Jay Bautista – Spotlight Artist

Each month the Faba Blog will post a spotlight article on a particular artist that excels in their profession. Our spotlight artist for the month of April 2012 is Jay Bautista.

Jay Bautista is a professional face and body artist known for his amazing line work and tribal designs. He is originally from New York and has lived in Florida for most of his adult life. Jay has been face and body painting for over 12 years and first got his start in the industry at Enjoy Your Face Inc., painting at Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure. Since then, he has catered to high end celebrity parties, rock concerts, major sports teams, corporate events and college sports teams. Mardi Gras and Fantasy Fest are now a staple of major events that Jay attends.

We spoke to Jay about his upcoming projects and what he wants to explore more into. Jay wants to add more depth into his artwork and is focusing on that, as well as a new series of designs only seen by Illusion Magazine.

In his own words;

“I’m working on a lot of projects as of right now. I just finished shooting some step by step designs Illusion Magazine asked me to do. I just opened up a new YouTube Channel under methodmediavideos doing some quick designs, so if you check it out you can see me in my house clothes :-). I’m also going on a mini tour up north to NJ,CT,NY in June. Hitting up Trinidad & Tobago in July and finishing off the month in Texas. I’m also talking to Pashur about possibly doing a Tribal / Line work tour in the U.S. We did a dry run at the East Coast Convention in Connecticut and it was a HUGE success, there are already requesting us to do another workshop at that convention.

I’m also working on releasing an app within the next few months, featuring my artwork. Method Media Services LLC is the production company working on this project with me. Any artist looking to do productions should reach out to them.

I just did a live feed for a local radio station, WJRR 101.1, for an upcoming event called EarthDay BirthDay. It’s my biggest one day event of the year. I employ 10 face and body artists to paint the patrons throughout the concert. There are over 20,000 people that attend this event and this will be my 11th year painting there. When I started doing that event it was me and one other painter, so it’s grown. We will probably paint over 300 bodies that day between 10 artists, usually its just chest pieces that we do there, but sometimes someone wants a front and back, but that’s rare. Needless to say, we paint very fast.

My website is still under construction but its www.jaybautista.com. It’s a blog based site so I will be active on it, once I can find the time to sit for a few hours un-distracted. You can always add me as a friend on facebook and I created a fan page as well that will have newer content; thats www.facebook.com/JayBautistaFaceAndBodyArtist.

The best way to contact me is by email, jbautista0505@gmail.com.”

Jay Bautista has filmed several classes and tutorials for FABAtv. Check out Jay’s Channel on FABAtv and stay tuned for his latest class, Totally Tribals, premiering on April 15th! Can’t wait? Check out his free butterfly tutorial on the FABAtv youtube channel.

Posted on March 28, 2012
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2012 FABAIC Checklist and a Free Year of FABAtv!

The 2012 Face and Body Art International Convention is less then 2 months away, do you know what to bring? FABAtv has teamed up with the FABAIC to offer a free, year subscription to FABAtv!

The FABAIC is a convention like no other, offering the best instructors for all types of face and body art. Whether you are a beginner wondering where to start, or are advanced and looking to learn new techniques and bring more business to your trade, the FABAIC has what you need. Offering tons of classes covering face painting, body painting, airbrush, makeup, special effects, marketing and more over the course of five days, the FABAIC is an event you don’t want to miss!

Exciting changes have been made to the 2012 competitions! Cash prizes, products and trophies are up for grabs! Face Painting Competitions are back and divided into Children, Youth, Novice, Semi Pro, and Professional Categories!
Will you walk away with the $1,000 Cash Prize for the “Flight of Fantasy” body painting competition? Competition is open to registered FABAIC attendees. Click here for Competition Information.

The 2012 FABAIC is May 23rd through May 27th and has moved to a new location in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Want to take a break from all the creativity and learning? Relax on the gorgeous South Florida beaches, take a trip through the famous Everglades, hit up a game of golf at the hotels luxurious course, or take a shopping trip at the Sawgrass Mills mall, the second largest mall in Florida! The FABAIC is not only learning and classes, it is a well deserved vacation!

