 1st Place
Lilly Walters
(The sponsored prize for this contest were passed onto the second place winner, as Lilly is the host of these contests).
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.
In June of 2008 I founded the West Coast Face Painters, which is a support group for almost 500 other professional face painters.
See more about Lilly Walters, Face and Body Painter
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 2nd Place
Gina Newsum
I have played around with face painting for almost 25 years! But never doing the designs that I do today! Having four daughters, I was always in the classrooms doing parties and face painting the children. And of course like so many other painters, I used the wrong types of materials, you know the craft paints! After retiring from my factory job in 2007, I started researching face paints and watching you tube video's, and my life changed! I was not totally new to art, for 30 years I also had a wood craft business, where I drew out my own patterns, cut out the wood pieces, sanded them and painted them! I worked 40 hours a week in a factory and did about 30 shows a year. During that time I taught myself how to air brush.
> WHAT DID YOU DO BEFORE THAT?
Factory rat for 30 years, and ran my own wood craft business. Wife and mother of four daughters.
> WHAT DO YOU NOW BESIDES FACE AND/OR BODY PAINTING?
I am retired and now I do what I love, make people happy by face painting and putting smiles on faces. And I spend alote of time with the new love of my life, my grand daughter Hannah. She is my heart and soul. Hopefully I can teach her to face paint soon!
> WHAT PAINT BRANDS ARE YOUR FAVORITES? WHY?
I love to experiment with all types of products. But I would have to say that my favorite right now is Diamond FX. I feel that they are so bold and bright. And my newest love of Diamond FX is the metallic paints.
> WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE THING TO PAINT?
I love to paint one stroke style roses. I learnt Donna Dewberry one stroke many many years ago. I used her style of painting on my wood products all the time. And just think! I now have been chatting with Donna about face painting and my roses! I would have never dreamed of such a thing! Life is grand!
> IS THERE SOMETHING ELSE ABOUT YOUR CAREER AS A FACE/BODY PAINTER THAT YOU WOULD LIKE OTHERS TO KNOW ABOUT?
Ever since I could remember I have always been in love with art of any type. Face and body painting is a passion of mine now. I practice every day. My mind is always thinking of new designs. The biggest joy in my heart is to paint a child, and then watch them look into the mirror with a smile that is priceless! Life is so short, make every day, a day to remember!
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 3rd Place Gina Niemi
Gina Niemi
HOW DID YOU GET STARTED IN FACE AND/OR BODY PAINTING?
I started my journey into face painting when I was invited to help raise money for my son's elementary school in 2004. Not having a clue about anything in the Face Painting world......I found myself to be absolutely horrible at the art. I purchased my first kit from Snazaroo and practiced for hours on a daily basis until I took my first gig.
WHAT DID YOU DO BEFORE THAT?
I was a full time employee for a Government Collection Company with a back round in Nursing.
WHAT PAINT BRANDS ARE YOUR FAVORITES? WHY?
I am not known for using one brand of paint. I love Diamond FX for its bold colors and opacity. I love Paradise for it's ease of blending and I love Kryolan for their Neons & Interferenze colors.
WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE THING TO PAINT?
I really enjoy painting anything Tribal and I love doing Large pieces of art. Such as full body art, pregnancy paintings & Back Art. I really enjoy creating bold and bright face art as well.
IS THERE SOMETHING ELSE ABOUT YOUR CAREER AS A FACE/BODY PAINTER THAT YOU WOULD LIKE OTHERS TO KNOW ABOUT? Beside my love of face painting & the willing to Inspired & be Inspired.....I also run a face painting supply company, called WowFactor. We are growing fast and are continuously adding new products.
See more about this award winning face and body painter
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 4th Place Johnella Kozlowski
Hello, my name is Johnella. I began face painting 2 years ago when I read an ad on Craig’s List offering to pay $20.00 per hour to help with a birthday party in my area. I thought it would be fun so I tagged along. I WAS HOOKED! I worked for 3 hours and made 60.00!
I started researching and learned about the conventions; once I attended I was REALLY HOOKED! I learned the pay was much better than I was paid, the education you pay for at the conventions were worth their weight in GOLD.
I now paint for myself at parties, festivals, corporate events and on Cruise Ships! I absolutely love painting. I have taken interest in body painting as well as makeup. I am licensed in my state by the Department of Business and Regulations as a Cosmetologist, I believe customer safety and sanitation are paramount to the success of any business. I still do hair, I own a beauty Salon, I am also a cosmetology instructor.
My favorite paints are Wolfe. They are what I have always used. I will probably begin experimenting with other brands now that I have learned the blending with one of the more difficult brands. Even as a teenager, I insisted on learning to drive on a stick shift, I knew that if I could drive the stick, I could drive anything!
-The only ones who fail are those who do not try.
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