I just got into face painting and I like the full face designs a lot better because they are more impressive but less detailed, which is good for me since I'm not the world's greatest draw-er. Last night I went to the park down the road from my house and did free face painting (I know, I know, I shouldn't have done it free if I ever want to go back to the park and busk) because I really need to practice and I wanted to hear what people asked for and stuff. So there's a group of kids and the nine year old girl (the oldest) steps up first. She asks for a puppy. Okay, no problem. Start to paint white full face. Then she asks, "Wait, is this the whole face?" I tell her it is, because "it's more fun to be a dog than just have a picture of a dog" and she backed out. Then I had a line of younger kids who would've been fine with the full face stuff, but after the older girl said no, they all asked for little cheek designs. Has this ever happened to you, how do you handle it? Thanks for any opinions.

I offer both it I can, the one time I only did full faces was when another clown was at an event I was asked to do and was doing cheek art, I opt then for only full faces.

To me it kinda like balloons once you get one the others all want to same, butterfly faces seems to be popular with girls.

Sue,

Yeah, it is like balloons in that sense. I've been doing balloons a lot longer, so I guess I have more control with saying do you want a....?" before they can say "I WANT...!" I did the park again, (with a very visual tip bucket) and it was the same kids for the most part, however. I did bring pictures of full faces so they could see what it would look like, but still none of them wanted it. Finally, the last girl was debating about this half face horse, and I reminded her how easily the paint came off the night before, so she decided to go for it, and LOVED it! So I'm hoping if I go back tonight to get to do more full and half faces. I know if I price it per design, the full faces have to be more, and then I know I won't get any. Do you have a preference, or are your requests usually evenly split? Hmmmmm.....

Thanks for your thoughts.

at birthdays kids will kinda go for the full faces, but at other events, some want it, but usually mom or some one will remind them they still have to go to so and so..and will then opt for something small [which to be honest I'd do if going out to eat for example].

If somebody tells me they want something general like 'a kitty' or 'spiderman', I ask them if they want a little one on the side of their face or if they want a big kitty or spiderman mask. If they're super decisive, I'll even ask them what side of their face they want the picture to be on. Because I hate tears. I'm so afraid the children will cry. I've never had it happen, but I can feel it coming.

When I brought my paints to school, it seemed like all my subjects wanted full-face designs. Then again, I did my painting on theatre kids whose main goal was to see how their classmates reacted when they walked into Spanish class with a dog face on. :P

I recently did a Noah's Ark church harvest party, and because they were dressed as animals, lots of kids wanted the full face tiger or cat or rabbit. BUT I did a butterfly mask--OOOH wow--that really went over well. Try doing masks, (just on the eyes) or just a muzzle of a tiger on the nose and mouth with FANGS. The boys LOVE this. Girls are gah gah over the one or two eye butterflys. Visit snazaroo.us.com for examples of other masks and one-eyed designs. These aren't extensive as full face, but just as affective. Less time, and more design.

I agree butterflies are big with girls, and I like them too.