Today I am going to talk about how I seat my model for Face Painting. I notice that all of the painters I work with do this a bit differently, so I look forward to your comments about what works for you.
I generally like to stand while I paint, while it can be a little tiring, I find that I have great stamina after years of doing it and can stand for very long periods. Sometimes I use an adjustable office stool, on wheels, if I am going to be painting for a very long period or for several days at the one event.
I like to stand as it means I can move around a bit while working, I like to stand to the front of the model and also to the right side of the model to make painting that side of the face easier ( I am right handed) This is why I use the stool with wheels, so I can move around the model. I generally use the stool for painting small children and stand for the older children and adults.
I seat my model on a tall directors chair, I have them sit close to me, right at the front of the chair. I have a little step that I have them put their feet on, adults too! The step is also for them to climb up to the chair with out me needing to lift them, If they need lifting I ask the parents to do it as I want to look after my back. Really little children can’t reach the step with their feet, that’s fine, most can.
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Once they are seated with their feet on the step, I ask them to put their hands on their knees. This position keeps them very stable and still. Having the hands on knees also helps the child to relax and let their head go back for me to paint them. If their hands are elsewhere eg. behind them, I notice it is much more difficult for their head to relax back.
This position really works for me, sometimes I have to remind the child while I am painting them to do one of the things (feet firmly flat on the step, hands on knees)
I took a picture over the weekend of a child “in the position”. You can see my set up too - I fit all of my gear into a Fat Max, which I use as my table, once packed up I only have this pull along and carry the tall chair – very portable!
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{ 35 comments… read them below or add one }
Pardon my ignorance, but what’s a “Fat Max” – it looks really good – I’m always looking for better ways to carry and set up my paints.
Cheers
Nikki
Hi, Q…where do you get the tall directors chair?
I ask my models to close their eyes all the way through as this helps them to keep still. Try it, it works for me. I like your setup, lots easier than I’ve got. I like your fat max… yes Q…where do you get one of those?
Many smiles – Shazz
Excellent article with lots of good tips thank you Amber
You can get a “Fat Max” at any bunnings or places that seel toolboxes, I have one they are great
Hi Ambah I enjoy your information. I also have a tall director’s chair and found myself standing in front of the child and they are leaning back and slouching.. argh !! this will be a better idea. Now where do you put your water? and emptying it? I bring a couple of gallons and a basin to empty in. I am from the U.S. and am wondering about how to go about working at fairs etc.. do I need to be licensed? or just insured? do you pay for the space ? Thank you
Thank you very much for posting this. I did a search on the fatmax and found that it is a tool box made by stanley and I believe that Sears carries them- but you can always find it on Amazon too! The directors chair is something that I have been looking for for quite some time- I was hoping for advice on where to find one of those!
Thanks Ambah. Great idea about the hands on the knees! I’ve heard about these tall director’s chairs being used before, but I’ve never seen one for sale. Please tell us where to get one.
Hi,
great advise. Same goes, where can we buy Fat Max in
melbourne. or in Spore?
fr Malaysia gal. TQ
Hi Amber…great tips …I would love to do one of your beginners workshops….do you have a date for Sydney?
Also I’m having problems applying (Sponging or painting) the white colour on the face…it’s not smooth,thats not cover the skin evenly
What I’m I doing wrong?
the brand of paint that I’m using is Derivan.
Many thanks
Sara
Hello, thanks for your comments.
Yes I forgot to mention, I also ask the model to keep thier eyes closed the entire time, as it also keeps them still.
In Australia the Fat Max is available form Bunnings, usually only as a Father’s day special, so they can be a little hard to find. I think they are available more readily in the USA, I’m not sure about other locations – can anyone tell us more?
It is made by Stanley, there are a few versions of the Fat Max, the one I like opens out and can be used as a table.
Tall make up chairs can be found on e-bay, Make Up Artist suppliers (Acmuse in Sydney have them)
xx
Ambah.
I loved your ideas, I’ve allways felt a bit unsure about asking the child to keep their eyes closed the whole time, but now I know others ask their children to do this I will be happier to do it more in the future. The Fat Max and the tall directors chair are a great idea but maybe a bit hard to come by in the UK, so if anyone knows where I can get them from it would be appreciated, as I have a bad back and sitting on chairs that are the same hight are crippling.
HI,
I found this post excellent in the ideas department, at the moment i have the kids hold my flash book ( a flip folder with pictures of faces i paint in them), i tell them its so i dont paint them the wrong face, it makes them feel really important and keeps them still, especially the inquisitive ones who have why as there every second word. I dont know about fat maxes, but i use a professional makeup case, they come in all sort of sizes, and prices, and i buy mine from ebay, way cheaper than anywhere else i have looked!!! Here is a couple of store names on ebay that i find have good quality cheap and useful cases oz-auction, byutbiz this last one is my favourite. As someone who has a bad back, i have a diabled shower seat which adjust in hight, i use it to sit on and then adjust my height up or down depending on the customer, i also find that if i dont have to ean forward it helps the back, and when it gets to that point where you are in too much pain i have them stand between my legs hands on my thighs, if they start to sway backwards i have the parent stand behind them.
