The Face Painting Starter Checklist
The Face Painting Starter Checklist
Everything a beginner needs — and nothing they don't.
Starting face painting doesn't have to be expensive or overwhelming. This checklist covers exactly what you need to do your first events confidently, with links to the products we recommend for beginners at every step.
✅ Paints (Start with 6–12 Colors)
You don't need 100 colors to start. Focus on a core palette that covers the most-requested designs.
- White — the most-used color in any kit; base for highlights, teeth, ghost designs
- Black — outlines, details, cat whiskers, spider webs
- Red — roses, Spider-Man, fire, ladybugs
- Yellow — sunflowers, bees, Pikachu
- Blue — ocean scenes, Elsa, sky backgrounds
- Green — leaves, monsters, frogs, dinosaurs
- Pink — butterflies, princesses, hearts
- Brown — tigers, puppies, wood textures
- Gold shimmer — crowns, fairy wings, stars — one shimmer color adds magic to everything
Our pick: FAB Beginner Kit — pre-selected colors that cover 90% of what kids ask for.
✅ Brushes (3 to Start)
You'll use a small round, a medium flat, and a liner. That's it for most beginner designs.
- Round #4 or #5 — the workhorse for fills, animal faces, and flowers
- Flat 3/4" — backgrounds, cheek designs, quick coverage
- Liner / Detail #1 — outlines, whiskers, fine lines
Our pick: Silly Farm Brush Starter Set
✅ Sponges (2–4)
Sponges are how you get smooth, fast coverage on large areas. Get a couple of wedge sponges and at least one rounded petal sponge for blending.
- Wedge / tear-drop sponges — quick base coverage
- Petal sponge — soft blends and gradients
✅ Water Cup & Paper Towels
You need two cups of clean water — one for activating paint, one for rinsing brushes. Paper towels for blotting. That's your whole setup.
✅ A Stencil or Two (Optional but Helpful)
Stencils let beginners produce clean, consistent designs without years of practice. Start with a butterfly, a star, or a simple floral.
✅ Practice, Practice, Practice
Paint on your own arm. Paint your kids. Paint your friends. The fastest way to improve is repetition on real skin — not a practice board.
Ready to Build Your Kit?
Silly Farm's Beginner Collection is stocked with everything on this list — pre-selected and priced for painters just starting out. Questions? Email us at info@sillyfarm.com and a real face painter will help you out.