By Christian T Abella
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June 7, 2023
A wise man once told me, "If you've got it, flaunt it." And folks, I've been flaunting my mug for as long as I can remember. I'm a painter, and every painter worth their salt knows that a good canvas is worth a thousand words. And what better canvas than the one you carry with you every day - the human face. Now, I’ve had my fair share of unusual canvases – once I even painted a landscape on an ostrich egg, believe it or not. But let me tell you, nothing compares to painting faces. Tribe Vibes and Ancient Scribes Did you know that face painting has been around since the first caveman dipped his fingers in berry juice and smeared it across his face? Historically, tribes used face painting as their Facebook status update. A good smear across the forehead might mean "ready for battle", while a splash of color on the cheekbones could say, "It's festival time, baby!" And before you ask, no, I’ve never personally painted a caveman, but I reckon they would have made fantastic models – no complaints, just a few grunts here and there. Classic Art: Now on Faces! Sometimes, the best designs are the simplest ones. My old buddy James Kuhn, a face-painting aficionado, could transform his face into a strikingly accurate watermelon or a hilariously horrifying Frankenstein with just a few lines and the right shades. It’s like Picasso meets Halloween, with a twist of fruit salad! And let's not forget about children’s parties. One moment, you’re painting whiskers on a giggly child pretending to be a tiger, and the next moment, a spirited kid with ice cream in his hair asks you for a full-face dragon design. Never a dull moment, I tell ya! The Future is Here, and It's Painted on Faces Just when I thought face painting couldn’t get any more exciting, technology decided to join the party. With Augmented Reality, artists can now create designs that blink, smirk, and practically come to life. I must say, it's a bit surreal to see your artwork wink back at you. Standing Up (and Painting Up) for What You Believe In Face painting isn't just about having a laugh, although there's plenty of that. It's also a tool for change. You see people wearing their hearts on their sleeves, but how about on their faces? From protest marches to Pride parades, a face can become a symbol of courage, unity, and standing up for what matters. But as my grandmother always said, don’t let the seriousness of life take away the sparkle from your eyes – or in this case, the sparkle from your face paint. So there you have it, friends. From ancient traditions to high-tech wizardry, face painting is the unsung hero of creative expression. It's a journey through time, a stroke of spontaneity, and a mirror to our inner selves. And between you and me, there's nothing quite as fun as seeing your art come to life, one painted face at a time.
