Cupcake Cutie: Face Painting Tutorial

Can’t see the video? Watch Cupcake Cutie on YouTube!

This birthday will be one they won’t forget. Face paint can go a long way in making a child’s birthday a memorable one.

2 Minute Spiderman for Young Kids | Face Painting Tutorial

By now you should know that face painting younger kids can be a challenge. My son is almost 3 years old and still wiggles and squirms when I paint him. I was able to sit him down in the Silly Farm showroom and use him for a quick tutorial on face painting little kids a quick and easy Spiderman.

  1. I started using Wolfe White and outlined the eyes. We don’t want to fill over the eyes since he is a younger child and many children are not comfortable with objects near their eyes.
  2. Next, using a filbert brush we are going to fill in the rest of the shape using FAB Makeup Rage.
  3. Pink Power Stencils are very useful for those children that don’t want to sit still! Using a sponge and black face paint, we are going to sponge on the spider using the pink power stencil.
  4. Using a Gold Grip #3 Round Brush and Wolfe Black we are going to finish the details to the mask by outlining and connecting the lines to form a spider-web look.
  5. Last, but not least, we always want to add some glitter and in this case it is the Mama Clown Glitter Black Potion.

London's SpidermanVoila! A quick two minute Spiderman face painting design for younger children!
Don’t forget to check out the rest of my face painting tutorials and head over to Silly Farm Supplies for products! Subscribe to me on YouTube for more!
Happy Painting!

Wild Style Floral Mask – Face Painting Design

Here’s a graffiti inspired floral mask design by Silly Heather. Starting this face painting design off with a Silly Farm sponge, we start the base using a Hippie Rainbow Cake. Next we take our Wildflower Fairyfly Kit and a 3/4″ Flat Brush to create the floral design. Wolfe Black is used for the graffiti effects and outlines. The brush preferred is a Gold Grip #4 Round. Glitter makes everything better, especially the Magic Magenta Glitter.

Can’t see the video? Watch “Wild Style Floral Mask” on YouTube!

Silly Farm Across the Pond

Illusions MagazineLast year I had the pleasure of touring England teaching classes courtesy of the amazing Illusion Magazine. I got a chance to meet so many talented artists and many of them had the same complaint. That it was hard get Silly Farm products in the UK.

I kindly explained that if any of the lovely Essex ladies could introduce me to David Beckham and figure out a way to get him to marry me then I would gladly move Silly Farm to England, being that David and I are both married. It seemed easier to find someone with the same love and passion as I to help us expand our product reach to the UK. As faith would have it, I met the second best thing out of Essex (after David of course), Miss Nathalie Farmer.

I am entering a decade as the owner of Silly Farm, but it still feels like my baby. I read every email, I cry when I ruin someone’s order, and the thought of trusting someone across the globe to present my products with the same passion and enthusiasm seemed impossible.

The Face Painting ShopThen I met a glitter-iffic, customer service junkie, business woman ready to make it happen. Nathalie is the owner and operator of TheFacePaintingShop.com and she is your UK source for Silly Farm supplies. Nathalie approached me with a vision of providing service with a smile, service with support, and servicing those that want quality supplies. I have watched Nathalie grow her business through her personal touch and concern for her customers. Nathalie makes it a point to work directly with Silly Farm to find out about new products, investigate best shipping options to be able to keep costs low, and never forgets to say thank you. Even though its hard for me to understand every third word she says with her fancy Essex accent, I found that her passion is infectious.

I hesitated expanding Silly Farm because I feared losing the personal touch and involvement I try to give to all my customers. However, I feel confident that Nathalie will take care of painters in her region. Entrepreneurship is scary and the paint industry is not as easy as some may think. There is a lot of inventory and investment involved in starting a business, but Nathalie took the plunge. Her dedication and commitment to our industry is why I am so excited for this partnership. Please take a moment to visit my beautiful friend Nathalie, drop her a line and let her know which products you want, love, or want to see in her shop.

Thank you for supporting Silly Farm and helping us expand across the globe. Happy Painting!

Free Balloon Class on FABAtv LIVE

Miss Sparkles free balloon class on FABAtv
FABAtv is ‘Face and Body Art Television’. An online video classroom that allows you to learn side-by-side industry professionals all from the comfort of your own home! Don’t have the time at home? Kick it up on the go and watch your favorite instructors from your smart phone or tablet! FABAtv has classes from artists all around the world, covering face painting, body art, airbrushing, balloons, makeup, magic and more! What are you waiting for? Go check out what you’ve been missing on FABAtv.com!

FABAtv hosts a FREE class online every month. The artist for March’s LIVE class is Miss Sparkles Smith! Not only is Miss Sparkles a balloon artist, she is a face painter as well! Balloons are just part of the extra services she can offer her clients, and they are always a hit with kids! Don’t miss this free class on March 14th starting at 8pm est! On Monday we’ll post an exclusive interview with Miss Sparkles and get to know her, but until then have a great weekend!

Passionate Pickn’s

Margi Kanter - Nose Artimation face paintingI have met many talented artists throughout the years. Most of them have been introduced to me by my aunt and mentor, Marcela “Mama Clown”. Anytime we were traveling through the Midwest she would always say, “Let me call my friend Margi”, but it wasn’t until the FABAIC that I truly got to see first hand how special the infamous “Margi” truly was.

Margi Kanter is the author of the Pick Your Nose book series. The third installment of her wild face and body art Nose Artimation books has been release recently, so I was inspired to write about her and her accomplishments. You can pick up the newest addition to the Pick Your Nose books over at Silly Farm Supplies.
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Pick Your Nose V3 Under the Sea

If I had to pick one word to describe Margi it would be AMAZING! Margi is a mother, an artist, a friend, a yogi, a teacher, a businesswoman, an author, and most of all she is a positive force that turns the wheel of face and body art inspiration. Margi introduced the world to her unique style of face painting called Nose Artimation and face painting hasn’t been the same ever since. Margi took the skills her late fiancé and talented caricature artist, David Levi, helped her fine tune and along with her background in art she put her own quirky spin on your everyday designs.

That combination of fun, love, and animation helped motivate Margi to create a line of books and a series of workshops that she has premiered across the globe. I had the extreme pleasure of teaching alongside Margi in Holland and at several FABAIC conventions. I have watched her grow her style with so much passion that I HAD to figure out a way to help her publish her books. Margi is one of the most giving and gifted instructors I have ever worked with. I have watched her breakdown concepts, share ideas, and give selflessly to her students. Margi’s attitude plays a HUGE role in her success.

[button type=”ambitious_button” url=”http://www.sillyfarm.com/store/index.php?p=product&id=5433&parent=398″ target=”on” ]Get Volume 3![/button]

Margi Kanter

Margi Kanter Belly PaintingWhen I initially approached Margi about helping me birth FABAtv(Face and Body Art Television), she jumped on the first plane and made it a priority. When I asked instructors to help with our Paint-a-Thon, again she jumped up to help. When someone asks a questions or needs a little push in the right direction, Margi is there to lend a helping hand. All of these qualities have helped her achieve her dream and will be the reason she will forever be a success and always in our hearts.

