October 24, 2019 · 5:32 pm

Face Painting On-the-Job

It has always been my aim to produce high quality designs in a short amount of time. I absolutely adore the gorgeous, intricate full face or detailed illustration-based designs you see all over the internet, but for me, face painting is about producing on-the-job designs that are quick but still look impressive.

I have been lucky enough to face paint at Treetop Adventure Golf in Leicester city centre over the summer holidays and October half term, which has given me the opportunity to do A LOT of face painting and create some new designs. It’s incredibly dark in there and I can’t really see what I’m painting very well, so anything I do paint that I’m happy with is a double bonus!

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This little tiger, as always, is inspired by the incredible Mark Reid. He is absolutely the MASTER of tigers and all things face painting! Until really recently, I hadn’t noticed that his tigers weren’t white in the middle. (I’m not quite sure how I missed that!) So I’ve since adapted my tigers and now omit the white down the nose, replacing it with yellow. Consequently I am now so much happier with my on-the-job tigers, and this little cutie models my updated design perfectly.

On the quieter days at Treetop Golf I have been able to do some more detailed illustrative cheek art. Whilst this still qualifies as ‘on-the-job’ face painting, it definitely takes me much longer to do, with an estimated time of 5-10 minutes per design. I just love this happy little toucan I painted a few weeks back!

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Whilst I face paint less and less at parties and move more and more into face painting training, I do still do the odd booking! My go-to rainbow butterfly uses a homemade rainbow split cake for sponging round the eyes, then outlining with the same colour combination one stroke. Once I paint one of these, most of the girls at the party all want the same!

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Want to learn how to face paint? My next face painting workshop is on Saturday 2nd November, 10am-4.30pm. More info can be found on the event page, or please feel free to message me at livilollipopfairy@gmail.com.

Big love as always,

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October 22, 2019 · 8:27 pm

Face Painting Tutorials | One stroke Dolphin & Sugar Skull

I’ve been promising to make face painting videos for such a long time now and have basically been procrastinating for years! I’m such a perfectionist, to a painful degree, and have continually used the excuse that I didn’t have the perfect phone camera or the perfect lighting to stop me doing it.

So in the summer when I upgraded my phone to a Huawei Pro I no longer had an excuse! I still managed to procrastinate a little bit longer but a couple of weeks ago I took the plunge and made my very first time lapse face painting tutorial, which ended up going a little bit bonkers on Facebook! It’s currently up to 73 shares and 8.2K views. That’s the most attention any of my posts has ever got, ever!

I decided to paint my ‘one stroke’ dolphin design, as it’s a super cute and popular design and one I teach in my face painting workshops. In my classes I teach this at a slow, comfortable pace and break down each brush stroke so my time lapse really just gives an overall illustration of how it’s created.

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To view the video of my dolphin face painting, click here.

I always make my own one strokes and rainbow cakes and my dolphin split cake is no different. It’s a delicious combination of purple, metallic green, teal and white, using mostly TAG and Diamond FX paints. I use a TAG flat 3/4 inch brush for all my one stroke painting and Loew Cornell round no. 4 or 6 for my tear drops.

A couple of days later my beautiful sister came to visit so I jumped at the chance at painting her and creating another time lapse video. Expect to see lots more videos with her as the star – I’m not a fan of painting my own face! This was my first attempt at creating a time lapse of painting an actual face and we had lots of fun. I still have a lot to learn with making videos though and kept bumping into the arm clamp holding my phone 🤣 So please excuse the occasional bouncing of the camera!

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This delicate ‘no black’ sugar skull is intended to be a quick, on-the-job design 💞 To view the time lapse video of me painting this design, click here.

This sugar skull uses two different one strokes, both homemade. The teal one is the same as above, and the pink one is red, Cameleon Bollywood pink, white. This pink and teal colour combination is my absolute favourite and my go-to for all my girly designs.

Whilst I am happy with the videos, the quality of them once posted online pains me! The original videos are CRYSTAL CLEAR but when I upload them to Facebook they go slightly blurry. I have researched and experimented to rectify this but it appears impossible. Facebook compresses the videos and there’s not alot I can do about it. If anyone knows how to stop this happening, please please let me know. My perfectionist brain hurts me 😭 Both videos can be viewed in what I think is superior quality over on IGTV on my instagram.

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August 24, 2019 · 7:56 pm

Face Painting ‘On-The-Job’

One of my greatest personal challenges is achieving a high standard of face painting whilst ‘on-the-job’, as it’s one thing being able to paint beautifully in the comfort of my own home at a speed I’m comfortable with, and another being able to paint quickly and impeccably whilst there’s a big queue of children hanging off your shoulder!

