Painting myself

So, I've been getting as much practice as I can in, on pretty much whoever will let me practice on them. I really think it's looking quite good for a beginner, but I've just got to say:

I cannot paint my own face well.

Does anyone else have trouble with this? Is this just an it-takes-practice situation? Does anyone have any tips on painting oneself? I been trying some of Lisajoyyoung's designs, and they look great ... on my thighs. On my own face, not so much. My lines are wonky, and I have a really hard time completing onestroke moves (pivoting my brush and such).

So, please tell. Did you have a hard time painting your own face at first? Thanks for any input!

I can't paint my own face..... can paint my left hand, can paint my right hand.... can paint on anyone else's face/hand/arm/leg, but not my own face (and I don't even have glasses as a good reason.....)

It takes a bit of practise to train your brain to work in the mirror to do the strokes you do on others on yourself in reverse. I work on automatic and don't even realize I switch to working in reverse anymore.

I used to clown so got really used to doing my own face.

It is the same as putting on make-up so it honestly surprizes me that it is mostly women who ask "did you do your own face?"

I know! I have to paint myself these days, since my kids are SO over it. And I've become quite adept at it! Although my hubby is always amazed.

I have glasses and cant see 3 inches in front of my face. I make myself by practicing on my own face. I found that moving your face instead of the brush is much easier, and using a magnified mirror helps too. Start painting your left side (vise versa if you are left handed) since it is harder to paint that side by painting over my nose then work the right side.

I practice on myself by playing a game on facebook. I wrote another thread about it.
http://www.facepaintforum.com/t7502-facebook-fun?highlight=facebook


practice practice practice.

Ja, Ja, I can paint myself since I started doing face painting, but I can't blow my own hair, I can't coordinate the brush, the hair dryer and mirror.

It's gotten to the point where I think I paint my own face better than I paint other people's faces.

I used to have the same complaint & I even think I started a thread just like your when I 1st got on the forum. I finally just gave in & started practicing on myself & I've gotten better w/ time.

when you paint yourself - and like the face- how do you take the picture? I have tried in the mirror but the background is always horrible. Any suggestions??

I drape a nice blanket over a door and stand in front of it. Then hold my camera in front of my face and take about 20 pictures. with flash on and off, and difuse the flash by placing a piece of paper over the flash so it isnt so intense. 1 of them is bound to look good. I dont know what I would have done before digital cameras.

thanks i will try this tonight.

I most of the times paint myself and i am as Shannnon said very used to it. I take pictures of myself..look into the camera and try to aim well..
sometimes I find it's easier to paint myself then others..although it's slower...

I wear contactlensen..and I'm nearsighted..so no problems there so far!

I love to paint myself, I have way more patience than anyone else and I always hold still! For photos, I use a tripod and remote trigger, I do all sorts of crazy stuff and try to make myself laugh and such - pretty funny to watch! I don't have glasses or anything so that helps, I also try to paint the angle I plan to photograph which helps the end product. Once you start working on it, it will be hard to quit!

try holding a mirror behind your camera to get the angle right, thats what i do. i also mostly paint my self. way to hard to bribe my girls these day's. plus i sit still better lol

I also prefer to paint my own face on practicing. I really can't remember if I ever found it hard, since no one else will let me paint them, I didn't really have a choice.

Good idea on the paper to difuse the flash Mana, I have hard time with lighting. I usually try to go out in the sunlight and take it without the flash. But that is great for when I paint at night.