Should you take an online face painting course, study in a classroom, or just teach yourself? Chances are there’s not just one simple answer for every aspiring face painter.

These days you can study just about anything through online classes. Face painting is no exception.

In this post we'll discuss some different options for studying the art of face painting online.

By taking a paid course taught by an expert in the field of face painting, you’ll build up your knowledge and skills by following a logical sequence. You’ll start with the basics and build on those skills until you’re ready to tackle the more complicated steps.

The choice of taking online or in person face painting classes may come down to convenience. Not all of us live near face painting instructors, so online courses might be the only option. 

You can also study at your own pace when learning online, which is great for those of us with busy schedules. 

A couple of good options for learning online are FABA TV and the International Face Painting School. Below you’ll find a brief description of what each has to offer.

FABA TV

If you’ve been trying to learn face painting through Youtube videos, then you’re probably already familiar with the founder of FABA who goes by Silly Heather in her video tutorials. FABA TV offers subscribers access to loads of face painting classes by noted professionals in the industry. This is a great option for students who don’t want to be limited to learning just one artist’s style of face painting.

Olga Murasev’s International Face Painting School

Olga also has a Youtube channel where she demonstrates impressive face painting designs. Her online course is designed to take students from beginner to advanced levels of face painting.

Other Online Face Painting Courses

Universal Class which hosts online courses on various topics has a Face Painting 101 course online. The average time it takes to complete the course is 10 hours and includes 12 lessons. I don't have any experience with this program, but over 1,000 students have signed up according to their website. The course includes the history of face painting, techniques, types of face paints, full face and cheek designs. 

Another online school, International Open Academy, offers on online course in Face Painting. The course covers the basics and goes into more detail for children's and adult designs. It also teaches Halloween and horror makeup as well as special effects. Instructor bios and more information can be found on their website. 

New Skills Academy offers an online face painting course. Along with learning face painting artistry you'll also be introduced to health and safety topics, accounting and taxes and insurance. Check out their website for more details. 

If you’re not ready to take the leap into taking a paid face painting course  just yet, then there are plenty of online resources that will give you a good introduction to learning the craft.

Here are some online learning options that won't cost you a dime. 

Free Face Painting Courses

There are several Facebook groups devoted to face painting and you can read about all the best ones in this post.

FacePaint.com 411 Learning Center

The Facepaint.com 411 Learning Center Facebook group is a great place to start learning how to face paint. It's a new group with over 1,000 members and growing. It was created to help beginners, intermediates and experienced face painters learn, share, grow and connect. Join this group and start sharing tips with other avid face painters. 

Jest Paint Community

The Jest Paint Community is an establish Facebook group that covers a wide range of face painting topics. It's great for beginners and pros alike, plus you'll get tons of face painting ideas! 

Face Painting Help by the Art Factory

With over 9,000 members, the Face Painting Help Facebook group is a large community of face painters that help each other. Post your favorite designs or get inspired by other designs. Great for beginners, intermediates, and professionals!

YouTube Communities

No doubt you've watched a YouTube video or two on the topic of face painting. It's a great place to learn. The advantage of YouTube videos is, of course, they’re free. While many of them are full of useful tips and tricks, the downside is that when teaching yourself face painting with YouTube videos, you will spend a ton of time sorting through all the content. It can be hard to organize all the information from different sources and make sense of what’s most important.

If you’d like to learn face painting by watching YouTube videos, this sequence of videos may help you follow a more organized lesson plan. 

How to Use Face Painting Supplies

Sophie’s Tips is a great Youtube channel for learning the basics. Check out her tips for beginners with this video.

How to Use Stencils

Using stencils in your face painting designs opens the door to more creative and impressive designs. You’ll definitely want to practice this technique before trying it out on the job. Watch this videofor helpful hints.

How to Sponge on and Blend Face Paint

While I recommend that professional face painters carry a few one stroke and split cakes in their kit, beginners may want to keep these to a few solid color cakes. In that case, you’ll need to be able to comfortably blend two or more colors together with a sponge. This takes a little practice, but you can cut the learning time in half by watching these tips for blending.

All About Brushes

In order to make impressive face painting designs, you’ll need to understand how to use a variety of face painting brushes. Check out this video for helpful tips.

Flowers

You’ll definitely need to know how to face paint petals and leaves to make beautiful floral designs, so check out this video for some helpful tips.

How to Clean Your Face Painting Supplies 

Beth Mackinney shows you how to keep your face painting brushes clean in this tutorial. So important when you’re face painting professionally!

How to Face Paint Basic Designs

Before you try that super impressive cat face painting you saved on Pinterest, start with the basics, like this fast and easy kitty face.

Butterfly designs are one of the most requested designs at birthday parties and festivals. Luckily, you can knock these out in just a couple of minutes with these easy steps.

You will be asked to paint unicorns, trust me! Get some practice now with this tutorial by Ashlea Henson. 

Also from Ashlea is a cute and easy snowman cheek design.

Boys always seem more interested in getting their faces painted when there are plenty of superheroes to choose from. Watch Ashlie Alvey walk you through this awesome Incredibles mask design! Add this one to your menu board and you’ll be sure to get a ton of requests for it.

How to Use Split Cakes and One Strokes

If you’re not familiar with split cakes and one strokes then you have something to look forward to! Using these types of face paints will speed up your process and add a lot of fun at the same time.

Here’s a nice little introduction on how to use split cakes and one strokes.

No matter if you learn online through paid courses or free Youtube videos, the important thing is to practice, practice, practice! So grab your face painting kit and get started!