Professional Face Painter

I have a question that I would like to pose to the forum. This is not to start a debate on if craft/acrylic paint is good as we all know it's not good for face painting. My question is do you consider a face painter that uses acrylic paint as a professional face painter? Whether they've been doing it 10, 20, 30+ years. Do you look at the paint they use or the quality of their designs, or both?

In my opinion. No one should hire a painter that refuses you use safe paints. If they cannot be hired, then they're not a professional. If they want to be great at what they do, then when they're informed that their paints are unsafe, then they would switch if they were a true professional.

I'm with whitney,, I think one needs to use fda approved paint for the skin,, what if a child breaks out to the acrylic paint. parents will not be very happy that you painted their child with paints that are not for the skin..
just mu 2 cents

why do I suspect this is in reference to a Craigs List ad?
http://houston.craigslist.org/evs/2204025522.html

A Professional:
following an occupation as a means of livelihood or for gain:
I consider myself a professional. My only income is from my artwork and my Face Painting.
I use "Paradise" "Wolfe" and "Snaz" and Yes I have used acrylic and will continue to use acrylic. All contests I have entered I have used my Paradise pallet. I sometimes think that I and other painters that use acrylic are attacked... Yes I understand that it's not labeled for the skin, yep I understand that a reaction can occur, reactions can occur with any and all paints.
Go to the Texas Rennisance Festival out of the 20+ FacePainters there there is 2 painters that use just Snaz and Paradise. I know of three painters that have painted there for over 25 years, that's 8 weekends all day long and have NEVER had anyone call or report any kind of reaction.
Now what I am seeing is that those of you that solely use the brands of paint that are for cosmetic use are threatned by those that use acrylic because you feel they under cut your prices, I hear it again and again "the craft paint hooker" well I'm no hooker! I have been face painting since I was 18 yrs old with acrylic paint. I discovered there was other stuff to use 2+ years ago. I like Paradise.Wolfe and Snaz and am looking forward to trying the DFX. I use my Paradise and Snaz to do full faces and masks anything that will go near the eyes. I do use the acrylic on the body and when it's really hot as it will last in the heat and humidity here.
Eventually I will go into glitter tatts for the heat of the summer months.
Will I stop using acrylic paint on the skin?
Not likely, I am using it less and less however if trying to flag me as a unsafe painter I will fight. Until there is a law that says I can not use acrylic paint I will continue to use it. I also discuss this with the parents what do they want me to use. I tell them exactally what I use, and let them choose.
My prices are what they are because I'm new to this area, I had gigs scheduled for the year when I lived in Austin and could charge more there, here I'm in a poorer community and price accordingly.
This is a very competive bussiness I'm finding, well here in Houston anyway.
Go ahead and flame me, I'm expecting it.
I will never stop painting, I love it! I love learning about the new stuff and love seeing all the great stuff this forums provides.
I don't know what else to say.
Professional Face Painter here. I am good at what I do and 20+ years of doing it I think I can call my self a Professional.

Shandi, I'm confused. Are you the one saying all of this or was this all said in a craigslist ad?

I have the craigs list ad I posted. SmoothDansa also has a Craigs list ad.
I'm just over reacting

My daughter has very sensitive skin... it would not be ok for you to use acrylics on her skin. I'm not going to flame you but I cannot understand your way of thinking.
Maybe they have had a reaction but didn't know how to contact you... or couldn't be bothered - they will just never get a face painting again. Bad for business don't you think?
There is a reason the products for skin are made..... and no there is no law, but that doesn't mean there shouldn't be it just means it would be impossible to police.
Is it ok with you if a mum looks over your shoulder and then the next day goes to an art store buys acrylics and starts painting all the kids she comes in contact with?
This is why whenever we go out to a festival I have to prepaint my child or ask a lot of questions before I allow her to be painted.
We are not only worried about you undercutting our business - but also about the health of our kids and about the health of the industry as a whole.
If you went out and ordered chicken for dinner and they gave you a man made chicken subsitiute would that be ok with you?
If you are offering face painting - really you should be using face paint.
Maybe you should stop acting all attacked and start thinking about the industry as a whole and educating people on what is ok to go on your skin and what isn't.
Parents now days care about putting on sunscreen, wearing a hat, eating healthy sometimes organic foods, and using natural products around the house, they should care about what you are painting on their angels skin.
What about staining? flaking? the fact that they are stuck with the design for three days or more?
It is very humid here - we just had a heat wave over 40 degrees everyday and I worked in the heat.... yes it's hard but I will never use a product not made for the skin on my customers... they deserve better then that.
It's your choice to make, I'm not trying to tell you that you should stop.... what you do is completely up to you.... but the painters that only use good products are never going to accept you using acrylics and as a mum I would never let you paint my kids face.

In my opinion, a professional face painter is someone who:
1) Has a business license
2) Uses safe products
3) Conducts themself and their business in a professional manner at all times

No offense to anyone, but I really don't think that you can call yourself a professional while providing a service(such as painting with craft paint) that is known to be dangerous and potentially fatal.

No, didn't even notice the craigs list ad. I'm just curious as to what other face painters think. I mean I personally know a great face painter who has been painting for 15 years and he still uses acrylic paint. I consider him a professional because I learned alot of designs and techniques from him, although I would like that he switch to "real" face paint.

Nope....not a pro. Has not stayed current to the times. They also used to use leeches. You get the idea.

