Need a little help getting started face painting? Been asked to face paint at your church or school event and you just don't know where to begin? You're in luck! I have heard this question so many times, that I have compiled many resources and supplies just for people like you. Read on for some recommended supplies, books, and even some free face painting instructions below to get started!

"Hi! My name is Gretchen and I have been professionally face painting for over 12 years. Let me help YOU by sharing some of my advice!"

PAINTS:
At the very minimum, you will need a good quality set of face paints. Don't waste your money on cheap sets from the craft store that become useless when you run out of one color! Kryolan paints are high-quality theatrical makeup, designed especially for use on skin, and wash off with soap and water. Their multi-color palettes are perfect for events, and when you run out of a color, simply purchase a refill and keep using your set for years to come! Or, if you plan on using a lot of certain colors, you can purchase larger 2.5 ounce cakes of colors individually that will last a long time!

BRUSHES:
Good quality brushes will make all the difference! The last thing you want is to be picking bristles off of the child's painted cheek, or stray bristles painting unwanted lines off to the side as you go! You want genuine sable bristles. They cost a little bit more than synthetic brushes, but is WELL worth it to avoid the hassles of a bad brush, not to mention the need to keep replacing them. They will last longer and give you great results! I recommend at least getting a #2 round brush for details and outlines, and a #5 round brush for main color areas. I also have a couple wider, flat brushes if you plan to paint full faces or other large areas of color. Always wash out your brushes well with soap and water after your event and smooth the bristles back into place to give them a very long life.

"Face Painting: A Complete
Step-by-Step Guide"

TIPS AND TRICKS:
Feel like you are artistic and good with a brush, but you've never actually painted on faces before? "Face Painting: A Complete Step-by-Step Guide" is a great book for you. It has all the information that you need! Now in the time it takes to read this book, you can learn everything I've learned over my 12+ years of experience! This 40 page easy-read assumes absolutely no previous knowledge of face painting. It provides pages of easy face paint design ideas, outlines the necessary supplies, walks you through your first face painting experience, and even explains how to work with wiggly kids and tips on fixing mistakes! Don't waste your money on "e-books" that you have to download and print yourself! Order your physical hard copy today, available ONLY at Paintertainment.com

HOW TO PAINT:
Haven't done any painting before, whether it be on kids or paper? My book, "Step-by-Step Face Painting: 32 Classic Carnival Designs" shows you how to paint 32 timeless designs! While painting itself can only come with practice, it really helps to see how an experienced painter would start, continue, and finish each particular design. Every design is illustrated in 6 steps or less, using full color photography! The designs in this book correspond to the designs shown on my heavily laminated design sheets, so they make perfect companions. This book is spiral bound, so it's easy to keep open when you need to reference it while painting. These classic designs have been hand picked from my own collection as being timeless...they have always been popular and do not rely on current fads. Every one of your little customers is sure to find one that he or she likes!

FREE INSTRUCTION:
Be sure to check out my blog because I do plan on posting the occasional free how-to-paint lesson! Here are some free how-to resources that I currently have available:

How to Paint a Jack-o-Lantern - Step by step photos to create a perfect Halloween design!

How to Paint a Yin & Yang Symbol - A video that shows you how to paint a design that is much harder than it looks!