For me, like anything, it’s all about practise practise practise. I can only get better at speed face painting by doing speed face painting. I aim to complete a face in 3-5 minutes, however, it’s always lovely when there’s a not a huge queue and I can spend up to 10 minutes on a face. Most of these below were painted on-the-job in under 5 minutes.

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On-the-job face painting butterfly using TAG unicorn

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On-the job 2-3 min half butterfly

I love playing with this colour palette (TAG unicorn), and in addition to painting countless one stroke butterflies and rainbow butterflies with it, it can be used for so many different looks. Combine TAG unicorn one stroke with Lea Selley’s Graffiti eye stencils and you can make something super funky.

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On-the-job Graffiti eye design

It’s always a pleasure when I have a few extra minutes on a job and can do a quick little cheek illustration. Whilst working at Treetop Adventure Golf this summer, toucan’s were frequently requested and I had lots of fun playing with this design!

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On-the-job toucan cheek design with ‘one-stroke’ leaves

One stroke face painting, as you guys know, is my favourite type of on-the-job painting and the possibilities are just endless. Not only can you paint beautiful florals with one strokes, but they can be used for superheroes and villains too. Here’s a recent hulk face painting I did with a green one stroke palette.

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Tigers are amongst my most requested face painting design. Mark Reid is the ultimate master of tigers and his work is always my go to for inspiration. Achieving the perfect tiger stripe is again all about practise and finding the perfect brush for you. My trusty Loew Cornell enables me to create tiger stripes like those below.

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On-the-job tiger at a recent birthday party

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On-the-job mummy and me tiger face paint

Sometimes the painting isn’t particularly spectacular but the kid is just so damn cute I can’t resist taking a photo. This little Mario was just so adorable and whilst not the best advert for my face painting skills, it shows the sheer joy of face painting so job done!

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Super quick on-the-job Mario face paint

Until next time,

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August 22, 2019 · 9:23 am

Face Painting Workshop – One Stroke Painting

I was recently asked to teach a 1-2-1 face painting workshop focusing solely on one stroke painting (my favourite kind of face painting!). My client travelled up from London to spend the day with me in my studio and we spent 6 hours covering a multitude of one stroke designs, looking at colour combinations, technique and brush loading.

In preparation I wanted to update some of my skills and designs as I’m always looking to improve my own technique too. It’s too easy to become complacent!

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Flower practise on my legs

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Daisies on Daisy! Sally-Ann Lynch practise board

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Floral face design

My intention in my workshops is to teach technique and composition, which allows clients to understand how designs are created and then gives them the space to go on and create their own!

Several years ago, in preparation for my one stroke face painting workshop in Northern Ireland, I created a one stroke butterfly on my leg which went a little bit ‘viral’ in the face painting world! For this particular workshop I was asked again to teach my one stroke butterfly, so I wanted to update it and make it fresher. Here’s my updated version on a FAB wipeable practise board, where I focused on overall shape of the butterfly, and a real ‘live’ version on my client’s arm.

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Updated version of my ‘famous’ one stroke leg butterfly!

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Mini version of my one stroke butterfly on my client’s arm

Other designs for my intensive one day face painting course included a rainbow butterfly, dolphin and the obligatory unicorn! Unicorns are definitely the new Elsa.

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My one stroke dolphin design (made into a narwahl!) and my student’s version

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My student photographing her work!

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Super quick one stroke rainbow butterfly design

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Obligatory pink unicorn!

I am currently being inundated with emails and enquiries for my workshops which is amazing and I am so excited! Teaching face painting is what I LOVE and I want to do more and more of it.

I am always available for 1-2-1 teaching and am happy to arrange small workshops as well.

My next workshops are:

Thursday 12th September – LEICESTER (in my home studio)

10am- midday. A 2 hr introduction to all things face painting! We will cover teardrops, swirls, dots, tiger stripes and double dipping. You will then contextualise your new skills in some popular face painting designs eg Spiderman, rainbow butterfly, tiger

For more info click here or email livilollipopfairy@gmail.com for more info

Monday 23rd September – BRIGHTON (at Earth & Stars)

• Intensive 6 hour face painting workshop (plus 45 min lunch – food provided).
• Learn about brush technique, line work, essential tips & tricks and more!
• Discover the amazing ‘secret’ of ‘one stroke’ painting
• Contextualise your new skills in an array of designs including butterfly, Spiderman, tiger, princess, unicorn, dinosaur
• This course is suitable for beginners, or new professionals wishing to brush up on their skills.

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For more details here or email livilollipopfairy@gmail.com

Saturday 5th October – LEICESTER (in my home studio)

Same as above. For more details click here or email livilollipopfairy@gmail.com

Any questions about any face painting course, please don’t hesitate to ask!

I look forward to hearing from you.livi signature

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February 12, 2019 · 8:19 pm

❤ A Very Quirky Valentine’s Day ❤ Face Painting, Prosecco & Chocolate!