I hope that those of you reading this blog will gain some inspiration from Margi. Besides being a best selling author, Margi is also a phenomenal business woman and is not afraid to go after her dream and turn it into a reality. I hope that those following the FABA Blog gain some inspiration from Margi and follow your passion. Margi has gone through many ups and downs to get to this point, and yet her passion, positivity, and perseverance is the reason she is a star.

Please support Margi and her new book, drop her a note on her Facebook and if you ever need a crazy, wild, fun loving burst of energy give her a call. I have a feeling she will change your mood and put you in a pick’n good mood.

Take a class with Margi Kanter on FABAtv

Colorful Snow Leopard : Video Tutorial

Colorful Snow Leopard This fantastic feline design is quick and easy to pull off! Watch the video below for my tutorial on this leopard face painting. So what are you waiting for? Grab your Rainbow Cakes, a Bam stencil, and you’re already half way finished! This design is perfect for little girls, and just change the color scheme up and it fits boys was well!

Products Used

  • Moondance Rainbow CakeRainbow cakes are multi-colored containers of paint manufactured by Silly Farm. I started this feline face painting with one of the newer Silly Farm rainbow cakes, Moondance.

  • Pre-Cut Paradise Sponges These pre-cut paradise sponges are made out of high-density foam and are great for applying your arty brush cake or rainbow cake. Sponges are great to pair with stencils as well!

  • Gold Grip #4 Round Brush - at Silly Farm Supplies The Gold Grip brushes are a standard in face painting. These brushes are an excellent investment as the bristles last long and do not wear out as quick as other brands. This Gold Grip #4 Round is one of my favorite brushes.

  • Bad Ass Mini Stencil (BAMS) 1008 Cracks - at Silly Farm Supplies Bad Ass Mini Stencils are amazing stencils for face & body art, created by Andrea O’Donnell of Skincognito Makeup Art Studio & Supply. You can use these stencils for face painting or body art using a sponge, brush, or airbrush. The one I used is BAM 1008.

  • Wolfe Face Art & FX Aquacolor White - face paint at Silly FarmWolfe FX is a staple in the FABA industry. If you haven’t heard of this brand of face paint, I suggest you try some as soon as you can get your hands on it. Wolfe white & black is highly regarded as the best white & black for face painting.

  • Mama Clown White Fairy Dust Glitter Mama Clown’s world famous cosmetic glitter. This polyester glitter is safe for all your face & body art projects. White Fairy Dust just happens to be one of our best sellers.

Caitlin’s Face Painters Hardware Prep List

Face Painters Hardware ChecklistWhat good is a face painter that’s not prepared? Of course your face painting supplies (such as paints, brushes, and glitter) are already something you may have already considered and purchased, but what about hardware and non painting items? Are you prepared for the unexpected at your next gig? Caitlin from Cait’s Paints has been kind enough to put together a hardware checklist that every painter might find themselves needing.
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  • Are you ready to be the superhero at your next event? The mighty band aid has been known to save lives and come in a variety of styles making it easy to be fashionable as well.
  • Hammer time! Do you bring any hardware tools, such as a hammer or screwdriver? You never know when you will need to turn into MacGyver in a hurry!

Head on over to Artist Alley to see the rest of the face painters checklist in it’s entirety! Thank you Caitlin!

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Double Spotlight: Léa Selley & Wiser

As some of you are aware by now, the next free & LIVE class by FABAtv.com is on January 15th, 2013 with face & body artist Léa Selley! Léa will be teaching graffiti eye makeup for her live class, as well as filming several more studio classes for future release.

Lea Selley on FABAtv LIVE

Joining Léa on her trip and to film some classes in studio himself is none other than the talented graffiti artist turned body painter, Wiser Oner!

Knowing full well that thousands of painters will be absorbing everything they wrote, Léa and Wiser were both excited to answer our questions and share their lives with the face & body artists that come to the FABA Blog. Continue reading below for the double spotlight interview.

Léa’s answers are on the left.
Lea Selley - Jan
Wiser’s answers are on the right.
Wiser Oner face painting an older lady

Tell us a little about yourself, where are you from?

(Léa) Grew up on a unique landscape in Richmond, BC on a small farm close to a fishing village where the mighty Fraser River meets the Pacific Ocean. I consider myself fortunate to have had the opportunity to grow and learn to develop a close relationship with the natural world. I grew up in a very artistic environment speaking both English and French, endless music lessons ongoing in the house and long days of drawing.

(Wiser) Originally from Denver, Colorado! Now residing in Calgary, Alberta in Canada! :)

Are you an artist full time or do you have another job?

(Léa)I have been working as an artist full time since 2011. Before that I successfully ran my own website development company since 2002. It has been very rewarding to flip the focus from working for clients and telling the whole internet world how great and exciting their products were, and shine the light on my artwork and my passion. I find being self employed as an artist or a web developer has been the same road in terms of running a business, however, it has been SO much more rewarding since following my passion and creating artwork for a living!

(Wiser) Ive been a full time freelance artist since 2006 when I co-founded a Denver based custom graffiti art company called Your Name In Graffiti™. I painted everything from giant walls to sneakers, t-shirts, hats, and basically anything I could stick paint to. :) I had been doing graffiti since I was 15 and was one of the lucky few in my city ambitious enough to be able to progress into doing it professionally.

What type of face and body art do you specialize in?

(Léa)After some unique experience working as a carnie for a couple of years, where I would sometimes face paint over a hundred people a day, I discovered some magical secrets to get kids to sit still and surrender to the face painting experience. This ‘magic’ talent makes parents gasp and grab their cameras in the lineup, because for many it seems like it is the first time they have seen their kids sit still with their eyes closed and a smile on their little lips… calm, still little angel faces, turned up towards me. I can feel the moment when I capture and calm the rambunctious, sugar rushed, or hyper-sensitive children with my painting spell, and that is the moment I know it is on. They are guaranteed to walk away with one of my best pieces of artwork, securing them much love, attention and eye contact all day long.

(Wiser) When I first started instructing I was mainly specializing in Graffiti wildstyle lettering and speed painting (for success at events like Sturgis and Fantasy Fest), but over the last few years I’ve fallen in love with fine art style painting and outside teaching I have found myself doing lots of conceptual fine art pieces meant for photography. But I always throw a graffiti flava into everything I do!! :) More recently I have also been creating some face painting designs too which is so fun!

How did you get your start(in face and body art)?

(Léa)I bought a kit of snazaroo face paint from ebay because I thought it would be fun to paint the kids for my daughters B-Day party since she was born on Halloween. When parents started picking up their kids from the party to go trick or treating people were straight up flipping out! On the long walk that night I was told over and over I should start a business and offer face painting. In my experience people don’t just flip out for no reason, so I took at good look at the road sign on my path and decided the next day that I would be The Tattooed Lady – Face Painter!

