Category Archives: Face Painting

Articles about face painting

Why Hire a Professional Face Painter?

DSCN3222

As a member of FACE (The Face Painting Association) I am actively involved in trying to improve the standards of face painting in general.

I recently read an excellent article by friend and fellow FACE member Glyn Goodwin, who is currently the Deputy Chairman of FACE, offering advice to event organisers regarding the benefits of hiring a professional face painter.  Here are the main points raised by Glyn, plus some of my own –

Face Painting has been steadily growing in popularity over the past few years, so much so that no event is complete without the addition of a face painter, but where do you start when trying to find the right person for the job……

When thinking of hiring a face painter for your private party or event it is always advisable to use a painter who knows what they are doing, has clean equipment and uses professional face paints.

Don’t book a painter just because they are the cheapest.  Cheapest is not always best.  Don’t be afraid to ask to see samples of their work.  Find out if they have a website so you can look at their work, this will give you an idea of their standard and experience.

TOP TIPS FOR HIRING A FACE PAINTER

  1. Make sure the face painter only uses materials which have been tested and are safe to use on skin.  All professional face painters use well established and approved brands of water-based face paint.  Never hire a painter who uses acrylic paint or metallic glitter.
  2. Make sure the face painter has full public liability insurance up to 5 million in coverage.  Ask if they are CRB checked.
  3. Is the painter’s equipment clean and tidy?  Do they follow a strict safety and hygiene policy?  Are their water containers clean and do they have plenty of clean water for rinsing their brushes?  Most painters will use a clean sponge for each child to avoid spreading bacteria.
  4. You should be advised that the best way to remove face paints from this skin is with soap and water.  It is not advisable to use baby wipes.  Some wipes contain lanolin and other ingredients which may trigger problems with children that suffer from sensitive skin.
  5. A professional face painter will know when it is not advisable to paint a child.  They will look out for children with skin conditions, colds, conjunctivitis etc.  They will also advise over what age they will paint a face.  The Jolly Good Production team of face painters will only paint 3 years and over, but will offer hand and arm paintings for 2 years and above.
  6. A professional face painter will have the ability to work from memory and not have to keep referring to books and pictures.
  7. The face painter should have a few years experience of painting children of all ages and at lots of different events, from small birthday parties to huge corporate events.  A professional face painter will be able to paint quickly yet still maintain a very high standard.
  8. If you are hiring an adventure play venue ask if they allow you to provide a face painter of your own choice.  Sometimes they will only allow you to use their own staff.  Very often this involves a young person who has had no form of training and has been given the title of ‘Face Painter’ because they were good at art at school.

I hope you will find the above information of use.

If you would like to book a face painter or would like to train to become a face painter, please contact me on  – 01748 821621

Best Wishes, Hazel Wood

 

Related Images:

Face Painting Video Demonstration, Tiger Face By Hazel Wood

[youtube:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KK8jNX2vnq4]

Related Articles

Find more information, photos and video clips about face painting

To hire a Professional Face Painter go to Face Painter [ Jolly Good Productions ]

For information about Training go to Face Painting Courses [ Jolly Good Productions ]

Related Images:

The importance of working with a clean face painting kit

Hazel's Face Paint Kit

It is very important to me to have my every day working kit immaculately clean at all times.  My sponges, brushes, water containers and paints are thoroughly cleaned after each session.  To me this gives the impression that not only are you professional, but that you care about the people you are painting.  Over the years I have had lots of compliments from parents, not only about the quality of my work but also on the cleanliness of my kit.  This makes me feel great!  Thank you, Hazel.

Related Articles

Find more information, photos and video clips about face painting

To hire a Professional Face Painter go to Face Painter [ Jolly Good Productions ]

For information about Training go to Face Painting Courses [ Jolly Good Productions ]

Related Images:

How To Learn Face Painting

In the amazing world of the Internet there has never been more information available to learn just about anything you can possibly think of. If there isn’t an article on it then there is bound to be a You Tube video. There was a time when researching and finding out meant a trip down to the library where you could browse through book lists and then order in what you wanted hoping your questions would be answered. Sometimes you would need to wait for weeks before your book or books to arrive. Alternatively you could locate individuals and organisations by telephone or letter requesting help. Again all very time consuming. Thank fully those days are gone and now we have information at our finger tips 24/7. We can connect to the Internet with a computer or mobile phone and find a wealth of information in seconds.

