Face Painting and Balloon Twisting Blog

Silly Heather from Silly Farm has several videos on YouTube.

Rose Bud Fairy Mask
A Valentine Face Painting Design by Silly Heather. In this video she creates a valentine fairy mask design using the fairyfly kit, Rose Bud.

Dragon Wings Face Painting Tutorial
In this video she creates a dragon mask using the fairyfly kit, dueling dragons.

My Sweet Valentine – Face Painting Design Tutorial
Valentines is coming up and Heather created this quick step by step tutorial on how to face paint this teddy bear design that will be sure to WOW!

YouTube has many face painting tutorials of various quality. There are also videos taken by parents or grandparents of their kids having their face painted while at the zoo, festivals, or on vacation. These videos show real face painters working with real kids. I like to hear the reactions of the people talking in the background.

Here are three more YouTube videos of kids getting their face painted.

Ninja Turtle at the Circus

Pink Skull and Crossbones

Minne Mouse at Hollywood Studios

My very first clown convention was the Circus Magic Convention in Williamsburg, VA. Circus Magic is a regional clown convention that is held each year at the end of February and that means that it is coming up soon. This year, it is February 23-26, 2012 at the Holiday Inn Patriot in Williamsburg, VA. The convention is one of several conventions run by Steve “Salty” Kissell and DJ “Fancy Pants” Ehlert.

Although this is a clown convention, they have workshops on balloon twisting, face painting, magic, and other topics that would be of interest to clowns and other types of children’s entertainers. They have a great list of instructors coming to help with the workshops. Ken Stillman will be there teaching balloons. Marcella “Mama Clown” Murad and her co-workers from Silly Farm will be there to teach face painting. Jim Howle and Leon McBryde, both former Ringling Clowns, will also be there helping with makeup and clown noses.

Circus Magic Convention
February 23-26, 2012
Holiday Inn Patriot 3032 Richmond Road
Williamsburg, VA 23185
http://www.circusmagicconvention.com/

Presented by Steve Kissell. Bringing Education Excellence to the Performing Arts! Come Celebrate, Laugh, and Learn at Circus Magic with the special theme of: Tribute to the Wizard of OZ!

Here are a few more videos filmed by parents of their kids having their faces painted.

Superhero mask at Disney Hollywood Studio

Unicorn Mask at the Cincinnati Zoo

Fast Zombie

I like watching the videos that parents take when their kids have their faces painted. I think it shows more of how the artists work in the real world compared with the tutorials that people create. It is always interesting to listen to the parents and other people making comments in the background.

Butterfly

Spiderman

Pink Cat

Butterfly – OK, this is a series of photos not a video, but one of the things I noticed was how the artist stands to the side to let the parents watch and take pictures without getting in the way. I know artists who like to have the kids face away from the crowds, but face painting should be as much for the spectators as it is for the child

Penguin Balloon from a Face Painting and Balloon Jam at Cici's Pizza

Each month, I host a face painting and balloon jam at the Cici’s Pizza in Chantilly. It is normally on the 2nd Monday of the month, and in January, our first Jam of the year will be on Monday, January 9th at 7:00pm.

You can come as early or late as you like. We are able to accept tips from the guests. The jam is open to face painters and balloon twisters of all skill levels. Bring your supplies. The jams are an opportunity to socialize with other face painters and balloon twisters, share ideas, and practice interacting with the customers at Cici’s.

Chantilly Face Painting and Balloon Jam
Monday, January 9th, 2012
Eat 6:00 – 7:00
Jam from 7:00 – Close

CiCi’s Pizza Buffet
14392 Chantilly Crossing Lane
Chantilly, VA 20151
703-961-9100

If you can’t make this jam, there are several other jams in the area. Princess Jennifer hosts a jam at the Cici’s Pizza in Falls Church on the 1st Monday of each month. Ivonne and Leandra host a jam at the Fuddruckers
in Annandale on the 3rd Wednesday of each month. You can find these jams and others on Facebook.

Balloons By Mike holding a Christmas Tree Balloon at a balloon jam

Merry Christmas from Mike Becvar aka Balloons By Mike and Sir Toony Van Dukes the host and moderator of the Face Painting and Balloon Twisting Blog.

It is hard to believe that we are almost at the end of 2011. This has been a good year for me. I am very thankful for my friends who have helped me along the way. I host a monthly face painting and balloon twisting jam which has proven to be a great way to both get time to practice and share ideas with others.

I am making a new years resolution to put more time into writing content for this blog. Hopefully, you will enjoy the posts to come in the new year.

Each month, I host a face painting and balloon jam at the Cici’s Pizza in Chantilly, VA. It is normally on the 2nd Monday of the month, and in
December 2011, the official jam will be on Monday, December 12th. This month, we will share ideas on designs for the upcoming holidays.

Note: The theme is more a conversation starter for the dinner period of the jam. It is not a lecture but an open opportunity to ask questions of the group or share what has worked in the past. come with your questions and ideas… Bring your ideas and an open mind for the discussion.

Arrive when you can… I will try to arrive around 6:00 and plan to eat first. The jam continues until Cici’s closes at 9:00pm. You can come as early or late as you like. We are able to accept tips from the guests.

The jam is open to face painters and balloon twisters of all skill levels. Bring your supplies.

Chantilly Face Painting and Balloon Jam
Monday, December 12th, 2011
Eat 6:00 – 7:00
Jam from 7:00 – Close

CiCi’s Pizza Buffet
14392 Chantilly Crossing Lane
Chantilly, VA 20151
703-961-9100

If you can’t make this jam, there are several other jams in the area. Princess Jennifer hosts a jam at the Cici’s Pizza in Falls Church on the 1st Monday of each month. Ivonne and Leandra host a jam at the Fuddruckers in Annandale on the 3rd Wednesday of each month. You can find these jams and others on Facebook.

From Silly Farm
http://www.sillyfarm.com/store/index.php?p=page&page_id=Paint-A-THon

On December 2, 2011, FabaTV will go LIVE for 12 hours to help raise money and awareness for the Covenant House. FabaTV has teamed up with some of the world’s most talented artists, together they are putting their paints to use for a great cause. The 1st annual Paint-A-Thon will take place on Dec 2nd, 2011 via fabatv.com/page/live, starting at 3:00 pm EST December 2nd and ending at 3:00 am EST Dec 3rd, 2011. They will be broadcasting 12 hours of free, LIVE face and body art classes and you, the viewers, will be given the option to donate money to help they purchase much needed holiday gifts and supplies for the children of the covenant house. 100% of the proceeds will go to the covenant house and the gifts will be delivered by Santa Leon himself.

The Covenant House is a teen homeless shelter, where they focus on helping at-risk, run away, and homeless teens to turn their lives around and rise above their obstacles. The Covenant House works hard to help get teens off the streets, keep them motivated, productive and out of trouble.

Sometimes, you just need to get out and have some fun.

Sir Toony Van Dukes and his friends from Just Clowning Around of Northern Virginia

On Friday, November 25th, 2011, Mike Becvar went out as Sir Toony Van Dukes and joined several of his friends from Just Clowning Around of Northern Virginia (JCA) and participated in the Reston Holiday Parade at the Reston Town Center.

Several of my friends from JCA are also balloon twisters and face painters. They have helped me become a better clown, face painter, and balloon twister. Getting together for parades is a way for us to have fun and give back to the community by spreading smiles to large groups of people.