How many FP here have any kind of art background? What brought them into Face Painting?

Shannon that is AWESOME! Below is "Star Pony" A.K.A. Hollywood's Starfire..... a mix mutt (3/4 Quarter Horse 1/4 Arabian) my grandmother bought off a farm here in S. Tallahassee. She won me more ribbons and trophies than I can count. Don't mean to hijack the thread but she passed 12/12/2007 and was a BIG INFLUENCE on my creative ability. And yes, that's me as a kid. I had her for 21 years (7 years old - 28 years old) and have often thought about changing my business to "The Lucky Star" in honor of her memory.

Not much of an art background here... Well, I take that back, I was a semi-professional photographer at some point (mainly weddings and senior portraits), but that's about th extent of my foray into the artist world, outside of face and body art.

I was a severely oppressed child so there were no art classes or things of that sort. My dad decided that despite displaying artistic talent, neither me nor my brother would be going into the nowhere world of artistic expression.
I taught my brother how to hone his drawing skills just to be rebellious. I left home for the Navy when I was 20 and the most I did was paint a company flag in bootcamp and doodle a bit here and there.

I'm very very artsey fartsey and will latch onto just about any craft/artform that can hold my attention. My problem is that once I latch on, I go all out.
That's why I currently have 3 sewing machines, hundreds of spools of regular and embroidery thread, hundreds of yards of fabric, a serger, more jewelry making stuff that I could ever use, enough scrapbooking stuff to open my own little shop, Bins of misc. crafting supplies and now...a slowly growing FP supply stash. Once I latch, it becomes a passion and all of those passions fight for what few hours in the day I have to give them!

I'm a CAD drafter because I decided not to finish my Architectural degree and my brother, despite my dad's best attempts to curb his artistic expression, is a graphic designer. I feel as if I've abandoned my natural talent and I struggle with feeling I have a right to pursue artistic venues as I've been taught that it's a frivolous waste of time, energy, and that's a hard mental bump to get over!

I got into facepainting by volunteering for the PTA during my son's elementary days. Now that my daughter is getting ready to start in the public school system, the PTA has come back to my door of opportunity and this time I want to unleash my creative potential on as many kids as possible! I love the feeling of being creative and I have to admit that I am flattered when kids insist that I paint their face instead of one of the other volunteer parents...I know, I need a smack...but I'll take my validation any way I can get it!

Have you considered making things for face painters with all that fabric and materials??? Personalized aprons, banners, brush rolls, hats, brooches and bling....

Yes...that's definitely a good idea. I totally understand the 'fabric stash' thing! I am going to make new brush rolls and a few aprons for myself (time permitting...).

I noted several things I could easily make myself when I get some spare time!

Don't let that fabric and bling go to waste! The sparklier and more bold it it, the better for face painters!

Soooooooooo an art background, mmmmmh. Well, no official training, but years and years of experience. I have never encountered something that was blank that I didn't view as a canvas. Even my lab coats for school, I painted them with bugs and body parts, (part of my very twisted humour.)

I have been painting and drawing for years. I love all mediums, charcoal, pen & ink, paint, chalk, pencil, clay, paper mache, etc. I love colour and use it wildly in my world. I have been commissioned on many occasions to do tattoo designs, t-shirts, windows, company logos, jewellery and many other things. I love all forms of artistic expression and happily look forward to new ideas all the time.

I have three children and my youngest says when she grows up, she wants to be an artist like me

Shannon Fennell wrote:Have you considered making things for face painters with all that fabric and materials??? Personalized aprons, banners, brush rolls, hats, brooches and bling....

You know... I haven't. I've only really been exposed to you guys...*cough* *cough*. I never really thought of ways to merge passions...hmmm. I have a sewing/embroidery machine, but I'm kind of scared of it. I've made aprons (for me and my daughter for Thanksgiving preparation...yeah...it was lame, but the memories...). I don't see why I couldn't, other than the fact that I'd have no idea how many pockets and knick knack pouches would be needed for such a venture. I could test a prototype on you Shannon, but you'd have to tell me what you want. You wanna be my guinea pig?

Sure... oink oink... er, no. Guinea Pigs aren't pigs they are big rats!!

Hmm... I think I've got an idea for an apron... let me ruminate on it for a day or two...

Ruminate away....oink

Lone Wolf posted a picture of 'saddle bags' (Yes I have horses too... ) secured onto a chair arm, to hold sponges. I think I'm going to attempt to make a couple with excess material that I have, to hold my sponges and hair bands.....or maybe not... my chairs don't have arm rests!!!! :

Well, if you have really long arms...
You could make a chair saddle that doubles as a cushion? Like a seat cushion with side pockets..kwim?

What about a saddle bag for the table? Like a table runner with pockets?

Ooh... I like that idea... I'd want a small version to cover my toolbox... with pockets on all four sides, the one facing me to hold a box of tissue and package of wipes on their ends - with holes in the pockets to dispense through, one pocket on the the next side to hold the mirror, the outer pocket facing the line to hold a sign, cards, etc, and the other pocket can be for stashing my snacks!!

Maybe with HIDDEN pockets inside or underneath for stashing cash or things...

I like the snack idea hee hee hee

You know what would really be cool? A face painting tent within your booth. Like a little mesh deal that little girls hang over their beds. That way nobody but the walking canvas and the face painter can get near the supplies and the parents can still see their kids are safe. It would be totally "come into my lair"...