Face Painting

Steve Pitt is a Toronto-based freelance writer and an award-winning journalist. He has written many young adult and children's books, including Day of the Flying Fox: The True Story of World War II Pilot Charley Fox.

What does your little tyke plan to be this Halloween? A space creature
or skeleton? Frankenstein’s monster or Count Dracula? A pirate or
fairy princess? How about a rabbit, lion, or butterfly? Forget about
buying an expensive and uncomfortable mask—Face Painting shows you how
to use inexpensive face makeup to create more than a dozen spooky
classics. Author Patricia Silver is no stranger to the greasepaint
herself. As “Patty the Clown,” she has worked as both a children’s
performer and a recording artist.

Silver starts with the basics, such as what kind of makeup to buy and
how to use it with other costume materials. Next, she explains how
makeup is worn. Handy tips like “paint a design on face first” may
save you some time and trouble, or “keep brushes and glitter away from
eyes” may save you from some howling that wasn’t part of the
original Halloween script. Each character face is illustrated in
detailed, step-by-step drawings and a finished photograph. Besides face
painting, Silver offers suggestions on how to put together the rest of a
child’s costume, using inexpensive items often found around the
average house. Those looking for a way to put some originality back into
any costume event will find this book a superb resource. Highly
recommended.