Hi
I am new, I need a model to practice face painting
please advise me whee to buy a face model
I’ve been doing a bit of looking around on the internet for the high directors chairs and fat Max boxes. In the UK there is a sight on e-bay that sell the directors chairs (new) at a great price, search under “aluminum folding face painters /make up artist chair”. As for the Fat Max boxes they are sold directly from “Stanley tools” but they are very expensive, I use a folding box that has an adjustable handle and wheels, the box originally came with my car but Staples sell them. I also use a aluminium folding table that folds really small. I also use the same techique as Jo Van Os with the flash book, it really helps and if you have a brain block you can check back at the photo. I personally think the best way to learn face painting is on children, Joann have you tried putting an advert in your local store or newpaper for free models for a day, or if you know anyone who has children in a nursery or primary school and ask them to ask parents, offer a free coffee morning for mums while you face paint their children for free, its great for confidents and also free advertising, hope this helps.
hi, if you dont want to practice on a live model, use practice
heads with faces for painting and practicing!!! Also try your local playgroup or kindygarten, you can go in for a day and face paint them, they are young enough they wont notice any mistakes and they are great practice
great idea ! jo Van…..Thank you!
about your face painting the white problem sara, i found using liquids i could never get a good even coverage so i now use cake make up. I have hound the best white is wolfe white it even goes over black!!! i put it on in long strokes first then go ober it by dabbing the sponge on the face, when it dries it looks nice and even.
I prefer using a more solid chair over a directors chair as I am generally able to have the child rest their head on top of the chair back at a slightly upward angle, I keep a gentle pressure on their head and this stops them wriggling about and gives me a nice stable painting position. It also seems very comfortable for the children as I have had a few almost fall asleep on me this way.
I use a large fishing tackle box to transport my face paints and it folds out quite nicely too especially on a small table plus they are easy to find and you can often get them on special quite cheaply!
Though the fat max does look very good I will certainly check my local Bunnings.
As for get an even base coat it does seem trickier with liquids I generally v.quickly cover the face with a sponge ignoring streaks but then go over again with a dabbing motion this seems to even things up quite well, and only takes a little practice to get used to.
Hello Ambah, great information. Thank You! I also love the Fat Max – How did we ever get by without it? I also use the hands on knees principle. I play a little game with the kiddies, and pretend to put “magic glue” on their hands, and then stick their hands to their knees. It’s a bit of fun. I have a slightly different tall chair with a higher back, and arm rests. Because I work mostly from a theme park, I say “ok, now put your head back, close your eyes, and hang on…. It’s a bit like a special ride.” haha… they like that
I am especially careful in the afternoons, when the little ones sometimes “nod off” while getting their faces painted. I make sure I stay extra close. 
SOOOOOOO EXCITED!!!!!!!!!!! I just got my Stanley Fat Max. Costco has them in my area right now (San Francisco Bay Area) $69.99. What a great deal. I’ve taken it out once and WOW did it cut down on setup time. It is so durable too. The wheels are great they can go over rough terrain pretty good. I now have so much room and it is nice to be so orgainzed and ready to go. I was organized before but now it just pops open and you are set. I saw this post before and was in awe of the case and thought wow that is what I need. So I was keeping my eye out for something not thinking I would find the exact same one. When I ran accross the one at costco I was thinking that is it that just like one one Ambah uses. I told my DH I want that for face painting it would be perfect and did not realize it is the exact same one until just now. Love HIGHLY reconmend it.
Thanks so much for all your helpful hints!
I’ve tried standing with the child seated on a directors chair, but get a really sore back from bending.
So… I sit opposite in an ordinary chair with the childs hands on their knees and their eyes closed. I use a bucket with about 6cm water to wash really dirty brushes and sponges out to keep my working water cleaner. The bucket is down where it can’t easily be seen and I use a small glass with clean water for each child that I empty and refill with water from a glass with clean water. There’s not really enough room on the table to put the bucket even though it’s fairly small and I don’t really like it to be seen as brushes with black paint make the water look dirtier than it is, (a bit yukky looking). I was wondering what you all do differently to me to keep your working water clean for light colours and hygiene and prevent back strain if using a directors chair. I have seen other painters use the same sponges on everyone without washing them. It saves paint I guess but I like to use cleaner washed out sponges for each face. It would be expensive to use a new sponge and dispose after each face…
What do you all do??? Thanks,
I have a disablity so I can’t stand, but I have the child sit in front of me and sometimes I have the child close their eyes and hold the book also. I would like some suggestions on how to sit the child so my back doesn’t hurt. Thank you for all your help.
