 First Place
Alison Kenyon
I started as a kid with my mom's old makeup. At age 21 (1992) I joined one of the nation's first modern burlesque troupes, and it was in our vaudeville shows that I met professional performers that inspired me to go to circus school and learn contortion, trapeze, acrobatics, clowning, magic, and fire swallowing. I got into clowning full time in 1993, knowing that face painting would be my main focus. Along with being a clown and a face and body painter, I was also "Ms. Cherry Bomb" the circus artist; performing an acrobatic/contortion/belly dance with 3 balancing bowls of fire, and a fire swallowing finale. I retired it in 2007. During this time I was also lead makeup artist / body painter for a San Francisco-based circus troupe called Velocity.
WHAT DO YOU NOW BESIDES FACE AND/OR BODY PAINTING? "On the side" I'm a certified personal trainer, specializing in Russian style strength training and joint mobility using kettlebells and body weight exercises.
WHAT PAINT BRANDS ARE YOUR FAVORITES? WHY? For the first years it was all Kryolan. But after my first convention I discovered Wolfe and switched over. I love the opacity and durability. For individual clients who come to me for a longer appointment, I still get out my entire arsenal: some Fantasy Worldwide, some Kryolan, Mehron metallic powders, and a lot of Mac makeup.
My "everyday kit" is 90% wolfe, with my favorite Kryolan copper, Cherry Bomb red from Paradise, Kryolan "youth red" blush,and a snazaroo magenta color that I really like.
My favorite thing is always changing. I'll get obsessed with a design element for awhile, and try to get it into as many designs as possible in as many ways as possible, then I'll find something else to be obsessed with. For awhile it was hammerhead sharks. After that; craggy mountains in the style of Bob Ross. Then it was painting everything in a monochromatic color scheme.  My most favorite, though, is being challenged by the super-active imaginations of children.
I always strive to make each face different, and really fit the person. I've been called the "psychic face painter" by many different people who have said "surprise me". I've decided that being artistically fulfilled, and not compromising on quality is the thing that will keep me loving this art form - and keep me feeling young- for the rest of my life.
|
|
 2nd Place
Lonnie Kaeregaard
> HOW DID YOU GET STARTED IN FACE AND/OR BODY PAINTING?
When my daughter was 3 she got some snazaroo paints for her birthday. I think we painted once a year or less the next couple of years - she painted me as well ;). In the summer of 2009 I started painted both my kids more. They liked it and so did I. I started looking at youtube videos, joined a forum and ended up using quite a few nights at the internet surfing for pictures, videos and being active in the forum.
WHAT DO YOU NOW BESIDES FACE AND/OR BODY PAINTING?
I work at a school for kids with autism
WHAT PAINT BRANDS ARE YOUR FAVORITES? WHY?
I mostly use Diamond FX. I like the vibrance of the colors and that it doesn't smudge easily. In Denmark it is also important to be able to tell parents that the paint is without perfume and parabenes, and approved for the skin. Especially with kids and pregnant bellies we Danes tend to care for those things. :)
|
 3rd Place
Jenny Marquis
The African bump I did was an idea I had when the mum fancied an african theme, I didnt want to go down the route of elephants and giraffes, I imediately visualised an african woman with baby in a papouse and carrying a pot. The mum emailed me and thouht it was a great idea, could I include 2 women as this baby would have 2 mums...ahhhhhhh I thouht how wonderful that I should be so priviledged!
My fascination with the creative arts goes back to my childhood. All my ambitions were put on the back burner as I married and went on to have a family. One day I went to a family fun day event, where there were some face paints on a table for anyone to try. Brush in hand, I eagerly had a go! Upon reflection, this became the springboard to my future career. I went out and bought a set of paints, and started painting children’s faces.
By 2003 I trained at Truro College in Media Make Up which included Special Effects. The make up background stood me in good stead for the 3 dimensional designs I would use in my face and body painting. I funally dipped my toes into the world of Face Painting as a business, and established a great client base and was able to start becoming more creative, painting my first pregnant belly in 2007 and from that point I was hooked.
I decided that the only way to grow further was to expand my repertoire by offering to paint whatever unusual ideas children and mums-to-be could suggest. My reputation for using my creative mind and to think on the spot and out of the box grew.
In 2008 I trained with Master Body Painter Mark Reid from Los Angeles, and in 2010 with the great Nick Wolfe of Evil Twin Effects.
2009 bought a really great opportunity for me, Sam Gray who is a Face Painter started a group for Bump Art for Comic relief, and the idea was to paint bumps and get sponsored by the mums-to-be. I jumped at the chance and had great fun painting the 4 bumps and was sad when all the fun was over...or so I thought!
My fave brands are Mehron/Paradise, Kryolan and Grimas.
This award winning face and boy painter lives in the UK
|
|
 4th Place
Dana Wright
HOW DID YOU GET STARTED IN FACE AND/OR BODY PAINTING?
A friend of mine asked me to face paint for his entertainment business. It never came to pass, but it got me interested in face painting. I bought all of Lilly Walters Schermerhorn’s books, watched online videos and bought supplies, and started practicing on my grandkids, neighborhood kids, even my husband! I fell in love with it, and people raved about my work, so I started a business.
WHAT DID YOU DO BEFORE THAT?
I’ve been an office manager most of my life. I also have an entrepreneural heart, and have started many businesses off and on throughout the years.
WHAT DO YOU NOW BESIDES FACE AND/OR BODY PAINTING?
I operate two other businesses… an online retail store and a nutrition business, I’m a grandmother of 5, mother of 3, and a wife of 21 years. That keeps me busy.
WHAT PAINT BRANDS ARE YOUR FAVORITES? WHY?
Wolfe – White and black for their opaqueness and their ability to stack for easy storage and transport.
Snazaroo – sparkle pink and turquoise – they make beautiful sponged backgrounds.
Diamond FX – metallic purple – makes great line and eye work – really opaque for a metallic.
WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE THING TO PAINT?
I love painting girly designs with lots of bling and tear drops and swirls… butterflies, princess crowns, flowers, etc.
IS THERE SOMETHING ELSE ABOUT YOUR CAREER AS A FACE/BODY PAINTER THAT YOU WOULD LIKE OTHERS TO KNOW ABOUT?
 Although I’ve been an artist all my life, I’m relatively new in the face painting world. I recently won the top scholarship to the recent FPBA Convention in Vegas: 5 days free of meeting and learning from some of the best in the business. It was a great start to my business.
This award winning face painter lives in Gilbert, AZ
|
