1st Place Billy Edge
Almost all Billy's working life has been involved with two things; art and clowning. He started as a performance clown when he was 16 and only stopped clowning (after more than 40 years) when he moved here from the UK. During that time he was also a professional cartoonist and illustrator.
He started face painting about 25 years ago as a sort of spin-off from clowning.
Nowadays, though he is more or less retired, he does a lot of writing; recently having written two plays that have been performed as well as having a children's book published ('Blip and the Seat of Arthur'.) He is just finishing a filmscript and he also acts and directs; this year he is going to be directing an open air performance of Shakespeare's 'A Midsummer Night's Dream' for a renaissance group.
For paints, he is a great fan of Snazaroo and Wolfe paints.
He feels he is not a fast face painter, and thinks of himself as a performer. He always tell his clients he works more on quality than quanity. He is very creative and makes a new design for almost every client. He tries to base his designs on something the client is wearing. Once he get painting, he tends to get more adults than kids to paint!
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 2nd Place Kat Jacobs
HOW DID YOU GET STARTED IN FACE AND/OR BODY PAINTING? I got started 13 years ago from a friend that I met in VA. where she had facepainting booths in Busch gardens theme parks and Disney theme parks. She asked me if I wanted a job and so it was over from there I was hooked.
WHAT DID YOU DO BEFORE THAT? I worked for a dental firm that made and sold dental equipment to dr. and was a full time mom! I finished college in 1996 with a degree in Marine biology and a BA in art/dance.
WHAT DO YOU NOW BESIDES FACE AND/OR BODY PAINTING? Run after 2 teenage daughters that are always on the go and a very active 11 yr old boy that plays many sports and travel all over the world after a hubby that is in the military.
WHAT PAINT BRANDS ARE YOUR FAVORITES? WHY? I love Kryolan, Wolfe, Liquid bling and tons of glitter. I love the way the makeup works and have never had anyone come to me saying they had a reaction. I am simple and I like to keep it that way. I have found recently Arty brush cakes and they are awesome!
WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE THING TO PAINT? a favorite well that is very hard to pin down for me everyone brings something new out in me and when I think it is my fave I find another so I have to say they are all my fave
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 3rd Place
Lilly Walters
I got into painting by doing those silly painted Christmas yard sign. Now we have one of those tacky homes with a zillion painted yards signs for every holiday (see videos of our house at Christmas). The more I painted, the more I loved it. Next I tried stencils, and other types of patterns. Finally I tried a few simple things freehand. This lead to my first art book, Cobblestone Cottages From Junk Jars, then an ebook, Paint A Cobblestone Courtyard On Your Cement Floor. Now I have all kinds of paint patterns for sale on-line and a book on how to paint on fabric. Then one day my church asked me to help at a Festival painting faces. "Oh, I can't do that!" They insisted, and I fell in love. At the Festival we do from 600 - 850 faces in two days. I train their volunteer staff of painters and help coordinate it all.
But this once a year event was not enough to get my fix. So, I created a little website for my face painting, to see if anyone would actually PAY me to paint! Today I am very fortunate, my phone rings just about every day with someone wanting to hire a professional face painter. Now I get to say, "that's me!"
Although I use just about every paint, except Snazaroo, my favorite paints are mostly Diamond FX and pressed powders.
In June of 2008 I founded the West Coast Face Painters, which is a support group for other professional face painters.
See more about Lilly Walters, Face and Body Painter
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4th Place, Gina Newsum
HOW DID YOU GET STARTED IN FACE AND/OR BODY PAINTING?
I started face painting in 1984, when my oldest daughter started school. I would do volunteer painting for all the school parties. Just little doodle art on the cheek, but the children loved it. I researched face paints and products and went professional in July of 2009!
WHAT DID YOU DO BEFORE THAT?
I worked in a factory for 30 years, retired in 2007. During that time I also had a woodcraft business for over 30 years. I designed my own patterns, cut my own wood, sanded and painted all my products. I also taught myself how to airbrush, and incorporated that into my woodcraft business. I did on the average of thirty shows per year, traveling all over the state of Michigan.
WHAT DO YOU NOW BESIDES FACE AND/OR BODY PAINTING?
I am retired so I have gone full steam ahead into my new business of face and body painting, also I am planning on teaching classes very soon!
WHAT PAINT BRANDS ARE YOUR FAVORITES? WHY?
I use Diamond FX, Snazaroo, Paradise, and Wolfe. But my first love is Diamond FX paint! Diamond FX is so bold and bright, and the coverage is amazing.
WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE THING TO PAINT?
I absolutely love to paint roses! Lots and lots of roses! And I would have to say that the "tiger" is my second favorite! Then I would have to say the "butterfly" With all the glitter!
IS THERE SOMETHING ELSE ABOUT YOUR CAREER AS A FACE/BODY PAINTER THAT YOU WOULD LIKE OTHERS TO KNOW ABOUT?
The most rewarding thing about face painting to me is to paint a design on a small child, hand them my magic mirror, and watch their faces turn into a giant smile! It touches my heart! I feel truely blessed to chat with and share my work with so many great amazing artists from all over the world, I look forward to the day of our meetings. I love life!
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Anabel Rodas
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Dutch
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Kerrie Chittum
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