(Wiser) After a chance meeting at a street fair in Denver (he had a face painting booth a few spaces down from my graffiti hat booth) I made friends with a man we all know and love, Mark Reid. He thought my graffiti was killer and he invited me to a Body Art Ball event to see him paint! After that I knew I had to try it! I had painted graffiti on many things but never a person, and to me it felt like a match made in heaven! Mark told me what kind of paint and brushes to get. I bought my first kit and never looked back!! I loved it so much I did it for FUN!! Still do… :)

What’s the most enjoyable part of what you do?

(Léa)Being able to ‘break the rules’, and with a little makeup I help other people feel like they are breaking the rules too! It really is amazing how many people live within the invisible confines and norms of society – it is way more fun to be able to put away the Maybelline and pull out the face paint and shock some folks! I have never ‘won’ anything, but every time I put my artwork out there, I am the crowd favorite, and there is nothing like a standing ovation! I really enjoy surprising people with what I can paint in a short amount of time on such a little canvas. I know that each time I paint a masterpiece on someone’s face, they are going to get epic amounts of attention and eye contact that day, which is just what the Dr. ordered for many people who need that special boost!

(Wiser) Connecting, sharing, and interacting with so many creative souls all over the world are some of the most rewarding things about my experience as an artist. I am very blessed to meet so many amazing friends! :)

Do you attend any conventions, like the FABAIC?

(Léa)I have not attended FABAIC…yet, but I have been to the Canadian face and body art convention ‘Bodyssey‘ and the infamous NABPC and FPBA when they were in Las Vegas. Attending classes, watching other artists paint and making new friends and contacts in the industry has been an invaluable learning experience. Education is always a great idea!

(Wiser) My very first convention as well as my very first time instructing was at FABAIC in 2009!! It was a life changing proving ground which led me to instructing at conventions and workshops all over the globe! I love La Fete in New Orleans too! I love juggling fire with Magic Mike and hitting up Bourbon St. with Craig Tracy, but FABAIC remains my favorite because nothing can compare to the creative energy that gets flowing when a few hundred creative minds are slingin paint and having a good time at one of the jams! It’s a very inspiring! :)

What would you like to do more of, art or otherwise?

(Léa)I would like to travel more, and I think I am on a constant quest for it. I majored in geography in university and worked as a Cartographer for a number of years. Making maps and studying people patterns on the landscape, although intellectually thrilling, I felt limited in my life experience. Working behind a computer, making maps and analyzing demographic data didn’t allow for the wild card that I’ve always really wanted of experiencing all these different places in the world! Switching focus to web development left me with the same feeling. I was just making a different kind of map, and still making it for other people. I’ve now decided I am going to make own map and use it! I am ready, and off to find an adventure with a healthy level of certainty that face painting will be pivotal part of my story!

(Wiser) I really would like to learn more about and mess around with molding and casting prosthetic pieces! After seeing what amazing thing are possible from artists like Yolanda Bartram of Body FX and Alex Hansen I am left intrigued and very curious in this realm of body art. :)

Outside of art, what do you do for fun?

(Léa)For fun I like to hang out with my daughters. They are growing up fast and they keep me young!

(Wiser) Going to the movies has always been one of my favorite things to do! I’m also always down for a good hip hop show!

Do you have any pet peeves?

(Léa)Yes. popping bubble wrap… ahhh! I actually have to take a deep breath when thinking about it lol! It drives me totally crazy. It never lasts long because eventually they will run out of bubbles to pop… but I usually end up leaving the room before that happens!
(Editor’s note: My stress reliever is popping bubble wrap. We’re on opposite ends of the spectrum here. *hides bubble wrap*)

(Wiser) My apartment complex doesn’t allow pets! 😉

Where do you see yourself in a couple years?

(Léa)Right here – on the internet, sharing, teaching, learning, traveling, painting, inspiring, loving, laughing…

(Wiser) Definitely still learning, progressing and creating! I consider myself a lifelong student and feel like I’m never done learning. Being an expert at one thing doesn’t matter when you’re an amateur at another, so I’m always looking for ways to expand my knowledge and creativity!

Do you have any projects going on or in the works?

(Léa)Yes, Absolutely! I just started a YouTube channel(TheTattooedLadyCA) with fast, upbeat tutorials to help inspire your face painting routine! It is my time to give back and honor the teachers that mentored me, and I want to share the techniques that I have learned on my entertainment path. I also want to connect with my country as a whole and I just started releasing content in Canada’s other official language, French! I have found in my regular face painting job that loads of kids speak French out here in Calgary, and it is so important for kids to be able to interact in everyday life using both languages as their skills are developing. So I find myself intrigued to integrate more French language content into my projects, and see what direction that takes me in!

(Wiser) Very exited to be making my first ever workshop tour in Australia and New Zealand! I’m looking forward to that A LOT! And also conceptualizing some new pieces to paint at Gallery ML in early April 2013. It’s one of my favorite places to paint!! :)

What do you think of FABAtv?

(Léa)I think it is great! The live component gives all us skin painters a chance to get together and hang out and interact and learn together as a community for free! I bought a membership pretty much as soon as FABAtv was launched. The taped show are great for ideas and nothing compares to watching someone who knows what they are doing! If a picture is worth a thousand words then videos are priceless when it comes to evaluating them as an educational material. I also use FABAtv as company sometimes. Many of the teachers on the show I consider friends. I have painted alongside them at conventions, competitions, and I have worked with others professionally.

(Wiser) Love it! Its definitely where you can learn from all the best in the face and body industry! Essential!

Art by Léa in this column.

Lea Painting

Belly Painting by Lea Selley

Body painting by Lea Selley

Amp Energy bodypaint by Lea Selley

Body paint twin - Lea Selley

Body paint twin - Lea Selley

Face Painting - Lea Selley in Action

Face painting - Lea Selley in action

Fancy Season Butterfly by Lea Selley

Lea Selley

Lea Selley at Sturgis Bike Rally

Lea Selley - Self portrait

Lea Selley painting Jay Bautista

painting-action

Sturgis Bike Rally bodypaint by Lea Selley

Art by Wiser in this column.

Graffiti bodypaint by Wiser

Blue graffiti bodypaint by Wiser

Magical Cards bodypaint by Wiser with Michael Dardant

Card rose bodypaint by Wiser

Mutant Graffiti bodypaint by Wiser

Green Head Graffiti by Wiser

Head Graffiti art by Wiser

Hummingbird bodypaint by Wiser

Wall Graffiti by Wiser

White Graffiti bodypaint by Wiser

Tree frogs bodypaint by Wiser

Steampunk Skull bodypaint by Wiser

bodypainted wood clock by Wiser

Puff the Lil Dragon – Face Painting Design

Puff the Lil Dragon Video Tutorial
In this quick tutorial I show you my girly spin on the popular dragon design. No longer are dragons just for boys! Girls can have fun with this design too! It’s also parent friendly and super fast when using an Arty Brush Cake and the ‘Flower Brush’. The ‘flower brush’ is our Silly Farm Signature Large Point brush, and it will help you create the fastest, easiest flowers ever!