The Internet is a brilliant resource. If you plan to become a face painter then certainly you are going to use the Internet. There are so many tutorials to view and download it’s mind blowing. It’s more a question of where to start. One of the problems with the Internet is that information can be posted by anyone and you have no way of knowing what their credentials are or how appropriate it is for your purposes. You end up just trawling around and gathering all sorts of information but you’re never sure if you have got the full picture.

Face painting is a skill. Anyone seriously interested in becoming a good face painter needs to learn a range of techniques which are best taught in a practical lesson. The acquisition of good basic skills is the foundation on which to build and develop. These practical skills can’t be learnt properly from a book or a video. They need to be explained and demonstrated face to face and then practiced under supervision.

The first step in setting up as a face painter must be to find a good teacher. Although there are lots of face painters who offer face painting courses its worth searching around to find someone who really knows what they are doing. Look for someone who :

Hazel Wood Face Painting At An Event

Hazel Wood

  • has at least ten years experience as a full time professional face painter
  • has developed their own knowledge over many years by attending workshops and training run by acknowledged experts
  • is an experienced teacher and trainer with many satisfied past pupils
  • paints to a high standard
  • is friendly, approachable and willing to share their knowledge and experience freely
  • is well organised, offering a face painting course with a training programme which is thorough and covers all aspects of face painting ( beware of one day or half day courses, it’s simply not long enough )
  • is committed to bringing the best out in you and to giving you an extremely solid foundation of knowledge on which to build.
  • can show you a wide range of materials currently available. Many courses will just use one type of paint. You need to know about and be able to try all of the paint types available.
  • Is a member of a recognised organisation such as FACE ( The Face Painting Association )

Attending a good, well organised, comprehensive face painting training course is essential if you want to learn face painting properly. It is worth giving up the extra time and money to go on the best course you can find than by trying to take short cuts.

If you go on the right face painting course you can be confident that there are no gaps in your knowledge. You will also learn the practical skills you need without picking up any bad habits and you will learn lots of tips and tricks which your teacher has acquired the hard way. In addition you will also save yourself money by not going out and buying the wrong supplies. It’s easy to spend a fortune when you are starting out by buying all sorts of things you don’t need or because you didn’t know any better. A good course will help you to decide which materials to buy to suit you.

Once you have been on a proper beginner / foundation course then you should practice regularly to improve your skills and to build up you your speed.

Applying to join an organisation such as FACE ( The Face Painting Association ) is a good idea as you will need to pass an entrance test and  have your work assessed to show that you can meet certain approved standards. This is a useful form of accreditation.

Develop your kills further by purchasing books on face painting, watching tutorials on You Tube and attending face painting conventions and jams.

Look on our main web site for more information about face painting courses.

Related Articles

Find more information, photos and video clips about face painting

To hire a Professional Face Painter go to Face Painter [ Jolly Good Productions ]

For information about Training go to Face Painting Courses [ Jolly Good Productions ]

Related Images:

Butterfly Face by Hazel Wood

 

DSCN2198 - Copy

 

Butterflies are by far the most popular girls face.  Over the years I have painted butterflies of all shapes, sizes and colours.  Occasionally after a particularly busy day I even end up dreaming about them!  The most popular colour is Pink, with Purple coming a close second and, of course, no butterfly would be complete without a sprinkling of glitter!  What’s your favourite colour?  Hazel

Related Articles

Find more information, photos and video clips about face painting

To hire a Professional Face Painter go to Face Painter [ Jolly Good Productions ]

For information about Training go to Face Painting Courses [ Jolly Good Productions ]

Related Images:

Flowers and Rainbow Faces | Face Painting by Hazel Wood

 

DSCN3221

This face was painted whilst I was working at a very busy grand opening event.  A Brownie leader approached me and said she had about 18 Brownies that wanted to be painted but they didn’t have time to have full faces and asked me if I could do something quick.  I had just bought some new One – Stroke TAG paints which I was keen to try out.  I painted the first Brownie with the TAG rainbow cake and then added some double-dipped flowers over the top.  I finished it off with some leaves, dots and glitter.  The whole thing just took a few minutes.  After that all the Brownies were asking for the same face.  I told them it would be the same but ‘different’ just to try and vary the design slightly.  A simple, quick face but very effective.  Let me know what you think of my design!  Thanks Hazel

