What kind of thing are you looking for in a face painting book?

For example, are you looking for step by step illustrations about how a certain design was achieved? Are you looking for new design ideas you haven't seen before? Are you more interested in beginning or advanced type designs?

Do you buy and read books at all?

Feel free to supply your own answers please.

I have the Usborne face painting book as well as a couple of books I got from Marcela at camp. The Usborne one was good to get me started, but after about a week of playing with the paints, it was a little too beginner for me.

I love step by step PHOTOS (not little drawings of the steps) because they always put little drawings and those never look quite the same as what comes out in the final picture. At this point, I think I'd like something with both a section on brush stroke techniques and a section of original designs.

I preface this by saying I do not paint faces.

If I were looking for a book on facepainting, I would look for something that explained the color wheel, and how to blend colors and to shade. Also, outlining techniques, adding realism, What different brushes do and how to use them, the differences between types of face paints, how to use sponges, full faces VS Cheek art, how to set up a line, how to prep the face for painting, and completely condemns putting acrylics of your face and saying, "Well, it's okay I'm a volunteer."

I guess, more of a how to book, vs, a copy this book. I am a firm believer in the idiom "Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish and you will feed him for a life time." Something that explains line and space.... a text book that treats it as what it is: Art.

Something that informs you quickly. A series of pictures, maybe 4 and the final result would be good for a more advanced painter learning new designs.

Thanks for the replies!

I have collected a bunch of pictures and a few books that show four to six pictures of stages and then the completed project. My biggest problem is that I don't find/make the time to play/practice like I should. So when I look at the stage by stage pictures I'm still very fuzzy on the technique used to achieve certain results. I paint with sponges and a variety of brushes but without working with someone more advanced that can see where my weak spots are, I need some instruction, some help.

Thanks Smacky, when you start taking orders let me know.

How interested would you be in a step by step guide to establishing your own successful face painting business? Perhaps targetted at the beginning face painter, detailing/specifiying:

1. what to purchase,

2. what and how to practice

3. a set of simple and popular designs that the specified practice will allow you to confidently execute

4. Understanding and dealing with customers and kids

5. Your set-up

6. Booking events

Basically a step by step guide for turning the beginning or interested into a competent professional face painter. Would something along these lines be of interest?

ok my gf is practicing facepainting and she needs a good book like some of the suggestions above what brush to use for what how to use sponges what paints to get and some of the more popular designs and everything you just said above.
but it sounds to me as if your planning on creating your own book if so where do i send my money to i want the first copy signed by you

That's cute. I like it.

Not to repeat but I agree with both what bgrdnz and scruffy had to say. I'd love to read about your technique for building the business, but when it comes to face painting books alot are step by step, I'd be more interest in technique, like how you look at the shape of a person face/bone structure for shading, creating different designs. etc. that type of stuff is often lacking in some books I've seen.

So if you do write one, please let us know, I'd like to order one as well. To be honest the pics you've posted are so good, I'd love to see a book of your work as well.

I have never been a book person. There are a few clown books that I purchased, but they mainly sit around. I have thumbed through some of the joke books.

The Internet has so many great resources... I sometimes feel like people are charging too much for their books/DVDs. I like things that can become a reference you return to instead of read/watch once and move on.

I suppose that a book that covered all aspects of starting a face painting business would be helpful. I should cover the basics of the paints and working with brushes and sponges. Maybe something on the art of designing a good looking face. Setting up a face painting kit and keeping the supplies clean. Then get into the business side and how to find places to practice when just getting started.

Thanks for all of the replies. They have been very helpful.