I used the following products in this face painting tutorial.

Win a free Silly Farm Brush Set or FABAtv Subscription!

Silly Farm Face Painting Design Contest

There’s a million different contests and surveys going on around the world wide web as we speak, but only one contest will matter to YOU. Here’s your chance to win a free Silly Farm Signature Brush Set or a free month subscription to FABAtv with the latest Silly Farm contest.

Silly Farm Supplies is hosting a photo contest on their facebook page, and it’s easy to be a part of it! Grab your paints and get ready, because submissions to this contest are now open!

Submitting a Contest Entry

  1. Paint up your best tiger face painting design with all the bells and whistles you can muster.
  2. Snap a clean, in-focus picture of the completed design.
  3. Submit the photo of your design as an official entry to the contest.
    (Multiple submissions are allowed, but entries are limited to one per day.)
  4. The official contest page can be found here on the Silly Farm Facebook. This contest is fan-focused and voting runs from January 15th through the 21st. Winners will be announced after the 21st of January and will be contacted by email.

    Enjoy the contest! Leave a comment below and tell us what you would like to see as a future contest or prize.

Silly Farm Partners with European Distributor

A South Florida based company, Silly Farm Supplies is an international retailer and supplier of face & body art products & equipment. Known for their revolutionary Arty Brush Cakes, Rainbow Cakes and other multi-colored combination cakes. Silly Farm is now proud to be able to offer their exclusive products from our European partner & distributor.

Silly Farm products in Holland

Da Grime and Silly Farm have teamed up to bring exclusive Silly Farm brand products to Europe without you having to pay an arm and a leg for shipping overseas. European customers can now find Silly Farm Exclusives through the dagrime.nl web store.

Products now available in Europe

Da Grime Phyiscal Store

Da Grime Physical Store

Da Grime Physical Store

We hope that with our new partnership we will be able to continuously serve you with our ever growing product selection, friendly service, great prices, and fast shipping.

Letter from the CEO

Hello friends,

I want to take a moment to express my gratitude and overwhelming appreciation for painters worldwide. 2012 has been a whirlwind year. It has been filled with many highs, lows, new beginnings and endings, but through it all our Silly Farm supporters have been the guiding light. So, for that I want to say thank you from the bottom of my heart.

Silly Heather Face PaintingI hate the word CEO. I still blush when my staff calls me their boss in public, and I still feel like the excited college grad ready to take on the world of face paint. Its been 10 years since I took hold of that title and 2012 was the first year I felt comfortable adding CEO to my name.

I am writing this letter to say thank you, but also remind each of you to be proud of what you have accomplished this year. How can we expect anyone to value what we do, when we don’t put enough praise and effort into accepting our accomplishments? If you ventured into the world of entrepreneurship and started your business, or made the investment in FABAtv, the FABAIC, or purchased some new equipment… take a moment to be proud. You could have jumped ship when things got hairy or you could have put it off another year, but you didn’t. You are responsible for helping our industry grow, for helping Silly Farm and FABAtv expand, offer more benefits to our employees, and hopefully our products & services have helped you bring more income home.

The world of face painting is built on creative spirits and a love for people. After all you can not want or continue to face paint if you aren’t someone that likes people. Your energy has established face and body art as a real art form, a legitimate business and has birthed thousands of entrepreneurs. I am proud and grateful for the part I have played in it.

My wish for you and your business for 2013 is that you don’t give up, that you set goals, meet them and exceed them. I made a promise to myself to make 2013 more about giving, receiving, and taking time to be proud. When we realize how far we have come, it’s a motivator for how far we can go.
Thank you again for helping me make my dreams come true with FABAtv, to all the painters that have done stellar work for My FAB Events and helped us gain national accounts; to my FABA Blog team and subscribers, to the supporters of Silly Farm and to all of the amazing painters that invest in their careers and attend the FABAIC.

Your support has helped us in more ways than you can imagine. It gives me great pride to offer my staff benefits, to be able to have an outlet to fundraise over $70,000 for our dear friend Brian Wolfe, to have the means to create free face painting youtubes that help painters worldwide, to have great friends across the pond like Illusion Magazine and Superstar, and for allowing me the opportunity to meet such great painters and give lessons, to be involved in an industry that shares, creates and in one big family. I consider each of you a friend and my door and ears are always open to you. I want to know if I can do better, how I can help you reach your goals, and how we can meet your needs. I built this company on customer service and you have my promise that we will work hard every day to be your one stop, full service, friendly, family-oriented company with the products you love, want and need.

Please keep my personal email, heather@sillyfarm, use it when you need it and if you are ever near our store please accept my personal invite to come and see us, take a picture and join the family. There would be no us, without you.

I wish everyone a Happy and safe New Year! We will be back in full swing next year! See you in 2013!

Heather xoxoxox

Silly Farm Customers & Family

The Pro’s and Con’s of Teaching Body Art

Pros & Cons of Teaching Body ArtAre you getting requests to teach face painting or another form of body art? Are you wondering where you want to take your face painting career and if teaching is your next step?

It’s a great question to ask yourself and put some thought into. Teaching is rewarding, it also requires a level of selflessness, confidence, and organization.

Face Painting Class in Holland

The pros of teaching face painting are that you will share your passion with other painters and hopefully inspire them to transform their love of art into a business. You will no doubt become a better painter, because you will be forced to practice, refine your designs, and constantly be creative. Nothing gives me more pleasure than to teach a class, watch my students exceed my expectations, and leave energized.
Student at Holland Workshop

Heather Teaching in Holland Face Painting Practice Heads

However, there is a downside to teaching. Many of my workshops are 6+ hours. They require a level of dedication, planning, and energy to motivate your students. You also have to be willing to take criticism of the students that are unhappy or be patient enough to handle the students that require a little more help.

When you become a teacher you also have to factor in that you will potentially inspire someone else to try their hand at teaching. Are you willing to share your designs and teaching abilities with others that will use the information for their own personal gain? Will you be okay if one of your students gets booked for a gig you used to do?

The most important question to ask is: How will teaching benefit me?

Traveling to teach can be exciting. I am grateful I have been able to see half the world because of my teaching engagements. I get to travel to different countries, meet artists, try new foods, and advertise my companies. International teaching opportunities are worthwhile for me because I have product to sell after the class. If your money making opportunities stop at the end of the class, you might want to re-consider if teaching is for you. Every chance I have to teach is a new potential market opening doors for me to sell, increase my distribution, and expand my network, but for every day I am away from my desk I am also losing time and opportunities. So I weigh the pros and cons prior to planning classes.