Operate your own business? Did you know your expenses associated with attending the Face and Body Art International Convention to improve your professional skills are tax deductible subject to the limitations set forth by the Internal Revenue Service? Please contact your accountant for details.

Newcomers Convention Checklist

Washcloths – To avoid room charges from staining their towels when showering up after a body paint, please bring your own washcloth!
Business Cards and your Portfolio – The FABAIC is the best place to network
A condensed version of your face or body painting kit
A sketch book and/or note pad
Practice head (Practice Heads will be available to purchase or rent, please contact marcela@fabaic.com for more information)
Male or Female underwear for your model if you are body painting. Seamless panties work the best.
Camera and don’t forget the charger!
Phone
Comfortable shoes and clothes
Baby wipes
Sunscreen
Bathing suit
Earplugs
Don’t forget spending money or your credit card! The FABAIC is not only a learning experience, it is a vacation!
A smile, your creative thinking cap and a well rested mind to learn and have fun! We’ll see you May 23rd!

Do you have any questions? Please contact us! E-mail Marcela at marcela@fabaic.com or call us at 954-472-5000 if you have any questions.

FABAIC FAQ

Are you in need of a roommate to cut down expenses? Visit the FABAIC forum on Facebook for a list of vendors, roommate searching, travel information and more!
Don’t forget to like the FABAIC Facebook Page!

Leave a comment below and tell us what your essentials are that you bring to a convention!

Posted on March 26, 2012
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Business Building 101 – Subcontracting

Your Business is booming! You have more clients than you can handle and it is a dream come true! You are at the point where you might have to turn away business. Now what? Do you hire someone to work under your company name? Do you turn away the job? Do you call a friend and give them the lead and ask for a cut? All of these are valid question for the growing business owner.

Contracting Work

Contracting work out can be tricky. Creating a level of business etiquette within your company will help you to prevent losing accounts and ruining friendships. When you sub contract a job to another entertainer, you are hiring them to work as a representative of your company. By law they are required to hold their own insurance policies, agree to receive a 1099, report earned income through your company and pay their taxes based on that earned income. When we sub contract a performer, they are required to sign a contract stating they will give out our cards and agree to the terms of our business practices.
I.e: No drinking on the job, show up 30 minutes early for set up, no eating on the jobs, no smoking, payment terms ..etc.

If the contractor does not follow the terms and conditions then they no longer are hired by our company and may forfeit their payment for the event. These terms protect our company image and create a standard. Some of you might be asking, “Why even bother working through a sub contractor?”, the reason would be more work! Corporate bookings are typically looking for larger dependable companies to hire multiple performers. They would rather hire one company to supply everything then hire ten different companies to do the same. Sub contracting can be a great thing. You can make a commission without having to do the actual job. If you are going to join the contracting game, make sure to have rules and standards in place.

FAB Events is a nationwide, full service, event and talent agency. We hire face painters, body painters, airbrush artists, clowns and more! Let us add you to our network of professionals. Send us an email with your resume and contact information to andrea@myfabevents.com to apply.

Referral vs. Sub contracting

I have seen more friendships go south over this issue. If you call and hand me a job, I am the one handling the administrative, billing, and physical act of the job. I consider that lead a gift, rather than an opportunity to make a commission. If you are the one doing the administrative part of the job then I have no problem paying a commission, but if I am doing 99% of the work, then I do not feel that warrants a cut of my work. I am very clear with my business relationships when they call with referrals. I always tell them, “Thank you for the job”, and ,”I look forward to the opportunity to return the favor”.

If you are wondering how to build your business, consider the idea of sub contracting. Not only will you be creating jobs, you will be expanding your business and potentially creating a full time living without having to do all the work.

Is your business face painting only or do you offer other services such as clowning, body art, henna, or balloons? Leave a comment below and share your business services with us!