Put it in these terms - A henna artist who claimes to be pro, has designs that look nice...uses black henna that is illegal and can cause contact dermittis (sp), direct link to bladder cancer, permanent scarring.
Claims that she has never had someone complain and has been doing it for 10 years. Is she a pro? Nope.

Doctor has been in practice 50 years.....still uses leeches for gout and thinks that you can relieve headaches with arsenic. Still a pro? Nope.

If you are purposely not keeping up, not willing to grow or learn, unwilling to 'step up the game', you may have been a pro...but a good pro stays on top of thier profession. They may do a pretty looking job, but then so can the painter using mercury or other toxins in oil paint on a face or body. Does not make them a body painter. I've heard tell of people using car paint in temp tattoo stands. VERY bad...are they pro because someone hired them? Nope.

Just my opinion. Everyone has one and can state it. I may not even be right, but it's kinda how I see it. I may just stand corrected. I'm only 3 months old...whadda I know??

I'm definately new to the face painting industry but I'm with Tash. I also have a daughter that is super sensitive. And I would be so upset if I paid someone to paint my daughters face and they used acrylic paint! But on the business side of it when I started face painting I started with professional "face paint". I think anyone working with the public should take in consideration that, just like yourself going out to eat, to the doctor, to the dentist, or anyone or place that serves the public, should take certain measures to keep your clients safe. But after all this is just my opinion!

Hey Shandi, Yeah, I think you may be over reacting, as nothing on your website or the craigslist ad says anything about you using acrylic paints.

Also, I think you're an awsome painter, but honestly, if you dont post on your website/ advetisments that you use acrylic paints, then maybe you're not so proud of using it either. You say you discuss it with the parents, but if you really are, then why not simply state it in your advertisments?

I dunno, I hear what you're saying because like you and many others, we started with acrylic paints in high school.... not knowing there was any such thing as professional face paints.

I actually did not even know you used acrylic paints until this post. When I met you, you were using paradise and I thought that was your paint of choice.

My husband just picked his truck up from the shop (hit a deer and messed the front all up) and discovered that they had taken our money and then fixed the truck with used and after-market parts, and on a few places even kept the same broken parts on the truck. We found the cracked underside of his bumper was held together with a zip tie. Do they call themselves professionals? Yes. Did they "do the job"...? I guess the truck will go down the road like this. Do we consider them professionals? Uh... NO? Is there such a thing as a "professional" who doesn't act in a professional way? Unfortunately yes. (We will be taking it back, of course!)

I know most of the reasons that informed painters still continue to use acrylics. Mostly because it doesn't sweat off in the heat. What I don't understand is how people can think it looks good. It cracks and peels off as the face flexes, it doesn't breathe on the skin the way make-up does, it itches and has to be scratched off of the face at bedtime. I've never seen a picture of a face painting done with acrylics that looked good. If anyone has one I would honestly like to see it. Preferably after it's been worn for 15-20 minutes.

Can you be a professional and not use professional supplies? I guess so. But it isn't very "professional" if you know what I mean. FACE would never allow it, nor would performer's insurance agencies or event agents.

I honestly don't think that using acrylics is THAT dangerous... I've heard of more allergic reactions from Wolfe than with acrylics. My main issue is that it looks terrible, just as Palmer paints or face paint crayons look terrible. When professional artists use these crappy products (or non-products!) while working, it makes us all look bad.

Mehndi Masala wrote:Nope....not a pro. Has not stayed current to the times. They also used to use leeches. You get the idea.

Put it in these terms - A henna artist who claimes to be pro, has designs that look nice...uses black henna that is illegal and can cause contact dermittis (sp), direct link to bladder cancer, permanent scarring.
Claims that she has never had someone complain and has been doing it for 10 years. Is she a pro? Nope.

Doctor has been in practice 50 years.....still uses leeches for gout and thinks that you can relieve headaches with arsenic. Still a pro? Nope.

If you are purposely not keeping up, not willing to grow or learn, unwilling to 'step up the game', you may have been a pro...but a good pro stays on top of thier profession. They may do a pretty looking job, but then so can the painter using mercury or other toxins in oil paint on a face or body. Does not make them a body painter. I've heard tell of people using car paint in temp tattoo stands. VERY bad...are they pro because someone hired them? Nope.

Just my opinion. Everyone has one and can state it. I may not even be right, but it's kinda how I see it. I may just stand corrected. I'm only 3 months old...whadda I know??

Man don't even get me started on black henna!!!!! Bali and Thailand are really popular holiday destinations for Australians and both are places where people get black henna. The number of times I've heard people say loudly in front o my stall "Oh my friend got that henna stuff and she's got a scar/got sick/ etc" I then have to stop to educate them and everyone within earshot that heard the offending comment that my henna is natural, safe and brown, that I mix it myself with no chemicals blah blah blah. Sheesh!!!

As for the professional question, a definition
"Of or pertaining to a profession, or calling; conforming to the rules or standards of a profession; following a profession; as, professional knowledge; professional conduct."
The standards have upped a lot in the past few years with face painting and safe paint is now a standard and it is unprofessional conduct to knowingly use a harmful product on the skin of a child.

when I decided to try my hand at face painting, I assumed I would just go buy some craft paint and start painting. But being a responsible adult, who would be messing with the skin of stranger's kids, I researched it very minimally and found out there is a standard of paint that a professional face painter would use. So that's what I bought.

I don't understand how once you found out it is not safe to use, you could keep using it. I feel the same about real face paint. The first time I use something that gives a kid a reaction, I will stop using it. I'm messing with other people's kids here.