This Valentine’s Day in Leicester (and the days before and after) I am offering a unique, bespoke face painting workshop for couples! (or 2 friends).

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In this specially crafted face painting session, couples will learn the fundamentals of face painting and then contextualise their new skills in actual designs eg. butterfly, tiger. It is entirely up to you if you paint each other or utilise my practise boards! Throughout the session, prosecco will flow and you will be treated to a selection of artisan chocolates. *Non-alcoholic and vegan alternatives available on request.*

Each session is 2 hours and held at my home studio in Clarendon Park. Come and celebrate Valentine’s day in a truly unique and memorable way, instead of the usual dinner in a restaurant. Any questions, please just ask!

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January 31, 2019 · 11:24 am

Face Painting Workshop – Leicester

Last weekend I held my first face painting workshop in my new home studio, the walls of which I painted to reflect the brightness and cheeriness of face painting! The intention was to create a perfect bubble of joy in which to hold my lessons.

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More photos of the room to come, as I initially decided to paint just one wall but quickly decided I need to paint the whole room like this! It’s going to be beautiful 😍

This face painting workshop was attended by 3 participants, all of whom were absolutely fantastic! We covered all the fundamentals of face painting – teardrops, swirls, dots, double dipping, tiger stripes and ‘one stroke’ painting.

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Teardrop demo

 

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Tiger stripe practise

Face painting course - Midlands

Petal practise

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Double dipping practise

We always practise the techniques first on our hands and arms then contextualise what the participants have learned in actual designs on practise boards eg. tiger, butterfly, Spiderman, princess, unicorn, flowers, dolphin!

Face Painting workshop - Leicester

Following all the fundamentals of face painting we move onto ‘one stroke’ painting and learn how to paint flowers, leaves and princesses using this technique.

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My student nailing the princess crown!

One of my students kindly wrote after the course:

“I can highly recommend doing this workshop! You’ll learn so much from Livi’s talent and great skill as a teacher. 💖” – Emma Sheridan, Leicester

My next workshop is a 6 hour intensive course, split over 2 consecutive Sunday mornings (24th Feb and 3rd March 2019):

• 2 x 3 hr sessions
• Learn about brush technique, line work, essential tips & tricks and more!
• Discover the amazing ‘secret’ of ‘one stroke’ painting
• Contextualise your new skills in an array of designs including butterfly, Spiderman, tiger, princess, unicorn, dinosaur
• This course is suitable for beginners, or new professionals wishing to brush up on their skills.

More info here: https://www.facebook.com/events/602997703487541/

Feel free to message me with any questions or queries about my face painting course. I also teach 1-2-1 so if you’re interested in private training, let me know and I can send you some info! Email livilollipopfairy@gmail.com

Look forward to hearing from you,livi signature

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January 14, 2019 · 8:59 pm

The Psychology of Face Painting | A little insight

Whilst some people might associate face painting with long queues, impatient whining and stained green faces (not to mention the bed sheets and pillow cases!) face painting is actually about so much more than this. I wanted to explore the meaning of face painting as I believe it’s so much more important than we often give it credit for (myself included).

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For the children who love having their faces painted, it is a wonderful, magical experience that allows them to stand taller and transform into somebody else for an afternoon. Face paint can literally create a veil between real life and fantasy, enabling even the shyest of children to come out of their shells and be bolder, wilder and more confident! It’s as if they are wearing a mask which dissolves their fears. Anything becomes possible.

One of my personal favourite face painting memories was seeing two tiny tots I’d painted as tigers roaring at their reflections, together, in a bathroom mirror. They had truly transformed into tigers and they were so happy! Another tiny tiger I painted loved his face painting so much that his mother had a giant canvas made of the photograph, to preserve the memory forever!

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For the face painters, it is often described as food for the soul. To create everlasting memories and bring such joy to children’s lives is a true gift. We all thrive for that ‘mirror moment’ – the moment we hold up the mirror for the first time and see the child’s face break into a huge grin! It’s truly priceless.

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Face painting can also be highly therapeutic and meditative too, as being ‘in the zone’ (whether practising at home or painting on the job) requires considerable focus and concentration.  This intensity can often melt away stresses and worries in a heartbeat, which in addition to painting smiles onto kids’ faces, can be a really healing process. I know many artists who have attributed face painting to being massively pivotal in their own personal recovery from physical and mental health problems, as with practise it demonstrates growth, and the vibrant colours exude pure joy. Watching your own journey as a face painter is hugely rewarding, as perseverance really does pay off and your skills develop enormously over the years. Artistic growth and personal growth are often synonymous.

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Never underestimate the power of face painting! This is much a note to myself as it is to others. Face painting is truly a magical art form and it is an honour and privilege to have painted thousands of children over the last few years, creating indelible memories with temporary paint.