Happy Painting!
-Heather

Posted on March 23, 2012
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Do I need a Website?

In the 1980’s being professional was all about carrying a briefcase and having flown on a plane. In the 90’s being a professional was all about having a cell phone and a college degree. In the 2000’s being a professional is synonymous with being web savvy.

The millionaires and trend setters of our time; Steve Jobs, Mark Zuckerberg, and Tony Hsieh, all used the Internet to take their businesses to the next level. It’s not enough to have a fancy business card, people want to know about you. We live in a transparent society, where the internet gives you 24/7 access to personal information. Having a functional and good looking website, where potential clients can meet you before they “meet” you at their event, can only benefit your business. As a a parent, I want to know who I am hiring to come to my home and interact with my kid as well as my close friends and family. I want to know who is the person that I am trusting to do a good job, be family friendly, be trustworthy, and responsible. The same goes when I sub-contract work to someone. I want to see images of them on the job, read reviews about their services, and see who I am sending out to represent my company. Having a website also makes you more reachable. Google is the worlds largest search engine, millions of people search for things they need every second. By entering your name in the Google game you are more likely to reach clients and expand your business.

I get asked a lot, “Can’t I just use Facebook?” The answer is no! Facebook is an awesome way to drive traffic to your site, but it’s a personal social media middle man. Facebook was created to link people to people. Businesses are using Facebook as a means to drive traffic and promote their particular pages, but the main function of social networking is still to share and connect personal information. I made the mistake of connecting all my business to my personal page. I accepted friendships with several customers and clients and now I have to watch what I post. I should have driven them to my business/fan page so I could maintain a personal and professional life. If you are on facebook, your business should be separate from your personal life.

[button type=”button_solid_light nocufon” url=”https://www.facebook.com/SillyFarmSupplies” target=”on” ]Visit our Facebook Business Page[/button]

Even if you aren’t web savvy or don’t have a lot of funds to invest in a site, there are several affordable options to help you get started. When you buy a domain from GoDaddy they give you a free one page site template.Â If you want someone to record themselves singing the alphabet backwards, create a quick graphic for you, or write your name in macaroni,Â Fiverr is a great website for services at only $5. [clear]

Join the wide world of web exposure and make your goal in 2013 to be Google-able. Transform your hobby of face and body art into a business by taking it serious, and taking steps to 21st century professionalism.

Leave a comment below and tell us about your website. Did you build your website or hire a web designer?

Happy Painting!

-Silly Heather

References:

The website from this articles thumbnail image is Face Formers.
The websites in the first image of this article are Silly Farm Supplies, the FABAIC 2012, and the Faba Blog home page.

Posted on March 21, 2012
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Plenty of Paint

When it comes down to picking which face paint you want to stock in your kit, it’s hard to choose and to know the differences between brands, colors, and manufacturers. I am fortunate that I play with paint for a living. I harass the manufacturers to send me new colors as soon as they are hot off the press and I test each color to see how it measures up against other similar colors from different brands. In a nut shell, there are two types of water based face paint; Wax based and Glycerin based.

Wolfe, TAG, and Diamond FX are all wax based paints.

FAB, Kryolan, Paradise, and Snazaroo are glycerin based paints.

There is no shortage of amazing colors and shades of face paint. If you are a paint junkie like me, then you want it all. Take my advice; You will never use 10,000 pots of paint and it’s too time intensive unpacking 10,000 pots of paint. When you get down to choosing your ideal kit, choose color over brand name. Although paints are made with similar formulas, the main differences are the colors. My advice? If you are in love with a particular color then add it to your kit.

Wax based paints are ideal for line work, because they are smooth and require less water to activate them. Sometimes sponging and blending can be a challenge because the sponge can absorb too much water. Since they have wax in them they tend to be less resistant to blending, but better for layering.

