If you missed the sparkle-packed, star-spangled face painting party that was Valerie’s 4th of July Training & Demonstration Webinar — don't worry! We’re serving up a full recap, jam-packed with hot techniques, cooler-than-a-firework-night tricks, and colorful creativity. Because nothing says “freedom” like feathering a bald eagle on someone’s forehead.

So grab your glitter, petal sponges, and most patriotic playlist — and let’s dive into the colorful madness! 

Watch the Full Tutorial:

Video Title: Valerie Vela (4th of July Designs) Webinar

Butterfly Kisses and American Wishes

Our fave paint boss Blake Cabot introduced Valerie (queen of festive faces) and her daughter Arabella, kicking off with a stunningStars & Stripes Butterfly. Using a petal sponge loaded with red and blue, Valerie showed how to angle the wings just right near the eye and brow.

• Stars? Check — stenciled on with white paint.

• Wiggle lines? Absolutely.

• Glitter? Optional, but we’re Facepaint.com — so obviously YES.

Tip: Use this same design as a half-butterfly for a quick-yet-wow effect at festivals!

The Eagle Has Landed

On her son Neo, Valerie brought the bald eagle to life (don’t worry, he was into it). She laid down a white base, popped in bold yellow eyes, and layered in feathers with a #2 round and angled brushes.

• Feathering = next-level cool.

• StarBlend powders = heatproof magic. (Seriously, use it when your paint wants to slide off in July.)

• BONUS: Valerie gave a nod toJuneteenth-inspired colors too (red, gold, green) — inclusive AND stunning.

Red, White, and Bloom

Peony flowers? For the Fourth? YES, especially when they’re done in red, white, and blue one-stroke magic.

Valerie’s technique:

• White circular base

• Layered one-stroke petals (hello KrazeFX, our MVP)

• Inky blue centers, mandala stencils, and glitter for that “ooh-aah” finish

Pro tip: Want to adapt for another holiday? Just change the color palette. Boom — all-season peonies.

Tribal Eye Candy

This tribal eye lookscreams fierce patriotism.

Valerie laid down a color base, then used a small flat brush for those iconic tribal swooshes.

• Emphasized that sweet thick-to-thin flow (it’s like brush calligraphy, but make it makeup).

• Star stencils and “USA” calligraphy sealed the deal.

• Compared calligraphy vs. round brushes — we stan a teacher who explains the tools.

Star-Spangled Mask-erade

Enter: the full-faceStar-Spangled Mask. One-stroke base (again, KrazeFX FTW), symmetrical stencil stars, bold outlines, and white detailing.

Valerie even demo’d afreehand star technique for those of us who lose our stencils every 10 seconds (guilty). Optional blue outlines gave the mask extrapop.

Load It Up: Cake Techniques and Heat-Proof Hacks

Finally, Valerie got real about thehow:

• One-stroke cakes: Wet your brush first.

• Regular cakes: Spray your cake.

• Hot climate = thinner paint, faster drying, potential meltdowns (on your model AND your art)

She also teased theSpeed Painting Master Class featuring:

• 1-minute tiger

• Rainbow eye

• Tribal Batman

• Spidey, Kitty, Unicorn, Fairy Crown, and Pikachu (because why stop at humans?)

Blake also gave a shoutout to upcoming classes, likeThe Business of Face Painting — because your art should payyou back.

The Takeaway?

• Try out those 4th of July designs.

• Grab your KrazeFX before it’s gone.

• Sign up for a master class.

• Apply for those contests.

• And keep growing, glowing, and face painting like the pro you are!

At Facepaint.com, we don’t just sell face paint — we support the artists behind the brush. From webinars and classes to low flat-rate shipping and the largest selection of brands, we’re your color-loving, sparkle-slinging, joke-cracking community hub.

So whether you’re painting bald eagles or baby unicorns, keep showing up, making magic, and painting faces that make people smile.

Happy painting, and happy 4th!