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January 14, 2019 · 4:20 pm

Face Painting Training | Leicester & beyond!

face painting training 9Last week I had the pleasure of teaching this wonderful, talented lady how to face paint! She booked in for 2 sessions of 3 hours, during which we covered tear drops & tiger stripes, dots and swirls, double dipping and of course one stroke painting!

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My client nailing one stroke painting!

My face painting training sessions are designed to be a wholly enjoyable, hands-on learning experience. I myself learn best by doing, rather than just watching, and that’s exactly what we do in my lessons. I demo all the basic techniques on my arm or board, then my clients repeat what I’ve shown them.

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My student practising one stroke flowers

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This lady absolutely nailed everything I showed her! She made it seem so effortless and it was such a joy to watch her pick up brand new techniques with such ease.

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My student nailing the one stroke holly!

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My quick holly demo

After practicing brush technique and all the strokes that compromise a multitude of designs, we contextualize the new skills into specific designs  – rainbow butterfly, spiderman, princess, tiger, then using one stroke painting we create flowers, snake, dinosaur, unicorn and dolphin.

Her dolphin in particular was just awesome. I was super impressed!

face painting training 8 v2After the session she emailed these beautiful words, which just made my day –

“Just wanted to say a massive thank you for teaching me so brilliantly! It has been a pleasure to meet you and am so grateful for all your face painting wisdom. I actually had a chance to practise today and I feel like I’m getting better already!”

My classes can be taught 1-2-1 or in small groups, depending on your budget. My next full day group workshop is Saturday 26th January in Leicester.  If you’d like to reserve a spot, please get in touch! Or if you’re interested in 1-2-1 training drop me a message at livilollipopfairy@gmail.com.

Look forward to hearing from you.livi signature

 

 

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January 3, 2019 · 6:45 pm

Face Painting Training | Leicester

Moving into 2019 I’m all about the face painting teaching! Training others to face paint is one of the highlights of my job.

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Two students learning how to do ‘one-stroke’ rainbows for the first time!

We always start with the basics – the ‘fundamentals of face painting’ – which includes teardrops, swirls, dots and tiger stripes. It took me years of practise to perfect my teardrops so it’s amazing to see some students nail them after such a short time!

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My teardrop demo

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Student practising teardrops for the first time!

Also essential for any girly face painting design is double dipping! This effect is perfect for florals and princesses. In my face painting class I’ll show you how to achieve this, the best brush to use and the best paints to use.

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Double dipping demo

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Student practising double dipping – she nailed it!!

During my longer face painting training sessions we also delve into the essential ‘tips and tricks’ of face painting – ‘one stroke’ painting! I am still in love with one stroke face painting, as the effects achieved are just amazing and can be done super quickly with time and practise.

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One stroke leaf painted by my student!! I was so proud of her!

My face painting course can be taught 1-2-1 or in groups of 2, 3 or 4 people. I offer one hour taster sessions right through to 6 hour intensive day workshops. Courses are currently held at my home in Clarendon Park, Leicester.

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Amazing rainbow butterfly painted by one of my students for the first time!! Two different styles on left and right.

If you’re interested in 1-2-1 face painting training, please don’t hesitate to get in touch for more info! Alternatively, I still have 2 spots available for my face painting workshop at the end of January! https://www.facebook.com/events/327001574567611/

I look forward to hearing from you.livi signature

 

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October 11, 2018 · 5:42 pm

Zombie Unicorn

This year, for the first time since I started face painting about 8 yrs ago, I’m missing Halloween, and I’m actually pretty happy about it! (Ssssshhh, a face painter who doesn’t like Halloween!!?) To be honest, I love all the pretty, frilly girly stuff and abhor the gore! All those cuts and bruises and blood and special FX wounds – not for me! This year I’ll be taking a break in sunny Portugal with my partner and step son and I can’t wait 😍

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I have a few Halloween themed face painting events prior to Halloween itself however, so I thought I’d get in the mood and get my paints out. I wanted to create something fun and colourful, with only a smattering of blood! And as unicorns are ALL THE RAGE these days, I figured I’d mix it up.

Unicorns have always been my nemesis – getting their head shape correct has always driven the perfectionist in me crazy! And so I persist. And persist. And persist. I painted this little angelic green unicorn on my leg today, taking a few photos to illustrate the step by step method. Once completed, I said goodbye to her cute little face and zombified the unicorn!

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Below is my step-by-step zombie unicorn face paint. I used TAG lime green and metallic green for the head and neck, Cameleon Bollywood pink for the hair, splattered TAG red for the blood and outlined in Diamond FX black.

unicorn blog

What shall I paint next? I’m thinking lots of Halloween pumpkins with different faces/ different guises. Let me know your ideas!

Look forward to hearing from you ❤livi signature

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