Wolfe white and black are known for being the best for line work. The reason behind that is because Wolfe white is one of the few whites that actually stays on top of the color instead of blending into the background colors. With wolfe white you can make dots on top of black paint and the white will stay vibrant. Wax paints are typically strong in pigment and they are excellent for line work because of the smooth consistency. Wax paints are also known to withstand the heat a little better because the wax is harder to break down. For humid and hot climate areas the wax paints are in high demand.
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Glycerin based paints are typically creamier and excellent for blending with a sponge. Unlike wax based paints, where the paints layer well, glycerin paints blend better and dry slightly slower so you are able to sponge and blend them easier.

For these reasons, I suggest having a variation of brands in your kit. Choose color over brand. Colors vary from brand to brand. Kryolan has a line of paint called Interfereze which is a specialty line within their Aquacolor line. Interferenze paints are shimmer paints, unlike the kryolan metallics which are made with metallic flake pigments. The Interfereze paints are creamy and soft and contain a shimmer rather than a flake. Kryolan also has a Ultra Violet Day Glow line as well. The UV paints are also knows as Neon paints. Kryolan and Wolfe both make these paints that are black light reactive and glow under fluorescent lighting. In normal light they are super vibrant and very popular because the colors are so intense. Once they are under a backlight they appear glowing.

Paint can get confusing, I have to admit. Kryolan calls their metallic colors Metallics and Interfereze. Wolfe calls their UV paints Neons, while Kryolan calls them UVDG. Snazaroo named their metallic and shiny colors ‘Sparkle‘. FAB has ‘Shimmer‘ colors, as well as ‘Glitter‘ colors. So before you get lost in the abyss of face paint remember you have a friends ( or 21 friends at Silly farm) ready to help you.

If you ever need helping choosing the paint for you, want to know the best red, or are looking for the perfect ninja turtle green. You are always welcome to live chat us, email me, or give me a call at Silly Farm. Choosing paint should be fun, so don’t let brand names get your brushes in a bunch. Just close your eyes, think of your favorite colors and write them down. Browse each section until you find the one you are looking for and cross if off your list. The results will be your perfect kit!

Leave a comment below and tell us what your favorite colors and brands are!

Happy painting!
-Heather

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Posted on March 19, 2012
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FABAIC What?

My aunt Marcela “Mama Clown” Murad has always been a visionary. Eleven years ago she turned her dream of creating an educational event dedicated strictly to face and body art into a reality, along with her friend Cynthia Keeler. Together they pioneered the Face and Body Art International Convention, what would soon become the greatest gathering of face and body artists in the world.

In 2007, I took over as co-producer of the FABAIC, along with Deidre MacDonald, Marcela Murad, and Claudia Banks. Together and with the rest of our amazing team, we work hard to make the FABAIC an event not to be missed.

The FABAIC is a sleep away art camp for adults. A place where creativity flows from every corner and color has no limit. The art work is jaw dropping and the classes cover all topics and skill sets. We search the globe looking for the best instructors to share their passion with other eager artists. We spend a full year planning the FABAIC to include; interesting topics, new concepts, new vendors, unveiling of new products, and a convention that is one of a kind. We put an emphasis on creating a learning environment that inspires you, sparks your creativity, and makes it impossible not to learn something.

In 2011, we celebrated our 10 year anniversary of the FABAIC. After 10 years of hosting the FABAIC in Orlando, FL we made a BIG change and moved the convention to our home town of Ft Lauderdale, FL. We wanted to enter the new decade on a fresh note and re-energize our venue. Ambiance is as critical as the content our instructors are providing. Our new hotel is full of lush tropical gardens, crystal blue waterfalls, and bright sun light classrooms. We felt the new venue is a perfect environment to go wild with your art work.

