Face Painting and Balloon Twisting Blog

YouTube has many face painting tutorials of various quality. There are also videos taken by parents or grandparents of their kids having their face painted while at the zoo, festivals, or on vacation. These videos show real face painters working with real kids. I like to hear the reactions of the people talking in the background.

Here are three more YouTube videos of kids getting their face painted.

Ninja Turtle at the Circus

Pink Skull and Crossbones

Minne Mouse at Hollywood Studios

I have recently launched two new websites. Although the primary target audience of the websites is clowns, there will still be information that should be of interest to face painters, balloon twisters and other types of children’s entertainers.

The first website is Just for Clowns. Just For Clowns is a blog for the professional clown. The purpose of this blog is to promote, preserve and present the time-honored profession of clowning by providing professional clowns with information that will help them become the best clown they can be. It will have information about upcoming conventions, makeup and costume tips, product reviews, and other information related to clowing around.

The second website is Websites for Clowns. I plan to use Websites for Clowns to present topics related to the business side of being a clown including websites, business cards, and marketing. I launched my own personal website in 2004 and since then have created and maintained several other websites for myself and others. I have also spent countless hours on the Internet and hope to be able to share some of what I have learned.

My very first clown convention was the Circus Magic Convention in Williamsburg, VA. Circus Magic is a regional clown convention that is held each year at the end of February and that means that it is coming up soon. This year, it is February 23-26, 2012 at the Holiday Inn Patriot in Williamsburg, VA. The convention is one of several conventions run by Steve “Salty” Kissell and DJ “Fancy Pants” Ehlert.

Although this is a clown convention, they have workshops on balloon twisting, face painting, magic, and other topics that would be of interest to clowns and other types of children’s entertainers. They have a great list of instructors coming to help with the workshops. Ken Stillman will be there teaching balloons. Marcella “Mama Clown” Murad and her co-workers from Silly Farm will be there to teach face painting. Jim Howle and Leon McBryde, both former Ringling Clowns, will also be there helping with makeup and clown noses.

Circus Magic Convention
February 23-26, 2012
Holiday Inn Patriot 3032 Richmond Road
Williamsburg, VA 23185
http://www.circusmagicconvention.com/

Presented by Steve Kissell. Bringing Education Excellence to the Performing Arts! Come Celebrate, Laugh, and Learn at Circus Magic with the special theme of: Tribute to the Wizard of OZ!

Here are a few more videos filmed by parents of their kids having their faces painted.

Superhero mask at Disney Hollywood Studio

Unicorn Mask at the Cincinnati Zoo

Fast Zombie

I don’t find as many videos on YouTube by parents when their kids get a balloon…

Spiderman balloon

Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer

Pink Flamingo Hat

Girl wearing a Mickey Balloon Hat

I like watching the videos that parents take when their kids have their faces painted. I think it shows more of how the artists work in the real world compared with the tutorials that people create. It is always interesting to listen to the parents and other people making comments in the background.

Butterfly

Spiderman

Pink Cat

Butterfly – OK, this is a series of photos not a video, but one of the things I noticed was how the artist stands to the side to let the parents watch and take pictures without getting in the way. I know artists who like to have the kids face away from the crowds, but face painting should be as much for the spectators as it is for the child

Penguin Balloon from a Face Painting and Balloon Jam at Cici's Pizza

Each month, I host a face painting and balloon jam at the Cici’s Pizza in Chantilly. It is normally on the 2nd Monday of the month, and in January, our first Jam of the year will be on Monday, January 9th at 7:00pm.

You can come as early or late as you like. We are able to accept tips from the guests. The jam is open to face painters and balloon twisters of all skill levels. Bring your supplies. The jams are an opportunity to socialize with other face painters and balloon twisters, share ideas, and practice interacting with the customers at Cici’s.

Chantilly Face Painting and Balloon Jam
Monday, January 9th, 2012
Eat 6:00 – 7:00
Jam from 7:00 – Close

CiCi’s Pizza Buffet
14392 Chantilly Crossing Lane
Chantilly, VA 20151
703-961-9100

If you can’t make this jam, there are several other jams in the area. Princess Jennifer hosts a jam at the Cici’s Pizza in Falls Church on the 1st Monday of each month. Ivonne and Leandra host a jam at the Fuddruckers
in Annandale on the 3rd Wednesday of each month. You can find these jams and others on Facebook.