Related Articles

Find more information, photos and video clips about face painting

To hire a Professional Face Painter go to Face Painter [ Jolly Good Productions ]

For information about Training go to Face Painting Courses [ Jolly Good Productions ]

Related Images:

Face Painting For A Party Or Event By Hazel Wood

Hazel is available to hire for a party or event. Watch this You Tube video to see some of her work.
[youtube:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RI3x-eDHP2E]

Related Articles

Find more information, photos and video clips about face painting

To hire a Professional Face Painter go to Face Painter [ Jolly Good Productions ]

For information about Training go to Face Painting Courses [ Jolly Good Productions ]

Related Images:

The Boy Who Wanted To Be A Clock

A little boy queued patiently for face painting and when it was his turn climbed up into Hazel’s chair.

” What would you like to be? ” Hazel enquired.

” I want to be a clock ” The boy replied.

” Wouldn’t  you rather be Spiderman, Batman or a dinosaur ” She said.

” No I want to be a clock. I like clocks. ”

” I can do lots of other really good faces. Would you like to be a monster? ”

” No, I like clocks. I want to be a clock and I want the big hand on the four and the little hand on the six. I just want to be a clock. ”

He was obviously not going to be put off and so he got his wish and Hazel painted him as a clock.

That’s the great thing about face painting. Kids can use their imaginations and be anything they want to be, tick tock !

The boy who wanted to be a clock ( face painting )

Boy face painted as a clock

Related Articles

Find more information, photos and video clips about face painting

To hire a Professional Face Painter go to Face Painter [ Jolly Good Productions ]

For information about Training go to Face Painting Courses [ Jolly Good Productions ]

Related Images:

Face Painting In The Big Freeze

image

Face Painting in freezing conditions is not recommended. Your water freezes, your hands are numb, the paint goes rock hard, your feet are like blocks of ice and the ends of your fingers get frost bite. We would never attempt it but today was pretty cold even though we were under  cover. Hazel was well wrapped up as you can see.

Related Articles

Find more information, photos and video clips about face painting

To hire a Professional Face Painter go to Face Painter [ Jolly Good Productions ]

For information about Training go to Face Painting Courses [ Jolly Good Productions ]

Related Images:

How To Avoid Face Paint Peril For Parents | Face Painting Advice

It is great fun to play around with face paints and dress your kids up for parties or playtime. Just take care to follow our 5 key tips on how to paint your child’s face safely.

1. There are many face paints available out there in toy shops and supermarkets, but some are not so great.  You may find that the cheaper ones are more like a cream and don’t go on or cover well. Try and find a water based paint kit. Snazaroo is a good make and the sets usually come with everything you need; a set of the basic colours, a brush, a sponge and often a book of design ideas.

2. Always do a patch test before applying paint to your child’s face. It is not advisable to paint a child’s face under the age of three. This is of course due to how sensitive skin is at that age and problems, such as eczema, are common. Many paint manufacturers have now changed the age suitability on their products from two to three years old. Never paint a child who is suffering from sensitive skin, eczema or cold sores.

3. Removing water based paint is simple; it goes on with water and comes off with water and a little soap if necessary. For other types of paint always read the instructions on how the product manufacturers recommend removal. Don’t remove water based paint with face wipes; it may irritate the skin and cause soreness or the ingredients in the wipes may react with the paint.

4. If you are going to add some sparkle as the finishing touch, make sure you buy a glitter which is designed for the skin. Craft glitter is NOT suitable for faces, and they are metal-based which makes them very dangerous. NEVER apply glitter around the eye area.

5. Remember to sit somewhere comfortable while painting and make sure your child sits as still as they can! Two stools or chairs of the same height would be ideal. Beware that some face paint might stain upholstery or clothes. Tie long hair back and get the child to wear a hair band if necessary to get fringes out of the way. Rest one hand on the child’s head to prevent any fidgeting! Always take care whilst painting around eyes. Most of all, use your imagination and have fun!!!

By Natsha Wood

Please feel free to comment on this article or ask a question if you wish.

Related Articles

Find more information, photos and video clips about face painting

To hire a Professional Face Painter go to Face Painter [ Jolly Good Productions ]

For information about Training go to Face Painting Courses [ Jolly Good Productions ]