Group Picture at Holland Workshop


My first class I was asked to teach was in Orlando for a clown convention. They did not have a large budget. They could only offer me $100 for gas, tolls, and my class. At that point I was just starting Silly Farm so I didn’t have travel inventory, a system in place to sell on the spot, or a website to direct students to. I jumped at the chance because I was excited and honored, but after I spent $75 on gas and tolls, $100 for a hotel, 8 hours of driving time, and 6 hours of teaching, I ended on a down note. It was a fun experience and helped me get my feet wet. From a business stand point it was not a good investment because I had no means to extend my money making opportunity.

If the local PTA, theater department, clown alley, or any other group want you to teach, start by making a list of opportunities and possibilities.

Ask yourself these short questions.

  1. What am I trying to accomplish from teaching?
  2. Will I cover all my expenses and have anything left?
  3. What investment in supplies, advertising, or travel will i need to make ?
  4. Am I okay if some of my students become teachers?
  5. Am I comfortable in front of a crowd for long periods of time?
  6. What would I like to see happen after the class?

Silly Farm Supplies - Everything Face and Body ArtIf you have a passion for teaching, consider finding additional means of profiting from your class. Do you have your own products to sell? Are you part of a company’s program that allows you to earn commission from selling their products, such as Silly Farm’s Incentive Program? Do you have a company you can work with to sponsor the class?

The difference between a career and a hobby, is that your career should be making money. If you want to take your business to the next level you have to get in the business frame of mind. Place a value on your time, services, and talents. When you sell your services remember the fee for your services should net you at least 10% more than the other opportunities you are turning down.

I love to see face painters blossom into strong entrepreneurs. Sometimes a little guidance and out of the box thinking is all it takes. I wish you a prosperous and success filled 2013!

Happy painting my friends, Happy Holidays, and Happy New Year!!

Top 20 Must-Haves for Face Painters

As I travel the world I get to meet the best of the best tackle tarts. Tackle tarts are paint hoarders that must have and buy everything related to face painting. I love tackle tarts because they keep Silly Farm in business, however I hate to see things go to waste. Some of you have so much paint that you couldn’t use it in two lifetimes. Then I meet painters that have a hodge podge of this and that, and they are still trying to find the perfect kit and set up.

The perfect kit does not exist, nor does the perfect brand. You will have to kiss a few paint frogs in order to find the products that transform your art into a Picasso or you can read my list of 20 Must haves for painters and hopefully I can save you money and time kissing those frogs!

  • 20) A mesh laundry bag to hold sponges.
    Sponges are lightweight, fly away and are easily lost. I store my sponges in a laundry bag so they don’t fly away and it makes it simple to wash them after a gig.
  • 19) Baby Wipes and not the cheapy ones either!
    When buying baby wipes try to make sure they don’t have a lot of fragrance or are rough on the skin. That way you protect your paints and don’t leave fibers in them. You can also clean the children or your hands without smelling like a baby booty.
  • 18) Business Cards on your table!
    If your goal is to generate more business and solicit new clients, don’t make them do the work. Have your cards and your contact info readily available so they can find you, book you and PAY you.
  • 17) An Acrylic Mirror.Large Acrylic Mirror
    A GOOD mirror too! Would you buy an invisible Mercedes? Probably not, so why would you paint a masterpiece and not be able to show it off? Look for an acrylic mirror at least the size of a sheet of paper. You want your clients to look in the mirror and go WOW, not scramble for a lip gloss mirror at the bottom of their mom’s purse. The reason I mention an acrylic mirror is to avoid 7 years of bad luck as acrylic mirrors are less fragile and clean easier.
  • 16) Bandaids.
    I have saved the lives of paper cut wounded children and was praised as a hero just because I carry bandaids with me. You would be surprised how far a bandaid can go and how you can save the party.
  • 15) A Gallon of Water.
    In order to keep my set up looking clean and keep parents happy with my hygiene practices, I dump my dirty water quite often. To avoid running to the sink every time I need a fresh cup, I carry a gallon of water with me to ensure enough clean water for the entire length of my gig. Clean is the new cool!
  • 14) A Table and Chair.
    It wasn’t until I stepped into the role of party mom that I realized how crazy you are when you are hosting a birthday party for your kid. You want everything to be perfect and you want the least amount of problems thrown your way. When I hire a professional and pay professional rates I expect them to come ready to go, and I expect that they have a table and chair to do their job. A table and chair is part of the required materials in order to complete their duties. The last thing I want to do when I am hosting a party is stop greeting my guests to find a table for the face painter. Being prepared is essential and gives you a professional look.
  • 13) Table Cloth.
    If you want to charge like a professional you need to look like one. I carry my face painting kit, my purse, my gallon of water and other stuff to my job. When I set up I store everything under my table and cover it all up with a nice glittery table cloth. My clients like it because I look professional and I love it because it hides all the things I don’t want kids to touch or mess with.
  • 12) A Smile.
    A smile is the only curve that sets everything straight. Remember, we sell smiles. If you yourself aren’t wearing one, how do you expect your clients to feel? Put your bad day aside when you are on the job and remember to smile because its contagious!
  • 11) Water Bottle, Snacks, and Gum.
    Especially for those long gigs! I have painted at events for 6+ hours and thank goodness I always pack a little something to nibble on and drink during the event. While it feels inhumane to paint on your feet for 6+ hours, sometimes we get carried away. Having a little snack in your pocket can make a huge difference. I try to keep granola bars or raisins in my pocket to help me along the way and keep myself energized. I also bring some water for me to drink on the job so that I don’t have to rely on the host of the party to offer me a drink. Especially during the summer months!
  • 10) Brush Tub.Brush Tub - Brush Caddy & Water Basin
    I LOVE LOVE LOVE my brush tub. I have always had trouble losing my brushes, or them rolling around on my table. I love this brush tub because I can stand my brushes up in the right direction and it has 3 compartments. I always keep one compartment with clean water to use with my q-tips for the lips. The other compartment has ridges at the bottom that help me clean excess paint residue from my brushes. It’s a good size to travel with and easy to clean!
  • 9) Q-tips.
    The best way to apply lipstick is by using a q-tip. This way you don’t have to use your brush on everyone’s lips and you can keep your brushes more sanitary. A little hint to get the glitter to stay longer on the lips. Add a little Vaseline over the lipstick and then dab glitter on. Your model will have glittery lips for a while.
  • 8) Good Round Brushes. Round Brushes
    By now most of you know I am a Gold Grip fan. The Gold Grip brushes are my personal favorites because they hold their point after repeated use in water and the bristles are chiseled to a fine point. The hairs rarely start going awry unless you leave them immersed in water, and they hold paint nicely. Round brushes are the most commonly used brushes by face painters and having a few GREAT rounds in your kit will make a HUGE difference in your line quality.
  • 7) An assortment of Arty and Rainbow Cakes. Multi-colored Paints, Rainbows, Art Cakes, ect
    Even if you just buy one arty and one rainbow cake it will be worth the investment. You would be surprised how much faster you can paint when you can put down five background colors at once. My new personal favorite rainbow cake is the Hippie and Moon Dance Rainbow Cake. They are WOW! I also can’t live without my Bright Leaf and Juicy Fruit Arty Cakes. Rainbow and Arty cakes are impressive to have on your table because parents look at your supplies and think you have a secret product only available to painters. They are also amazed at what it does and really are blown away. I load my table with rainbow and arty cakes because it also shows the parents that I have products they can’t just buy at WalMart or Party City. The products I am using are sold at the super exclusive, Painters Paradise, Silly Farm Supplies. Only painters can shop there (Just kidding).
  • 6) Sponges.Sponges & Specialty Brushes
    In order to apply base coat or to cover a large area, you will want to use face painting sponges. I suggest keeping them in the mesh bag mentioned earlier so you don’t loose them. Cutting them in half is another great way to extend their life and get the most out of them. This way you will also have a nice flat surface to blend with and cover a large area. If you plan on buying sponges from a craft store, make sure they; are soft to the skin, don’t fall apart when used in water, and don’t itch the skin.
  • 5) Cosmetic Glitter.Cosmetic Glitters
    Nothing finishes a face painting design quite like some sparkle. While some people see glitter as the STD of the craft world, I see it as essential as a Visa card. Never leave home without it! If you have to choose just one glitter, I would suggest the White Fairy Dust. The white fairy dust is the most practical because it can go over any color without covering the design. If you want to get fancy then I suggest having a pink, gold, and lime green glitter too to dress up your lips, leaves and tigers. If you purchase your glitter from a craft store please make sure it is safe to use on the skin. Make sure it is a cosmetic grade glitter, made from polyester not metallic. Metallic glitter can be harmful in the eyes and cause the child to feel itchy.
  • 4) Brush Bath.Brush Cleaner, Sanitizer, Conditioner
    It took me 4 years to work with a chemist to come up with a formula that was non toxic, safe for the skin, organic and that can be used while we face paint. Brush bath is a water sanitizer and brush conditioner. You can use it while you face paint to keep your water fresh in between rinses, and it also conditions the bristles while you rinse. It does not contain any alcohol and it is 100% safe on the skin. Adding rubbing alcohol to your face painting water does not have any affect or serve a purpose. If you don’t use Brush bath, I recommend using baby shampoo, but only a very little.
  • 3) Starblend Powders.
    Powders can be just as useful and time saving as using rainbow cakes. The powders serve as a fast background color without having to use a damp sponge. Powders are applied dry with a smoothie blender which allow for fast and smooth application. I love using the red starblend for Spiderman, it has saved me so much in paint and time!
  • 2) Gems.Acrylic Gems
    Gems are like my secret weapon. When a child doesn’t want to get painted, I whip out my gems and make a child’s day! Gems can be used to create a necklace, crown, or a pretty bracelet. Its funny, but something as simple as a gem can leave a lasting memory with both the child and parent. They are inexpensive, but can take your face painting to the next level.
  • 1) Professional Grade Face Paint.Professional Grade Face Paint
    A painter cannot paint without paint. It’s a must. I’m not going to sell you on any one brand, I would rather just push you in the direction of using skin safe, cosmetic grade face and body make up. Avoid acrylics, avoid grease make up that is hard to remove for kids, and set yourself up with a kit that looks professional, allows you to paint like Van Gough, and that you are proud to use on your own skin. Keep your paints clean, build a kit around the colors and designs you like to paint the most, and mix and match your favorite brands. I promise you will love your kit when it becomes a reflection of you.

