If Van Gogh had painted Starry Night on someone's face, would it still be in the museum today? Well, the world may never know. But one thing's for sure: safety and hygiene in face painting can make or break the experience, and we don't want Picasso's The Weeping Woman recreated on your little one's face, do we?
Let's begin by delving into the ocean of colors. Remember that vibrant shade of red you painted with last year? Your brushes have been yearning for a dip, but wait, hold up! What's the first rule of Fight Club? You don't talk about Fight Club. But in the Face Painting Club, we do, and Rule Number One is always use non-toxic paints. In the pantheon of face paints, only those marked as "non-toxic" and "FDA-approved" are fit for duty. Trust me, you don't want to take any shortcuts here; unless you're aiming for a Poison Ivy look without the Ivy.
Once your paints have been vetted for safety, it's time to do a quick skin patch test. Before you launch a full-scale face painting operation, test the paints on a small, unnoticeable part of the skin, like behind the ear. If there's any redness or irritation, consider that paint a failed audition. There's no room for divas in your artistry!
On to the next important part - cleaning the brushes. Now, I know we artists can get a little carried away with our work, but please, don't just wipe your brushes on your cat (or worse, your sister). That's a faux paw (pun intended)! Instead, give them a good soak in warm, soapy water after each use. Mild dish soap should do the trick, and yes, the kind you use for your dishes is fine. After all, cleanliness is next to Picasso-ness. But remember to rinse thoroughly and let them dry naturally - you don't want to 'soap up' your next masterpiece!
It's not just the brushes though. The palette, sponges, stencils - everything you use needs a solid spa day after each face painting session. You might even get yourself a glass of wine while you're at it, you know, for the ambiance.
Lastly, make sure you're painting on a clean canvas. Ensure the face you're about to transform into a lion, fairy, or a supernova is clean and free from cuts or scratches. You don't want to transform a scrape into a battle with a skin infection.
And that's all, folks! Follow these steps, and you're all set to paint like Van Gogh (without the ear part, hopefully). Remember, when it comes to face painting, the fun is in the art, not in a rush to the ER. Keep it safe, keep it clean, and above all, keep it vibrant!
Paint away, Picassos! Just make sure you're not recreating The Scream by accident.