The FABAIC is a convention where face and body artists come to learn. We offer the widest selection of classes, covering all topics from A-Z. Whether you are a seasoned artist, a creative make up artist looking to expand into special effects and fantasy make up, a stay at home mom that loves art, or a teacher looking for a great part time job, this event is for you. You might be asking yourself, “Do they really paint all day?” and “Will I really learn?” the answer is yes! Every year I treat my staff to the FABAIC, and after just one convention I could see the difference in their painting and artwork. The FABAIC will take you out of your box, help you expand your skills, and the creative force will inspire you to pick up your brush and explore. You don’t have to take my word for it, you can check out the FABAIC Gallery, find the FABAIC on Facebook, or just read reviews around the web. If you are serious about becoming a better painter, investing in your craft, and taking your art to the next level, then you can not afford to miss the 2012 Face and Body Art International Convention.

Besides offering over 80 classes over four days, we also offer classes for Young Artists. I was fortunate that Marcela shared the face and body art world with me really early. I developed a passion for it and it never left my side. I was able to face paint my way through college, buy my first condo with my face painting money, and turn it into a career. Your kids can enjoy classes designed especially for them, where they learn with other children their age so you can enjoy your classes knowing your kids are learning and having a blast too.

The FABAIC is also the worlds largest face and body art marketplace. We host all the major manufacturers of face and body art supplies so that they can debut their newest products, answer questions, and let you try before you buy your supplies. The market place is a painters candy store, the hardest part is not buying everything.

Four years ago we started the FABAIC Body Painting Competition where the first place prize is $1,000 cash. Artists from around the world come to compete and the finished product is truly unbelievable. It takes some artists years to complete one canvas, and our artists finish a human masterpiece in 5 hours. The competition is truly living art at its finest.

Even with classes, competition, shopping, and networking there’s still more! Every morning we kick of the day with a little fun and funk with a Zumba class. From 9-5 we have classes and workshops and then you can enjoy show and tell demonstrations from your peers, marketing panel discussions, and the world famous Jam sessions. The jams are painting parties where all the attendees break out their paints and practice everything they learned throughout the day. Imagine a room with 500 people painting and creating. It’s priceless and you can’t help but be amazed.

If you are still on the fence or want more information, please visit the FABAIC website or email us, Heather: heather@sillyfarm.com, Marcela: marcela@fabaic.com, or Deidre: deidre@fabaic.com. I encourage you to join us. let us help you re-energize your business, add value to your services, and grow as an artist. Let the FABAIC be your vacation this year and take a creative siesta- You deserve it! I hope to see you all in May!

Happy painting!
-Heather

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Posted on March 16, 2012
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The Dirt on Keeping it Clean – Face Painting Hygiene

I have always admired Jinny, she is one of the cleanest, most pristine painters I have ever met. Every time I leave a job I am covered in glitter, paint, and my kit looks like a war zone. After 15 years of face painting, I have yet to master the clean painter look. Don’t let me confuse a messy painter, with a dirty kit. No matter how messy my kit may appear, it is never dirty. After every 6 kids, I clean my space. I take a baby wipe and wipe down my paints and hands. I frequently use hand sanitizer between kids, and I refresh my water as soon as it begins to look murky.

I travel and teach face painting around the world. I get to see a lot of kits and sometimes I’m frightened that painters are using their supplies to paint on humans. Keeping your paints clean, only takes minutes of your time and can mean the difference between spreading germs and preservation of your face painting supplies.

I get asked a lot about how I rinse my sponges between children, how to keep my brushes sanitary, and how not to transfer germs. Adding alcohol to your face painting water does not help. The water dilutes the alcohol, making it inefficient and can be irritating to someone’s skin. Using one sponge or brush per child is too costly. So being aware of good hygiene tips can not only save you money, but it can mean the difference between happy, healthy customers and unhappy parents blaming you for a break out.

It’s very hard to prove a face painting related reaction. Largely in part, because face painting involves many products. We use a paint brush, water, sponges, glitter, gems, etc… So it’s hard to narrow down the exact product that caused the reaction. 99% of face painting related reactions are due to the fragrance in the make up. To avoid angry mom’s make sure to keep a clean station and ask the kids(or parents) if they have sensitive skin.

