user friendly.  Just dip the tips in you water 
cup and away you go.  Easier to use for the novice.  You have the control of 
a pencil with the ease and comfort of a makeup.  There are 6 and 10 or 12 
crayon sets available.  Retail about $15.00.  Also a makeup supply thing.  
These are usually much more readily available around Halloween.  

CRAYOLA CRAYON FACE PAINT MARKERS.  I don't have or use these.  The are 
pretty new.  Incidentally, if anyone out there does use these, I would 
appreciate a review.  I have to say that on the surface, though, this does 
not sound like the best idea.  Kids can't tell the difference between the 
markers that they or their parents have and the "special" ones that you 
brought with you.  I envision a lot of little people doodling on themselves 
and each other with some products that may not be washable.

OTHER TYPES.  The brands and types available are really too numerous to 
mention and I haven't tried them all.  Each has their pluses and minuses.  

BRUSHES.  I use the Sergeants Hobby and Craft red sable set.  It is available 
at most craft stores and some drug stores for about $3.00 to $5.00 a 6 piece 
set.  These have proven to be a very inexpensive and durable little brush.  I 
have only had to replace a couple after a few years.  I always clean the 
brushes in a little warm antibacterial soapy water between parties and allow 
them to dry completely between uses.  Do NOT use brushes that you may find in 
your art supplies unless they are still BRAND NEW.  You never know what 
someone may be allergic to and what may have been on the brush.

WATER.  The most important ingredient.  If I am going somewhere where the 
water supply may not be assured or accessible.  I.E. a park or the like, I 
always bring my own.  A 1 gallon bottle of purified water can be had cheaply 
and if you get desperate in the hot sun you can drink what ever you don't 
taint.

CUPS.  I have a couple of plastic Ice Cream cone shaped cups that I got a the 
dollar sale in Thrifty Drug store a while back.  They look cute, hold a lot 
of water and are dishwasher safe.  I use 2 glasses of water.  One for the 
dark colors and one for the light.  

PAPER TOWELS.  A cheap roll is always a good investment.  Where there is 
water and there are small people there are bound to be spills.  Also, the 
paper towels are quite useful while working to blot your brush so that the 
paint is not to runny to use easily.

BABY WIPES.  Little people get sticky and messy.  Paint and facepainters like 
a clean area to work so... a box of these "babies" will make your life a lot 
easier.  Unscented is best.

GLITTER.  Nowadays body and face safe glitter and glitter gels are pretty 
readily available any time of the year.  But, remember, only use glitter made 
for bodies on bodies.  The kind that you can get at the craft store, while 
inexpensive and colorful is not made for skin.  It can be quite sharp and 
really hurts if it gets in an eye.  A light application of body glitter on 
even a simple balloon drawing really makes the whole thing come alive.  
Little boys like it too.  Fairy Gels is wonderful if you can find it.  It is 
a great holographic glitter that is in a pure aloe vera gel base.  Super 
stuff.

MENU BOARDS.  I have used and not used them depending on the event.  At a 
large scale party where I need to have tighter control of the time I will 
produce a menu board illustrating the designs that are available.  Most folks 
when they see these will assume that that is all that is available and will 
rarely ask for something they don't see.  If I am doing a small party I will 
offer choices and pretty much let the kids ask for whatever their little 
hearts desire. 

And last but not least...FACEPAINTING!  Rubber stamps with large areas to 
fill in can easily be colored with a bit of paint and applied to the body and 
then filled in.  Also, I personally don't paint on faces per se.  I usually 
tell the parents when I am booking the event that even though it is referred 
to as "FACEPAINTING" and even though I am using products made just for this 
purpose I prefer to decorate the backs of hands or arms.  Faces turn and it 
is hard to get a good hold of a tiny chin.  Hands are made for holding and 
you can have a quite firm but gentle hold of a little one without the oops 
factor.  Also, even though the products are made just for what I am using 
them for you never know when someone may develop an allergic reaction even to 
a hypoallergenic product.  An itchy hand is a lot better that an itchy face.  
Kids like to see the design and like to see the process so on their hand they 
can watch from start to finish.  I try to paint most designs upside down so 
that it will be right side up for the child to view while it is being 
applied.  That trick takes some practice, but BOY are the parents impressed!  
And best of all, hands are a lot smaller than faces, less ground to cover, so 
to speak and if I have 20 or 30 kids to do in an hour or so I can paint 
everybody in less time.

That is just about everything that I can think of on the subject right now, 
but is by no means all there is.  Like everything associated with this 
profession this too is a true art form in skilled and patient hands.  T. 
Myers has some great books and products available for facepainting.  

If you have any questions feel free to drop me a line.  

Good Luck and Take Care,

Tisza Major AKA Ellie The Clown (As far as I know, the ONLY Female 
Entertainer of the Year Candidate in IBAC 2000!) ellietc@aol.com