Thank you for your tips I really find them useful. I have a few events and birthdays booked so I will be trying out the advise you have posted.
I just got an EZ UP director’s chair. Looks much sturdier than the one pictured above because there are more bars on the legs/crisscrossing and a foot rest. It also has a very nice carrying case. Pricey though at $130 which included shipping. They also sell colorful seat covering but think I will make my own out of a pattern I like better–looks simple enough to do–just a slip cover /pillow case type design. Seat covers are $45-50 at Silly Farmbut a nice child pattern fabric at a fabric shop like Joann’s — about one to one and a half yards fits my budget more! I also have the Stanley Fatmax. Can get it for $80 at Lowes in the U.S. Quite roomy!
Another idea, to decorate your station. I plan on blowing up 3-5 balloons and painting some cheek art designs on them and then tying them to the Fatmax station on long string a few feet above the station so they make my station visible.
By the way, the director’s chair I bought has a nice black frame, not silver. It weighs 7.5 pounds and is very easy to carry in its case. I am looking at a large polka dot fabric to make the slip-on cover.
Thanks for the hot water/thermos tip! I will surely use that one! I got 2 small tin buckets from the $5 and Below store in bright colors for the rinse and wet buckets. Now I will get the little bathtub shaped one for the sponges! For on the go emptying of water, I will get a little plastic “round trash can with lid” to sit behind the Fatmax. I saw them at the $5 and Below and the Dollar store in my area–they come in bright colors as well.
Forgot to mention that the Directors chair FOLDS UP!!!
For years I painted standing up with my patron on a tall stool. Then I designed and had made my unique and wonderful “fairy wagon” in which I sit in one corner with my paints and supplies at my right. The patrons sit in front of me on a tall stool (with a step stool for access). The fairy wagon also showcases my other art offerings, hitches up to my van, keeps me dry, and is completely stable in the wind. It’s also eye-catching, utterly different, and most attractive.
I’d love to see a picture of that myself! Sounds interesting.
To Deborah Weinischke – what does your “fairy wagon” look like? If you are seated how do you reach your patrons to paint their faces from the wagon? I am new to this and am looking to start up soon as I am relocating to FL.
Thanks
http://www.casualhome.com/store/viewItem.asp?idProduct=5
I found some director chairs at this site on sale for $32.95 ( marked down from like 76)
They are 24 ” counter- high
Hope this helps somebody.
I love the FatMax idea~ Thanks for all the tips =)
I too like to stand and paint. It is much more comfortable on the body for me. A chair that turns sounds like an idea to try. Sometimes the height is not quite right, but I have a cushion to help with the short ones. I use a sturdy wooden directors chair. This way people can watch the transformation as face painting is sooo entertaining!!!
Perfect timing for this article – again. Amber, your articles are brilliant. Love your set up too. Looks easy to pack, set up and clean
I have always sat to face paint and find my hand, arm, shoulder and upper back particularly on my right side (right-handed) really ache. Today I painted standing up with my little canvases sitting on a swivel bar stool. My lower back hurt but was much more comfortable on the rest of my body. Plus my painting was much better too as I was able to move around the face more.Some wonderful ideas above, too – the fairy mobile … awesome.
For all the US based readers who wanted to find a “Fat Max”, they sell them at both Home Depot for $69 and Lowe’s for $79.. If your local store doesn’t carry it, ask them to order it and they will bring it to the store for you to purchase.
Also the directors chairs can be ordered through Silly Farm ( expensive) or try the EZUp web page. Last resort, use Ebay. One word of caution….Please look at the seats when choosing a chair. The one piece full seats where the bottom and top sections are connected is safer than the separated pieces. Small children can slip through these wide openings. If your chair has separate sections, you can sew a slip cover for it or get the ones pre made from Sillyfarm.I haven’t found anyone else who makes them so that is the only reason I refer to them.
I personally like to look at the feet of my chairs also. I want one with a bar that connects the back feet and front feet at ground level. I often need to set up on grass or sand( Florida) and this bar helps keep the chair from sinking into the ground.. If you only ever have to set up in a parking lot or someones kitchen, dont worry about this little detail, but for those whose job is “wherever they put you”. that bar will really save you!
Hi, I use a bar-stool with adjustable height handle so I can bump the child up the height that suits me best – I also stand and paint. If it’s a smaller child I might get mum or dad to stand with one hand behind their back just so they feel secure. But adjustable height is definitely the way to go so no bending over and hurting your back.
Thank you so much for this seating and tool box tip. I tried a fishing tackle box that worked for my supplies, but the tool box is much larger and on wheels which makes it much easier to carry a gallon of water and the suggested furniture.
You are correct about the director’s chair being comfortable and at the perfetct height for painting faces. I found one that has a side table and pockets on the side, which is also convenient.
Thanx again…until next time….Meow!