Face Painters Hygiene Tips

About 3 years ago I developed a product called Brush Bath to help painters clean their brushes and sponges between kids. Brush Bath is a 100% organic brush cleaning solution and can be used as a face paint remover. Use it in your face painting water to keep it clean and fresh longer, and as a conditioner for your brushes. Brush bath is a gentle soap that breaks down oils in the hairs of your brushes that you might have picked up on the skin when you paint. Brush Bath also cleans the pigments out of your brushes so you don’t transfers colors and residue to the next color you paint with. It’s a great product and I encourage everyone to have a bottle to use on the job.

My second tip is to carry Q- Tips. I love applying lipstick on girls. Nothing brings me more smiles than a sparkly red lip stick after I’ve painted her like a princess. I avoid using my brushes on the lips, so I use a q-tip and I keep a clean cup of water next to me aside from my regular water basin so that I can always apply lipstick with a fresh start.
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When I am face painting, I carry a clothes pin bag to throw my garbage in. I never like my customers to see used baby wipes, used q tips, or any other garbage that might have accumulated on my table. I bought the clothes pin holder at the dollar store and it is perfect to hang off of my table so i have a personal waste bin.

Baby Wipes! Every face painter needs baby wipes, they are extremely useful in cleaning your kit, to quickly correcting that occasional error. I have an article I’ve posted before about baby wipes.

Lastly, changing out your water is crucial. Dirty water is an eye sore and can scare customers away. It only takes seconds to dump your water and refill. I carry a gallon of water and brush bath mix to every job. I fill a 2 compartment water basin and a fresh cup of water for my lipstick. The water basin has 2 compartments. One to clean my brush and one to retrieve clean water. This helps me move faster because I am not muddying up my paints. I also love my water basin because it has paint brush holder slots along the rim so I never forget and leave my brushes soaking in water. Leaving your brushes soaking in water will ruin the tips and destroy your wooden handle brushes. The water basin I use is the Brush Tub and it’s available at Silly Farm Supplies.
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Create a hygiene routine that follows after your face painting gigs. I take my brushes and sponges out after each event and clean, condition and let them air dry. I wipe down my paints with a baby wipe and leave the tops off overnight. I like to let my paints release any moisture that might have been building. The next morning I store my supplies in a cool dry place until my next event. This way, I always start my gigs with a fresh surface and clean supplies.

Are you a messy painter or know someone who is? Share this article of face painting hygiene with them! Leave a comment below and tell us about your hygiene routine.

Happy clean painting!
-Heather

Wondering where to buy Brush Bath or a good water basin? Silly Farm Supplies carries ton’s of face painting supplies and equipment.
[button type=”button_solid_light nocufon” url=”http://www.sillyfarm.com/store/index.php?p=product&id=3512&parent=512″ target=”on” ]Water Basin[/button][button type=”button_solid_light nocufon” url=”http://www.sillyfarm.com/store/index.php?p=product&id=2531&parent=0″ target=”on” ]Brush Bath[/button]

Posted on March 14, 2012
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What is a Super Jam?

If you have ever been to the FABAIC and participated in one of the jam sessions, you will have an idea of what a Super Jam is. A Super Jam is not a class, it is much different. A Super Jam is a painting party!
What’s better then bringing a large group of talented artists all together under one roof, for a night of fun, prizes, networking and paint? A Jam is were the creativity flows unrestricted and artists can practice alongside each other and share their unique techniques and designs, while learning from others. This is the kind of experience that only Super Jams can offer.

My business motto has always been to treat your customers like they are old friends. Because we are an internet based business, we don’t get to meet and greet all our customers. I started hosting super jams last year so I could re-connect with all my painter friends, share information about upcoming events, and paint together. As our industry grows, so do our skills and artistic ability. I love breaking out my paints and learning from a fellow painter. I love seeing painters oooooo and aweeeee when I show them a new color or a new stencil. I try to make the Super Jams affordable and fun. It’s only $10 for the entrance fee and kids are free. I demo designs, answer questions, and we paint! There will be FabaTV demos and I’ll be bringing lots of samples for you to try, including new FAB Paints and BAM stencils.

