Valerie Fund Walk 2014

For many  years now, a team of my friends and I have painted faces at the Valerie Fund Walk/Race in Verona, NJ.  It's always a great event, highly attended by good-natured people looking to do a good thing.  What's not to love?

It's huge, with lots of attendees, and lots getting painted.  So I only took the time to take a few photos.

Finally!  A monkey I'm happy with!  Monkeys have been kind of the bane of my face painting existence, but I think I've finally hit it.  This particular monkey wanted a banana.  Her mom would have preferred that she get flowers instead of the monkey, so we compromised with a monkey with flowers in her hair.  Everyone was happy!

This kitty had asked for "just a little face paint, like a nose and whiskers," which you know I just can't do.  So this was my compromise for a minimalist kitty, and she was ecstatic.

This decisive young lady started off by asking for a dog, and then when I suggested hound or dalmation, asked for a poodle, specifically a pink poodle.  I love it!

Working My Way Backwards

I've been so lax about posting what I've been doing!  So rather than start at the beginning, I'm going to start with this past Saturday and work my way backwards for a bit.  This past Saturday, I painted at a corporate picnic for Brown & Caldwell.

What a great group!  I know I say that a lot, but this bunch was really fun.  And they didn't even make fun of me - much - when a gigantic cicada landed on my leg and freaked me out, sending me dancing around like a rather shrill lunatic.

So... on to the painting.

My very first request was for a zebra.  I wish I'd known it at the time, but this girl actually had a zebra print dress, complete with tail, and a headband with zebra ears!  It was terrific!  My lament is that by the time I saw her and realized, I was painting others and really couldn't go tackle her for another photo since she was off and running.

Then, another very specific request.  This one wanted to look like her yorkie.  Who can resist that?

This great kiddo said "cow."  Okie doke!  So here you see what I believe is my first ever cow face painting.  His mom cracked up when I started painting the straw.  To do it, I googled cow images and came up with this guy.

I think it's a fair rendition, right?

It was hot out, so the arm art was understandable.

 

If you don't recognize that last guy, it's an Enderman from Minecraft.  You may remember the Creeper I once painted.  I'm starting to think I should get to know all the Minecraft characters; it is not an unpopular game!

Come Find Me!

I'll be painting at two public events in the near future, and you should come find me!

First, this Saturday I'll be at the new Potbelly Sandwich restaurant at the Bergen Town Center (previously the Bergen Mall) on Route 4 East in Paramus.

I'm really excited about this, since they're a new client for me and the sandwiches on their site look SO good!  Plus, I've read the Our Story section of the site, and I'll admit - I'm impressed.

I'll be there from 12-3 p.m.

Second, on April 27, I'll be back at the Tribeca Film Festival!  That's the day of the family festival, and I'll be painting from 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.  Hope to see you there!

I Guess I'm the Family Face Painter!

Several  years ago I was hired for a house party to celebrate a first communion.  This past October, it was time to celebrate the first communion of the younger sibling, so they had me back!  These kids are seriously creative.

Ever hear of a Creeper?  I hadn't.

If you're wondering what's going on with the other side of the leprechaun's face, he wanted half Blue (the dog).  Like I said, creative!

A Weekend Outdoors

This past weekend, I painted at two events, both large, and both events at which I have painted many times before. 

Friday night was the Zoo Do at the Bergen County Zoo in Van Saun Park in Paramus.  There were four of us working the three hours that night, and it was a great event!

It's for zoo members, and they have music, food, us, and the animals out for the kiddos and their families.  My sister, brother-in-law, and nephew actually came, but didn't get painted.  My nephew, at 2.5 years old, still hates having anything on his face.  He's adorable and would make a terrific model, but irony strikes again.

We were really busy, so I only got a couple photos, but I really liked this frog and this mountain lion.

Then on Sunday morning, I had to be in Verona Park in Verona, NJ to face paint with two other artists bright and early for four hours during the Valerie Fund Walk.  I seriously have never met a better bunch of people.

This little girl stopped by with her grandpa, who insisted that the angel painting was simply a representation of the great kid she really was.  I believe it.

This young man had trouble choosing a good color for his cat, so we finally settled on a cool lime green.

And of course, in addition to a domesticated cat, there had to be wild ones - cheetahs and tigers!

Of course, I had a whole series of butterflies...

... and other bugs.

A couple of flowers.

A dinosaur & dragon...

... the dragon request came with a suggestion of pink lips instead of fire!

Some animals that like the water, like ducks, snakes, and a mythical mermaid.

And the most unusual request of the day, a softball!