Happy Indpendence Day, the Face Painter's Way!

I painted at my annual appearance on Wednesday at the Ridgewood Country Club's 4th of July party.  I love that so many of the kids remember me and come looking for me.  I had some fun ones this year, like my first-ever request for Yoda!

Star Wars was popular this year, and I had two more Yodas plus a couple of Darth Mauls.  Some of those had requested Darth Vader, but I talked them out of it, since I've yet to figure out how to make a fully black face defined like a Darth Vader mask.  I love trying new things, but even I have my limitations.

I also did my first pink & green ladybug, at this young lady's request.  I think it's pretty cute!

As is my first blue dragon with red eyes, as specified by my model.

And another first, a poison dart frog.  I happen to love poison dart frogs, so I was really happy to get this request.

And then some old standards, rainbow butterflies, monsters, Spideygirl, a clown, and zombies.  What's the 4th of July without zombies?

And of course, the regular 4th of July hits, flags & fireworks!

Hope you had a good day too!

I've Been Holding Out on You

Back in May, I painted at two events in one day. 

The first was the first communion party of a girl whose brother had me at his communion two years ago!  Their mom kept my info handy so I could come on back.  I love that, and remembered the name instantly when she got in touch with me.

This awesome family and their friends are defintely independent thinkers; I don't think I painted two kids with the same design at all!

The guest of honor even went last and made up her own idea, this rainbow turtle.

I kind of love the idea and want to add it to my regular repertoire.  And yes, I always do my turtles upside down so they share a smile with the painted child.

I did have two of my staples, a tiger and a butterfly, but only those two.

And I finally got to use that fox face I designed for the show I was in!

I actually had time to give one boy two faces, since he changed his mind.  Initially, he was a gorilla.

But I think some of the younger kiddos were scared, so he washed it off and came back for an alien.

One young lady asked to be her own black lab.

And another just wanted a spider on each cheek.

The only other cheek art I did was on this Yankee fan.

Meanwhile, the rest of the party was populatedby kissing dolphins,

a pirate,

Evil Elmo (???),

a panda,

and a stitched up monster.

The most unusual request I got at that party, though, was for "paint splatters."  It took me a sec, but here's my rendition.

Like I said, I love creative kids!

Speaking of creative, I haven't even gotten to the second party of that day yet.  This one was a birthay being held later that afternoon.  The birthday girl requested, and I kid you not, an "angel puppy."

Well then.

So... I give you... my angel puppy.

Note the winged ears.  Hey, she loved it!

 Showing solidarity, one of her guests chose to be a straight up puppy,

and another a straight up angel, but with swirls on her forehead.

The two boys at the party became superheroes.

And even the adults got in on the action, which you know I love!

Just a Little Help

A friend of mine, Joan, an absolutely phenomenal face painter in Arizona, will be painting at a monster truck event out west.  Never having been to one, she didn't quite know what to expect and asked for some design ideas.  She got some good ones for truck themes, and I kicked in an idea for a really quick monster truck, since she's not sure how many interested people she'll have.

Here was my idea.

And her awesome rendition of it in face paint!

Pretty cool!

Just for Fun

A while back, I got a Klutz Pom-Pom Monster Salon.  The other night, just for kicks, I made a monster for Eric.

I don't think he's named it yet.  Any ideas?

Fifth Birthday

Not mine... obviously.  But I painted at a fifth birthday this Saturday.  In the background, I could hear the birthday girl's dad playing fun games with the kids, like pin the nose on the clown and "freeze dance."  The family had also gotten a new puppy, so the kids lined up to meet her.

Meanwhile, I did this...

And a good time was had by all!

Bergen County Zoo

For several years now, I've painted with my friend Emilie and several other face painters at the Bergen County Zoo's patron appreciation night; this year it was on Friday, July 31, from 5:30 - 8:30 p.m.  They have all sorts of great things set up for the patrons besides face painting.

My first "victim" chose a snail, which I think came out pretty cute, and she was happy.

I had a few tiger requests, of course, several butterflies, and this monster.

Another wanted a snake, and when she saw my finished product, made me feel great with a "You're really good at this!"

We painted our little hearts out.  It was, in short, a zoo!

I got up at 6:30 this morning.

Yes, on a Saturday.  I had a good reason, though.  I was face painting with two other artists at the Valerie Fund walk in Verona Park this morning.

We were all painting furiously for several hours straight, so I only had a little time to take photos, but here are some of them.

Two princesses and a monster.

A request for a red skeleton that was neither bloody nor angry, so we added glitter.  Nothing with glitter could be angry.  Except maybe my cat.  He glares at me when I get glitter on him.

My first bumblebee in many years.

A shark.

A tiger.  As you know, I love it when adults want to get painted.

A request for a unicorn with rainbows, for which I simply didn't have time.  Instead, my model compromised with me for a unicorn with a rainbow mane.

My very first werewolf.

And some wildcats.  I painted the two on the left; one of the other two artists painted the leopard.