I am adding more dates as soon as I confirm cities. Thank you for your support and I hope to see you and your paint brushes at our next Super Jam near you.

Posted on March 12, 2012
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Lucky Lady – A St. Patty’s Face Painting Tutorial

Clovers everywhere! St. Patrick’s day is March 17th, and we’ve got you covered. In Silly Heather’s latest video, she will show you how to create a beautiful and colorful face painting design perfect for celebrating St Patty’s in style.

Thanks for watching! If you haven’t already subscribed to our youtube channel, what are you waiting for? We release several face painting tutorials every month and already have over 100 videos to choose from! Best of all, they are all free to view! Browse our face painting videos.

Posted on March 9, 2012
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Face Painting Family

My face painting journey began when my aunt forced me to paint alongside her. Little did I know that holding that brush would change my life. I have been so fortunate to travel the world, meet amazing painters and make friends doing what I love. My face and body art friends have become my family. We share our artwork and put ourselves out there to learn from one another and selflessly help each other grow.

After working in a corporate environment, I’m so grateful for my face painting family because we are a community of really good people. Almost 12 years ago, I was fortunate enough to meet a special type of artist. Marcela and I would teach a lot of classes at the NY Clown Alley and that is where I first met Deva.

Deva Prem was a true artist. She wasn’t the best painter in the world, but she had a style all her own. She was a spiritual, peaceful, loving, and inspiring woman. She helped me in so many ways to grow Silly Farm. She was tough on me and honest, and even when I didn’t want to hear it, I always listened because her heart was pure. Deva epitomized the love of art. Deva would introduce all her art friends to our world and would support them as they blossomed into amazing face and body artists. She introduced me to the recent Face Off competitor, Athena Zhe. I remember Deva telling me, “I’m bringing my artist friend Athena to your class. She will blow you away!”. She sure did! Deva also raved about an artist friend of hers, Derrick Little, and after one glance at his art work I was hooked. Deva knew art and knew how to bring people together because of it.
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Sadly, Deva left our world last year. Deva lost her battle with cancer, but in true Deva fashion, I know she would want us to continue her legacy by sharing art. Even during her hardest moments battling cancer, Deva made sure to attend the FABAIC and offered free massages to attendees. Her spirit of generosity is what prompted this blog.

Her dear friend, Derrick Little, has started his own Art Project in memory of Deva and to help others in their fight against breast cancer. Please take a moment to visit his site, ShieldYourHeart.org, and if you have the means, please support his cause and help keep Deva’s passion alive. Derrick is one of the most creative and out of the box artists I know, and I’m sure the card collection is a bonus!

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I make an effort to get to know all my customers because our face painting world is small. Sooner or later our paths cross and it’s good to know our family keeps growing. Happy painting and thank you for reading.

-Heather

Posted on March 8, 2012
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Take a Free Makeup Class – Live on FabaTV

If you haven’t heard of FabaTV.com yet, I would suggest checking their website out. They offer a huge library of face and body art classes along with makeup classes and workshops for a fraction of the cost to take a single class in person. FabaTV goes the extra mile and airs an absolutely free, full-length LIVE class every month. Tune in Wednesday, March 14th at 8:00pm EST for this month’s free FabaTV LIVE class.

Joining us on FabaTV LIVE this month is Makeup Artist Lucianne, who will be teaching her high fashion, ‘avante garde’ beauty makeup and sharing her advanced makeup techniques with the world. You can catch the live class via http://fabatv.com/page/live.

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Posted on March 7, 2012
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Live Your Passion

A passion is a craving, the thing we hunger for. It’s what we are most curious about. Our passion is what we long to do, something that makes us truly happy and enriches our lives. Being passionate about something inspires us to take action, to put energy into our dreams and to make them come true. If you are passionate about something, ask yourself,

“What do I need to do to live my passion, to keep it alive?”

