With an art background dating back to classes at the Newark Museum when I was in kindergarten, then classes at the Fair Lawn Art Association in later grammar school and junior high, to elective art classes every year of high school and a near art major in college, I just can't get enough. Starting with paper and flat canvases, the transient art of face painting and mobile canvases that are faces came later.
The first attempt at face painting came in college, when I was a member of Starlight Foundation, and my Brandeis chapter of the group threw face painting/pizza parties at a local Boston children's hospital.
After graduation, face painting was forgotten until September of 2003 when a friend needed a favor for her daughters' birthday... and a business was born.
I was lucky to have discovered the right supplies early on, and to this day, Face & Body Art by Larissa uses only proper face paints and cosmetic supplies.
Since 2003, I've taken many classes through guilds and courses in New Jersey, New York, and Connecticut, and traveled multiple times to Louisiana for body art conventions in Lafayette and New Orleans.
You may have seen me painting at the Tribeca Film Festival, the US Open, your neighbor's parties, or any of a number of street fairs or festivals. Want to see me in action? Watch this...
About Larissa's Supplies
Your health and safety and the health and safety of your child and guests is of paramount importance. It's for that reason that only FDA-compliant face makeup is used in my face painting, as well as cosmetic glitters and shimmers. Never will you see craft glitter or actual paint in a Face & Body Art by Larissa body art setup, even acrylic and tempera paints labeled "non-toxic." Craft paints and glitters are not made for use on the skin and can cause allergic reactions or damage the eyes.
Even the temporary tattoos are made using only skin-safe cosmetic/medical adhesive and cosmetic glitters, or FDA-compliant tattoo inks.
When it comes to henna, I am adamant about using only natural brown, harmless henna. You'll never find so-called "black henna" being used. Why? Read this and you'll see. "Black henna" is actually mixed with PPD, or hair dye at 10x the recommended concentration, which can cause severe reactions, including welts, blisters, sores, allergies to medications, and scarring.