If I missed anything on my list, send us an email or leave a comment below! Happy Painting !

Free Face Painting Class with Silly Heather

FABAtv Instructor Heather Green

FABAtv (Face and Body Art Television) is feeling the Holiday spirit this winter. If you’re a subscriber to FABAtv, you’ve probably seen the free face painting class they are offering this month. Unlike the usual free & live class that FABAtv hosts around the 15th every month, this is an actual studio-filmed-and-edited class.

Holly Jolly Christmas by Heather Green

The artist behind this free face painting class is Heather Green, aka Silly Heather. Many of you have know of Heather as the owner of Silly Farm Supplies and from her YouTube face painting tutorials. Her latest class is all about Christmas and Holiday designs. You can catch Heather’s free class, Holly Jolly Christmas, on fabatv.com throughout the month of December!

Silly Farm Christmas Commercial

Just in time for the Holidays. This is our very first commercial for Silly Farm and Santas little helper just can’t wait to give you some Silly Farm gifts! Have you been naughty or nice this year?


December only!
Get a free bonus $5 added to your gift card of $50 or more only at Silly Farm Supplies – Everything Face & Body Art. Get yours now!
Gift Card Madness! Bonus $5

Rudolph Face Painting with Video Tutorial

Lil Red Riding RudolphLia face painted as Rudolph

Lia volunteered to be my model for this Lil Red Riding Rudolph, my latest tutorial. This is a Rudolph the red nose reindeer inspired design and it’s a perfect face painting design for boys or girls around the Holidays. I will show you how to create this design step-by-step in my video tutorial below.

Products Used

Happy Hippie Face Painting Video Tutorial

Happy Hippie Face Painting Tutorial
I hope everyone had an amazing Thanksgiving this weekend, however you spent it( with or without family and friends). For those that worked Black Friday and Small Business Saturday, I hope you’re getting some well deserved rest. I wasn’t able to push this tutorial out before Thanksgiving, but I’m here now and delivering it today.

This is Heather’s latest face painting tutorial, aptly named ‘Happy Hippie’ for it’s free flowing nature. This is a quick 3-5 minute design that pops without spending too much time on detail.

Heather started this design with the brand new, Silly Farm Exclusive Hippie Rainbow Cake. Using a sponge and the BAM 1038 stencil, she started the base on the forehead and then filled around the eyes with just the sponge.

Next, Heather used an Athena #10 Filbert brush and Wolfe White to hand paint a couple more stars and add some strokes above and below the eyes.

Heather then dabbed her sponge in Wolfe White and using the BAM 1038 stencil again, dabs some stars over the Rainbow Cake base on each side.

Next, Heather takes her Gold Grip #4 round brush loaded with Wolfe White and adds some more details around the design.

Depending if you have the time or not, Heather used a Gold Grip #2 brush loaded with Wolfe Black to outline parts of the design.

Finally, Heather added some ‘lipstick’ and some Magic Magenta & White Fairy Dust glitter for the finished design.

The tutorial is below, along with the products used. You can visit Silly Farm’s Create This Look section to see all the products used in each design.

