Fast and Easy Mermaid Face Painting with Paty De Leon Webinar

September's webinar brought us the incredible Paty De Leon from Texas, sharing her expertise in creating five stunning ocean-themed designs perfect for busy face painters. With over 11 years of professional experience and teaching credentials from Capital Convention ACE, St. Louis FBBA, and more, Paty demonstrated why she's become one of our most requested instructors.

Five Ocean Designs That Make Waves

1. Full Mermaid

Paty kicked off the session with a complete mermaid character that had viewers hooked from the start. Using just a small round brush (#1 or #2) and Diamond FX black, she mapped out the entire mermaid - face, arms, flowing hair, and that essential tail. The transformation happened when she loaded her flat brush with blue one-stroke for the tail and switched to purples and pinks for the hair. "I like to use opposite colors on the color wheel," she explained, creating stunning contrast. Small details like pearls on the ears and rosy cheeks brought the character to life in under three minutes.

2. Sea Turtle

The sea turtle design showcased Paty's efficiency-first approach. Using Kraze FX green and dark blue in a one-stroke technique, she created an adorable turtle with simple oval shapes and flippers. Instead of reaching for stencils in those tiny shell spaces, she used her round brush to add quick pattern details. "It's difficult to go through the stencil and not touch outside," she explained, "so I just use my same brush and do random lines here and there." This time-saving trick resonated with painters dealing with long event lines.

3. Sea Shell Crown

The shell crown design transformed a simple eye area into underwater royalty. Starting with a Ceva Blue shimmer base applied with a sponge, Paty built up layers using flat brushes loaded with multiple colors. She created shells in burgundy, orange, and magenta, each with simple U-shapes and scoop patterns. Her pro tip? "I always start with the one in the middle so I know how much space I got to do a few more." The finishing touches of pearls and swirls made this a standout princess design.

4. Mermaid Tail

For the standalone mermaid tail, Paty introduced her angle brush technique that had painters taking notes. Loading just the tip with white paint, she created flowing scales with simple leaf-like strokes. "It's the same technique when you do ghost roses," she explained, helping painters connect familiar movements to new designs. The layered approach - starting with larger shapes and adding smaller details - created depth and movement. She emphasized going from bigger to smaller scales for a natural look.

5. Crown Mermaid

The finale combined crown and ocean elements into what Paty called a "princess crown for mermaids." Using the same efficient techniques from earlier designs, she created an elaborate forehead piece with shells, pearls, and flowing lines. The design demonstrated how to combine multiple ocean elements into one cohesive look, perfect for those special birthday girls who want to be mermaid royalty.

Houston Speed, Global Appeal

Throughout the webinar, Paty emphasized adapting designs for real-world conditions. "Houston is crazy about how fast we work here," she laughed, explaining her philosophy of breaking down complex designs into fewer, more efficient steps. This approach resonated with the international audience, including painters from the Netherlands, Hungary, Canada, and Serbia.

Her practical advice extended beyond technique. When asked about sanitization between clients, she shared her two-water system - one with a drop of sanitizer, one clean - for efficient brush cleaning. On insurance, she stressed its importance: "I've been working for eleven years, and I'm so grateful I never have any issues, but you have to have it no matter what."

Mastering the One-Stroke

One of the most valuable segments came when Paty demonstrated loading a one-stroke for the 30% of beginners in attendance. "I go back and forth gentle, grabbing all the pigments," she showed, emphasizing control over speed. Her advice to beginners was golden: "Don't go crazy fast. Go slowly. By practicing, it's gonna give you confidence." She encouraged grabbing fresh paint frequently until muscle memory develops, reminding everyone that "face paint is very forgiving - you can always go back and fix it."

Tools That Work

Here are some of the products used:

• Kraze FX Face Paint - Green (25 gm)
• FAB Face Paint - Ziva Blue Shimmer 220
• BAM Stencils - Scales
• KingArt Round Brush #1
• KingArt Round Brush #2
• KingArt Round Brush #4
• Flat brushes
• Angle brushes
• Microfiber towels

She demonstrated that expensive tools aren't necessary - technique matters more than equipment.

Practice Makes Profitable

"Practice on yourself or practice boards, but practice," Paty emphasized. While she acknowledged that iPads can be useful, she stressed the importance of working with actual brushes: "The way you move the brush, practice on yourself or practice boards so you can use brushes." Her philosophy? "Sometimes designs don't work, but one idea jumps you to another design. It's part of the process."

The webinar concluded with Paty's generous offer to help fellow painters through her social media (Texas Fun Face Painting), embodying the supportive spirit of the face painting community. As viewers from around the world shared insurance recommendations and pricing strategies in the chat, it was clear that this session delivered both technical skills and business wisdom.

Ready to dive into these ocean-inspired designs? Remember Paty's key lesson: you don't need complicated techniques to create magic - just practice, smart shortcuts, and the confidence to make every stroke count!