The following is an entry sent in for our monthly Competition!
Face Painting Up a Storm
Sent in by Sherri MacLean
I always wondered what Marilyn Monroe felt like when a rush of air blew up her skirt – until it happened to me on this very day when I was facepainting. I will begin my story……
It was a beautiful, sunny afternoon and I was facepainting at a 4th of July celebration (2007) with another painter. This was the first time we had painted at this event and the city was giving us “a try”. We were under a city tent with a henna artist and things were going very well. Our line was at least an hour long, everyone was happy, our designs were all red, white, and blue (including the tigers) and everything looked great! It was going to be getting dark soon, so we put out our last face of the day sign and went happily on painting, anticipating the wonderful fireworks display as soon as the sun went down.
What we did not expect was the sky to grow dark and cloudy and winds to pick up to 35 miles per hour with a torrential rain pour. The wind was so strong, our tent and supplies; brushes, sponges and glitter were flying everywhere.
This is where the Marilyn Monroe part comes in – I was running around trying to catch my supplies when my billowy skirt flew up around my head for all to see. Thankfully, I was wearing a slip! The person who got the biggest show was a city employee who was holding down our tent so it would not fly away. He was very kind to snatch up my collection of brushes as they whirled past my head.
He must have seen the panic in my eyes as I was screaming, “Not my brushes! all the while trying to get my skirt back down over my legs!”. I lost my sunglasses (they literally flew off my head), a lot of glitter, at least 50 business cards, hair clips and some sponges. The part that cracked up my partner and I was a mom who came back and asked me, “Are you ready to start facepainting again?”. I looked at her and said, “Besides the 35 mile an hour winds, AND the torrential downpour AND I am lacking supplies, AND we have ALSO run out of light AND I can’t see anything, we are forced to close” She replied with, “I have a light on my cell phone that you can use.”
All I could do was look at her in complete shock. What I really wanted to say was, “Woman! Can you not see all the panic and chaos all around you? Women, children, men and in some cases animals are running around screaming! Tents, lawn chairs, ice cream cones (no joke) hats, sunglasses, sunscreen, hot-dogs, blankets, and in some cases people are flying by us right now! My supplies are flying away and the world has gotten a peep show from my Marilyn Monroe display! I’m practically soaked to the bone and YOU want me to paint your child’s face????? But, being the professional I am and very able to hold my tongue, I simply said, “I am sorry, we are closed.”
My friend and I still laugh when we relive that day. This case was extreme, but it goes to show what people will do to get their child’s face painted even AFTER your booth is CLOSED!
Sherri MacLean – Fantastic Facepainting, Colorado
www.fantastic-facepainting.com
“Where a face can be transformed in seconds.”
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Thanks for sending this in Sherri. What an amazing story! I guess it shows just how popular face painting can be, no matter what the weather! I’ll be posting the rest of the stories throughout March until the 31st when I announce the winner.
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{ 1 comment… read it below or add one }
Oh, what a funny story!! I can’t imagine being in such a tremendous situation! And what’s up with the mother? Couldn’t she see that a disaster was going on?? It’s like they take on tunnel vision when it comes to face painting. Don’t get me wrong; I love it, too, but, good grief! There comes a time when you just have to let it go and wait til next time. Thanks, again for sharing such a fantastic story. I literally laughed out loud!