If your passion is the same as mine, Face and Body Art, some of my tips will help you.
Buy yourself a scrapbook and start collecting images of anything that catches your eye. These can be pictures from a magazine, other artists work, or your own drawings and doodles. You can also keep a folder in your computer, or use an online service like Pinterest, for the same purpose. Personally, I like the feeling of holding the book and slowly looking through it’s pages. On days when my creativity is running low, they serve as inspiration and they rekindle my passion for my art.

“How do you get started?”

Make a list of things you dream of doing and pursue it. Take a workshop with your
favorite artist, publish a book, travel and get paid for sharing
your talents with others! Read your list everyday, believing that all things
are possible. Then commit to practice, because practice will help you to become better at
what you do and more passionate about it! The old saying still holds true, “Practice makes perfect”!

-Marcela Murad

Leave a comment below and tell us what your passion is!
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Posted on March 5, 2012
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Wrong Timing or Planning to Succeed?

I have been guilty of scrambling to get business and making hasty decisions that set me up for failure. When business is slow, naturally you turn to panic mode. If you were to just sit back and do nothing, you could use the time to catch up on old books or take up a new hobby, but how would you pay your bills? When it’s slow we lower our prices, book gigs that we wouldn’t normally take, and make decisions that come back to pinch our butts in the future.

When I was in college and wanted to take a trip to Mardi Gras (I knew my parents wouldn’t foot the bill), I was desperate to bring in some cash and fast. It was slow in January, as it usually is, so I contacted the local restaurants and asked them about starting a family night. They all said that they were slow and didn’t have a budget to hire me. So, being the crazy woman I am, I offered my services for free and I would accept tips.

At the time I felt it was a good idea because I could make good tips and if the restaurant saw how good I was, I figured they would be willing to hire me once I generated enough business for them.

Fast forward three months later. Yes! Business was good at the restaurants and I was making good tips. Better restaurants found out and wanted to actually hire me. I was already committed and I felt terrible quitting on my current restaurants. I had made friends and a following. So I approached the owners and requested a meeting to see about being hired. Of course, no one wants to pay for something they get for free. They politely turned me down. I kicked myself all the way home because I knew making decisions when you are in a stress frame of mind wasn’t smart and that eventually it would catch me, and it sure did. I was working for free for three restaurants when I could of been hired to do different restaurants. In hind sight, I would have contacted the restaurants and made a 30 day renegotiable contract for them so that they wouldn’t always assume I’d work for free.

From one crazy painter to another, if you are stressing to fill the books, don’t panic and make bad decisions. Be creative and start your marketing engine. The Internet, Facebook and good old customer service can be your saving grace. Pick up the phone a month before a previous birthday child’s party and call the mom. Let her know how you’d love to help her celebrate his/her’s childs party and that you have new cool things to offer (Like glitter tattoos!). Volunteer at a local charity event so you can get exposure and meet as many potential clients as possible. Try to avoid locking yourself into a position that is hard and can cause you to loose money. Whenever I take on a new restaurant, I lay out a 2 month plan so I know if I am over committing myself. Planning is crucial and planning for success means the difference between dollars and cents.

Comment below and tell me about your pro bono jobs and hasty bookings.

Happy painting! -Silly Heather

South Floridians! Join us for free face painting Tuesday night’s at the Pine Island Char Hut in Davie, Florida.

Posted on March 2, 2012
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Shamrocks! A Face Painting Video Tutorial

Hey Guys! Here’s my latest face painting video that I have just released!
A quick and easy St Patrick’s face painting design so you can practice those shamrocks! Don’t forget, St. Patrick’s day is March 17th! Enjoy!

I hope you enjoyed my face painting video! If you haven’t already, subscribe to my youtube channel for tons of face painting tutorials and much more! I release several face and body art videos every month. Thanks!

You can catch all my face painting videos on my youtube channel, SillyHeatherb.
Get your Fairy Fly Kit exclusively at Silly Farm Supplies. The WildFlower Fairy Fly Kit used in this tutorial is now available!

Do you have any ideas or requests for my next video? Leave a comment below!