[button type=”button_solid_light” url=”http://www.sillyfarm.com/store/index.php?p=catalog&parent=975&pg=1″ target=”on” ]I want to Create This Look[/button]

Happy Hippie: Create This Look

‘Dueling Dragons’ Face Painting Tutorial

Dueling Dragons Video TutorialThis is a design I did earlier in the year using the Silly Farm exclusive Fairy Fly kits. Fairy Fly kits are one of the newest additions to the Silly Farm multi-colored cake collection.

I created this dragon design on Andrew with a minimum amount of products. Below are the products I used, along with a link to the products on Silly Farm.

  1. Dueling Dragons Fairy Fly Kit
  2. Gold Grip Round #3 Brush
  3. Kryolan Flat #12 Brush
  4. Pink Silly Farm Sponges

Zombie Love – Special Effects Tutorial

Zombie Love - Special Effects Tutorial
Keeping in theme with the month, here’s another Halloween inspired design. This is a quick, 2-3 minute zombie teeth design using Mehron Tooth FX, Wolfe Face Art & FX’s black & red, a stipple sponge, and some fake blood. My model today is my hubby, Henry! This is a great technique to pair with another design, as it compliments the character and brings it to life even more. Check out my last zombie tutorial you can use this with!
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  1. Clean the zombie, werewolf, or whatever fanged horror monster’s teeth and make sure they are dry. Make sure their lips don’t touch the Tooth FX for at least 20 seconds once applied.
  2. Apply the mehron tooth fx on their teeth. Remember you are blacking out the teeth to create a sharp, fanged tooth appearance.
  3. Next, apply some wolfe red and black to give a stained blood appearance.
  4. I finished this quick design using a stipple sponge and dabbing some fake, stage blood around the lips, chin, and even on the teeth for some fresh looking blood effects.

It looks like our zombie just had his first bite!
Share with us your creations that you used this technique with. We’d love to see your pictures! Post them to our facebook page or send us a tweet!

Henry's Zombie Teeth

Dark Bat – Face Painting Video Tutorial

The Dark Bat Face Painting
Everyone always asks for more boy designs, so we’re dedicated October to boy designs! This is a quick batman inspired face painting mask that I created and can be done in a quick 3-5 minutes. Add your own variations or copy it line to line!

The model requested that I didn’t paint over his eyes so I created the mask around his eyes without making him close his eyes during the process.
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  • I start off laying down background color with my rainbow cake, and then painted the mask on top and around his eyes.
  • I added the details, some tiny bats and a moon.
  • I finished the design off with a little glitter and VOILA! A fast and simple design geared towards all ages!

Dark Bat & DragontalesWatch the Dark Bat tutorial on Youtube.
Want the tutorial for this other design? Find out how to create the ‘Dragontales’ design!

Face Painting Video Tutorial – My Sunshine

My Sunshine Face PaintingHere’s new video tutorial to start off the week!
This is a colorful design I created that incorporates the sun, clouds, a rainbow, and stars! Practice those teardrop techniques for this design!
Watch the video tutorial and follow up with the products used to create your very own Sunshine! Everything is listed below!


Products Used:

Products available from Silly Farm Supplies

Wofle FX Neon PinkMC Glitter White Fairy DustOne Stroke 1" in. Flat BrushFlash Paradise Prisma CakeFAB Makeup Ziva Blue ShimmerFAB Makeup Bright YellowFAB Makeup Bright Orange

Our Favorite Holiday

Our favorite holiday is almost upon us… Halloween!!!!!!!!

Now is the time to start stocking up on all your Halloween needs, with August nearly over, there’s just one more month until the scare season starts!

Zombie Skin 4ozA new product on the market this year is Zombie Skin. This amazing product is so easy and versatile to use. It is an ammonia free latex product that you can use to sculpt your goriest creations, or blend the edges of the prosthetics you will be using. It dries almost instantly and is so much fun to use!!!! It can be used alone or on top of your tissue paper and wax creations.

[button type=”button_solid_light nocufon” url=”http://www.sillyfarm.com/store/index.php?p=product&id=5311&parent=0″ target=”on” ]Get Zombie Skin[/button]

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Mehron 3D Gel - Blood EffectsAnother great product for this season is Mehron 3D Gel. This product is so much fun to use. You have to melt the gel (never in the microwave! Place it in a cup of hot water), then apply it. As it starts to harden, you can then paint and create your gore masterpieces.

[button type=”button_solid_light nocufon” url=”http://www.sillyfarm.com/store/index.php?p=product&id=4772&parent=0″ target=”on”]Get Mehron 3D Gelatin[/button]

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Ripped Chest with Special Effects MakeupZombie Skinned Spiderman with special effects makeup

Below are some of the main essentials that are popular during the Halloween season.

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.thumbnail_list span { text-align:center;}
.thumbnail_list img { -webkit-border-radius: 15px; border-radius: 15px; text-decoration:none !important; border: 1px solid #C1C1C1;}
.thumbnail_list img:hover { -webkit-box-shadow: 0px 0px 5px 0px #bd1b8d; box-shadow: 0px 0px 5px 0px #bd1b8d;}

This is our busiest time of the year, so be proactive and stock up on your supplies now before supplies are limited.

If you need help with any of your ghoulish creations, please do not hesitate to contact me, “The Gore Queen”, at pam@sillyfarm.com.
Happy Haunting to all!!!!
-Pam

Check out Halloween Special Effects Tutorials on Youtube!

Wolverine Face Painting Tutorial

In my latest video tutorial, I painted the character Wolverine from X-men. I did this face painting using FAB Makeup and Wolfe FX. With Halloween coming up, this is a great design that boys will love and it is quick to do. The products I used are listed below with links to the product page.

Wolverine Face Painting

Wolverine Face Painting Tutorial on Youtube

Confessions of an Under-Earner

The following reading is an article excerpt from the Amerikan Body Art newsletter written by Erika Harrison.

Hand Henna by Erika HarrisonI happened to be on the Dave Ramsey website, watching a webcast for his “EntreLeadership” series and Dave mentioned that he always asks potential employees and consulting clients what they’re reading. If you’re a business owner, and you’re not reading material meant to teach and inspire you to do better in life and business, you don’t have your eye on the ball. I usually have at least 2 or 3 books sitting on my coffee table….and none of them are fiction. I’m not opposed to reading fiction, but if you’re not where you feel that you need to be, businesswise, and you’re not doing something about it….reading Girl with a …whatever, is not going to get you there.

I am a book junkie, and I prefer an actual book over an ebook, but for those of you on a budget, between free internet podcasts, internet business articles, libraries, thrift stores, and borrowing from friends….there really is no excuse to not be constantly absorbing new information about personal growth, business growth, marketing, finances, and new techniques. You could watch a new YouTube video on face painting every single day and never get through all of the videos that are available.

