I’m Gemma, and I have one of the best jobs in the world - face painting at children’s parties in west London. I am the mother of a toddler, and I work one morning a week at a children’s play centre, so I am lucky enough to spend most of my time with children.
Face painting brings out a side of a child’s imagination which adults can never completely understand, as we have grown up and understood more about our surrounding we have lost the ability to play in the imaginary world. Even with the most basic face painting a child will believe they have become something else and they will change their behaviour.
Basic face painting can be done by anyone; you do not have to create a work of art for your child to believe. If you want your child to get used to face painting buy a simple face painting kit (these can be purchased quite cheaply on the internet – but do buy a known brand such as Snazaroo) and have a go with a few basic face painting designs. Make sure that the kit that you buy includes the larger brushes and a sponge – this is essential for covering the child’s face in a colour, which, if you are just starting with basic face painting styles, will create an almost immediate change in your child and with a few extra lines they can be transformed. For example if you are turning your child into a Dalmatian, first you cover the face in white; then create the nose and spots – simple and quick, but also almost impossible if you have a kit which has only supplied thin brushes!!!
If you don’t feel up to having a go at basic face painting design check out your local play centres as you may find they regularly have face painters available. Do not worry if you have a child who isn’t good at sitting, with experience you learn to guess how long you have with each child before the desire to run is too strong to resist.
Another useful tip is pictures. I have pictures which the children can choose from, so while I am painting them they know what they are being transformed into, and when finished I show them their face in the mirror and you can tell by the glint in their eyes that they are now that person or animal.
Here are a few steps to trying basic face painting: choose an animal or character with your child; cover the face in the base colour, add the most prominent markings (for example, nose for a dog, stripes for a tiger, eye patch for a pirate), then add some of the finer parts of the design. By doing the basic face painting in this order it means that if you or the child get distracted the basic picture will be there and they will not be disappointed.
Now you just need to have a go – don’t get disheartened if it is not perfect – your child will love it!
[Gemma can be contacted for West London bookings on 07956 096 506]
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