 1st Place
Lisa Oakley
HOW DID YOU GET STARTED IN FACE AND/OR BODY PAINTING?
I’ have an art background and wanted to work with children, I’'d planned to be an art teacher. But due to ill health ended up leaving my degree course! I was out shopping and I saw a face painter at my local shopping centre. I bought a kit, kept practising on myself everyday, found a fabulous forum in the uk and got a lot of support from there, took some training from Rosey Jones of Rainbow Faces, and threw myself in at the deep end.
WHAT DID YOU
DO BEFORE THAT?
I worked at Halton Haven Hospice in Runcorn, Cheshire. I was a fundraising assistant there. My job was very creative, I would come up with ideas for events and help organise them.
WHAT DO YOU
NOW BESIDES FACE AND/OR BODY PAINTING?
I love kids parties and with my background in events planning I want to expand the business to offer themed parties. I currently offer Teddy Bear Making Parties, and arts and crafts parties. I’ve also started making hand tied tutus, fairy doors and tooth fairy kits. I love charity work, and I'’m in the process of applying to become a volunteer Wish Visitor for Make-A-Wish Foundation here in the UK. The role will involve visiting families whose children have life-threatening illnesses, and finding out what the wishes their children would like granted so the Foundation can make them a reality!
WHAT PAINT
BRANDS ARE YOUR FAVORITES? WHY?
That’s such a tough question it’s like asking a kid in the middle of a sweet
shop what is their favourite sweet! I have majority of brands in my kit, and
I always say I need to condense my kit, but only to find another lush product
out there to buy!!!!!! I'm really loving the one stroke paints by Tag at the
moment!!!
WHAT IS YOUR
FAVORITE THING TO PAINT?
I love painting unicorns, and bumps!
 I think it’s important to have fun when face painting, I don’t wear a standard black tshirt and black trousers, I like to be a bit different and be more approachable to the kids, so I always dress up for the occasion as Faery Willow
or Pixie Pirate for boys parties. I like to try accommodate any theme. The
kids love it, and we talk about adventures Faery Willow goes on, it makes the
child’s party one they will never forget!
Lisa lives in Runcorn, Cheshire UK, not too far from
Liverpool!
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 2nd Place
Heidi Bennett
HOW DID YOU GET STARTED?
My daughter’s preschool was having a Trike-a-thon and
needed volunteers for different tables. The first year I volunteered using
their horrible Halloween paints and had a terrible time of it. This past
spring (April 2009) when they had it again, I researched beforehand and
picked up a small set of Mehron paints and had a fabulous time. Everyone
loved my work, and I loved doing it and thought, hey, I could do this for a
living!
> WHAT DID YOU DO BEFORE THAT? I’'ve been a stay-at-home mom for about 8 years now, doing occasional work for my old employer, the Kitsap Conservation District. Prior to kids, I did work as a farm conservation planner and a geological consultant. I’ve always been crafty and artistic though, and completed a Scientific Illustration certification course through the University of WA in 2001. I think that really helped me to learn to “see” things with a critical eye.
WHAT DO YOU NOW BESIDES FACE AND/OR BODY PAINTING? I also
love to do henna art! I also create pysanky eggs, which are like batik eggs
(beeswax is applied to eggs with a kitska, then dyed different colors).
WHAT PAINT BRANDS ARE YOUR FAVORITES? WHY? Right now my favorites are Mehron Paradise for base and blending work, and Wolfe for line work.
WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE THING TO PAINT? I love a good
butterfly. There are so many different ways to paint them.
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 3rd Place
Lilly Walters
I love to teach face
painting classes! I have been honored to teach at FABAIC, Learn and Play,
The Western Regional Clown Assocation, and the Face Painting and Body Art
Convention. I also host classes in Southern California. I am best known as an
expert on the world of professional speaking.
I have written several books on the subject, and others, one of my best
selling books is about how to type with one hand.
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 the event.
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.
This face painter lives in Claremont, California
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 4th Place
Carla-Jayne Mitchell
HOW DID
YOU GET STARTED IN FACE AND/OR BODY PAINTING?
I started a Performing Arts Course in college, doing stage make up. We did a
module on face painting and I loved it. When a local pub landlord (who'd seen
my work at college) asked me to face paint for an event. She bought me a
Snazaroo palette and a little booklet of faces! I began to take face painting
seriously in 2009, and build up my kit and training.
WHAT DID YOU DO BEFORE THAT?
I've been a Children's Entertainer, Child Minder, Sales Rep, Singer, Shop
Assistant, Carer, Student (for a LONG time!) Assistant Director/Stage Manager
and Vocal/Acting Coach!
WHAT DO YOU NOW BESIDES FACE AND/OR BODY PAINTING?
I care for my Mum at the moment, while child minding my sister's 3 boisterous
children! I'm also studying to become a teacher in the 16+ age range.
WHAT PAINT BRANDS ARE YOUR FAVORITES? WHY?
I'm a self confessed "tackle-tart" so I pretty much love every brand!
My current favourites are the TAG One Stroke cakes, and Kryolan Interferenz
colours. I love the TAG cakes as they're just brilliant to paint with -
especially after having training with the "UK One Stroke Queen"
Claire! (I love my Dragon design!!) And Kryolan Interferenz is just my
favourite paint to work with, the texture is gorgeous, the colours are
brilliant and its such a versatile paint!
WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE THING TO PAINT?
Anything Feline. I love Tigers, Cats and Cheetahs!! (So much so I did a full
body cheetah!)
I do love painting bumps, in particular girly bumps! (My favourite being a
Fairy Silhouette design)
IS THERE SOMETHING ELSE ABOUT YOUR CAREER AS A FACE/BODY PAINTER THAT YOU  WOULD LIKE
OTHERS TO KNOW ABOUT?
I am completely mental. All my UK painty friends understand that I am very
very kooky. It comes across in my delivery in face painting, and also now in
my Children's Entertainment which I've recently picked back up again! You'll
never see me with a frown on my face, I'm perpetually crazy!
This face painting expert, Carla-Jayne lives North Hertfordshire, (Near London) in the UK
See more about this award winning face and body painter
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