So, you might be wondering what I’m currently reading…. I have The Courage to Be Rich, by Suze Orman, on my coffee table, The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership, by John Maxwell, on my iPad, and I just finished Secrets of Six Figure Women, by Barbara Stanny. And in my spare time (lol) I’m listening to Dave Ramsey Entreleadership podcasts. I highly recommend his website if you have any personal finance issues or business finance issues. Using Dave’s methods and advice, our family eliminated all of our credit card debt and we’re well on our way to paying off our student loans and home way ahead of schedule.

Erika Harrison HennaThe book that I just finished, Secrets of Six Figure Women, really had me a bit steamed when I read the first few chapters. I currently earn more than anyone in my family has every earned, and I’m even outpacing my husband who works for a major defense contractor and has been with the company for 20+ years. I would never in a million years consider myself an “under-earner.” But according to Barbara Stanny, I am indeed an under-earner. I have to concede that it’s not like I’m a complete slacker, since according to her definition; probably 99% of people are under-earners. An under-earner is simply someone who has settled for the status quo for the sake of comfort or due to other, often self-imposed, limitations. There are definitely areas that I need to work on.

One limitation that I’ve imposed on myself is the earning potential for my company. Comparing myself and what I do to the serious nature of my husband’s occupation, I have a hard time wrapping my head around a glitter peddler earning more than a defense contractor. Don’t get me wrong….Glitter rocks! But let’s face it; glitter is not exactly a priority in most people’s lives. I often find myself on the losing end of the profit equation because I give my staff raises, and offer new customer perks, but hesitate to raise prices even when I know that it’s needed.

How many of you are afraid to raise your prices because you feel that you would not be able to afford your prices if you were a customer? You have to realize that you don’t place as much value on something that you can easily do as someone who can’t or won’t do it themselves. I use coupons for grocery shopping, even though it takes me an hour or two each week to organize my trips, but then I’m willing to pay someone to clean my house, to mow my lawn, to clean my pool, and to tutor my kids. Sure I can do all of these things myself….but I am willing to pay whatever it takes to have someone else take care of a job that I would rather not do so that I can spend my time doing things that I would rather do. We only have so many hours available to us and we have to choose where our efforts will have the most impact. No matter how tough the economy looks, there will always be people who are willing to pay for your services. You just have to reach those people.

When I first entered the henna industry, henna artists were charging $25 – $35 per hour, while face painters were charging two to three times as much. Fortunately, henna artists have caught on and are not undercharging as much as they used to. For every henna artist in an area, you can bet there are at least a dozen face painters. So why would a henna artist…(Read the rest of the article via the bottom page of Amerikan Body Art’s Newsletter)

Erika Harrison Confessions of an Under-Earner
Written by Erika Harrison.
Check out Amerikan Body Art and their newsletter for more of her articles!

4th of July Face Painting Ideas

Summer is upon us and one of our busiest days is around the corner. The 4th of July is a big deal for face painters considering there are events and fairs being held all over the place. It’s time to get some creative juices flowing and narrow down some good face painting designs for the 4th.
Below are some face painting videos with some great 4th of July designs. For more face painting videos and tutorials, make sure to check out Silly Heather’s Youtube Channel.

Silly Heather’s latest video tutorial – Face Painting 4th of July Fireworks – Watch on Youtube

4th of July Face Painting Tutorial Crown by Lisa Joy Young – Watch on Youtube

4th of July Face Painting Eye Design by Silly Heather – Watch on Youtube

4th of July Face Painting Mask by Silly Heather – Watch on Youtube

Quick 4th of July Stars Face Painting by Silly Heather – Watch on Youtube

Rainbow Cake Queen

Tiger Design using Juicy Fruit RC I am not very active on Facebook or internet forums. As my business grew, my window to enjoy staring at gorgeous images on the internet slipped away. Every now and then I get the chance to drool at my screen and get excited about seeing the amazing work my fellow painters are doing. Recently, very colorful images have been filling my inbox. The images were so much fun and exciting, they made me get more excited about the rainbow cakes I spend hours creating. As a special bonus we’re introducing a new contest for you to have your very own rainbow cake combination made by Silly Farm Supplies!

Laura Oliver - Eye Design with Neon RainbowLaura Oliver - Floral Design
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I spend countless hours creating the perfect color combinations for the Silly Farm rainbow cakes. I take a lot of pride in seeing what other painters create with the combinations I put together. Believe it or not, we hand make each rainbow cake. We have a little factory at Silly Farm where we mold, cut and arrange all the rainbow and arty cakes. You might ask, “Why?” when we can send them overseas to be made for a fraction of the cost. The reason is because we control the quality, colors, and can change them up at any time. I’m neurotic about giving my customers no less than what I would expect from a retailer. My little rainbow / arty cake factory employs 6 people who love creating something that face painters use to do a great job. Laura Oliver is living proof.

I have been following Laura online and watching her post pictures, using a variety of Silly Farm rainbow and arty cakes, and I was so impressed that I wanted to write a blog about her. I admire her for many reasons.

  1. She shares her work with others to learn and enjoy
  2. She answers questions when asked and gives selfless answers
  3. She creates from the heart. She isn’t paid by Silly Farm, but she genuinely has fun painting and creating those smiles.
  4. She isn’t afraid of putting herself out there and hearing the feedback about her work.

Laura Oliver - Butterfly Design with Juicy Fruit RC
Laura Oliver - Butterfly Design Laura Oliver - Latina Lovely Laura Oliver - Give me your small animals!

A lot of us fear rejection or disapproval. It is that fear of rejection that prohibits us from sharing our work and growing. Laura takes a chance and by sharing she is able to inspire others, encourage those struggling with cakes to try something new, and opens herself to helping others. That is what made me love our industry so much and that is why I make my YouTube face painting videos. Paying it forward helps build a village, we can always accomplish more when you are willing to G.L.U.E. (Giving Little Unexpected Extras) yourself to our industry.

Thank you Laura for sharing, you inspire me to keep on pumping out rainbow cakes!

Happy Painting!

-Heather

Bonus! Rainbow Cake Creation Contest

Rainbow Cake Creation ContestWe need some help coming up with new rainbow cake designs. Are you a painter that mix n’ matches their cakes, always coming up with the perfect color schemes? Then this contest is for you.
The rules are simple and the submission is straight forward. Send us your own rainbow cake color combinations and if we choose it, we will start manufacturing it and send you a free rainbow cake along with a $25 gift certificate to Silly Farm Supplies![clear]

[button type=”button_solid_dark nocufon” url=”http://www.fabablog.com/rainbow-cake-contest/” target=”on” ]Take me to the Rainbow Cake Creation Contest![/button]

Good Luck and don’t forget to like and share this post!

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.

Wolfe Face Art & FX TAGDiamond FX

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

FAB PaintKryolan Paradise AquacolorSnazaroo

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 45gmWolfe 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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FAB Alice BlueGlycerin 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.

Ultra Violet UV Day Glow Neon Paints

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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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.

EFABAE Southfield Michigan Class Southfield Michigan SuperJam Arty Cake Class at Silly Farm Supplies