The art of painting faces has really evolved in the last few decades as you can see in the photo of this amazing art. This photo clearly illustrates just one of the amazing illusions that can be painted onto a person’s face using face painting makeups. The amount of possibilities and variations for face painting are almost endless, everything from animals to robots to reptiles and even superheroes can be painted on people of all ages’ faces.
Faces can only be painted using theatrical makeups that are created for the face because the skin on the face is very sensitive to many chemicals and because many people are allergic to chemicals and solvents on their faces. If someone has an extreme allergy to something then things can go really badly very quickly where an ambulance may have to be called and so some care and education is needed. Even regular acrylic paints, gouaches or inks should not be used at all under any circumstances because the pigments used are not suitable for the face and may in fact agitate people’s skin and also stain the skin somewhat for a few days after it is removed.
There are quite a few companies in the world that manufacture face makeups or face paint in other words, and most of them have websites where you can buy their paints from them, or if not that, then links to their retailers. Some companies make their paints in liquid form but most companies sell their paints in puck / cakes which you activate using some water and a sponge, pad or brush. Face paints can be applied using the airbrush if the makeup is liquified and thin enough for the model of airbrush, but most face painters use sponges, pads and brushes.
There are no schools for face painting alone, but there are schools for makeup and FX which teach face painting. There are also often classes, face and body painting conventions and seminars happening in places around the world where you can go and learn from the masters. Often at face and body painting conventions such as FABAIC (www.fabaic.com) or at Bodyssey or other events.
You can learn how to paint faces using online learning resources like Face Colors http://facecolors.net/ or it’s affiliate site How To Paint Faces http://howtopaintfaces.com/ . For a small fee you get to see how Joshua Mayhem renders his face paintings step by step by either video tutorial or photo and text.
How to paint faces
Vancouver, Canada
Body painting is an ancient art form that has been done on humans around the world for thousands and thousands of years, ever since time immemorial really. However, it is only in the last few years that body painting has begun to be used by brand name, conservative, corporate entities for the purpose of marketing their wares to the masses.
