The Complete List of Face Painting Jams

THE COMPLETE LIST OF FACE PAINTING JAMS

Face painting is a great part-time, and sometimes full-time, gig for creative, entrepreneurial types. While you may have earned an impressive list of local clients, it’s likely that you don’t know any other face painters. How can you change that? Start hobnobbing with others just like you at a convention, also known as a face painting jam.

Here are a few reasons why attending a face painting convention is a great idea.

Make Friends

Spend a few days at a gathering of face painters and you’re likely to come away with new friends. And that’s important because no one else can quite understand the specific trials and tribulations you may experience as a face painter.

Get Inspired

At a face painting jam, you’ll be surrounded by face and body art that you haven’t seen yet on Pinterest. Each artist brings his or her own unique style to display. You’ll no doubt be inspired to create your own signature look.

Learn

From face painting techniques to tricks for speeding through long lines, at a face painting jam you’ll be surrounded by pros who know their stuff and are willing to share their skills with you. Most conventions and jams offer workshops. Take advantage of them to improve your artistry and business acumen.

Compete

Another opportunity you’ll come across at many conventions is to enter a face or body painting competition. Most conventions hold these towards the end of the festivities, so you’ll have plenty of time to brush up on skills in workshops and gather tips that may just send you home with a prize.

Shop

Most of us face painters are accustomed to shopping online for our supplies. While convenient, it’s always fun to see products up close first. A convention is a great place to sample products from the numerous vendors that will be happy to show you their wares.

London

Explore

You may have to travel to get to a face painting jam. In that case, make the most of your trip and explore your surroundings. Have you always wanted to eat gumbo in New Orleans, visit Universal Studios or tour Buckingham Palace? Combine an unforgettable vacation with a face painting jam and light two candles with one flame!

By now you’ve got plenty of reason to pack your bag for the next face painting jam. Check out this comprehensive list we’ve put together of conventions around the globe. Locations, dates, and events may change from year to year, so be sure to check convention websites for the most up-to-date information. Then start planning your adventure!

Complete List of Face Painting Jams and Conventions

Austin Convention for Entertainers, Texas

Held in September (check their website for updated schedules), ACE is the place for face and body art, balloons, airbrush, henna, and more. Notable instructors have included Marcela Bustamante, Jasmine Amazing, Denise Gold, Mark Reid, and Heather Green.

FABAIC

Business and marketing courses are an important component during this 5-day convention in Orlando. Take part in demonstrations and workshops for face painting, body painting, henna, glitter tattoos, and more. And while you’re there, fill up your kit with the latest combinations of rainbow cakes.

Kapital Kidvention East andWest

This is a winter gathering for children’s entertainers including face painters, clowns, balloon artists, and magicians. The convention has both East and West coasts covered. The East Coast convention takes place in D.C. and the West Coast jam is in Scottsdale, Arizona.

Face & Body Art Convention

Midwestern face painters will find inspiration at the Face Painting & Body Art Convention held in St. Louis, MO. Currently held in the fall, you’ll find classes taught by the likes of Shawna Del Real, Heather Green, Corey Morgan, and Shannon Holt at this popular event.

St Louis

La Fete

Four days of face and body painting await you at La Fete in New Orleans. Partake in face painting games, study glamour make-up with Elise Griffith, and get tips on keeping your kit clean and organized. As if that wasn’t enough, you’ll feast on Cajun cooking and revel in the sites and sounds of The Big Easy.

New Orleans

East Coast Body Art Convention

Currently held in Manchester, CT (check website for future events). This jam boasts of such workshop instructors as Mark Reid, Lisa Sullivan, and Corey Morgan. Class topics include flowers, stenciling, one stroke, super heroes, and Easter designs.

Face and Body Art Guild and Convention, New Jersey

Past speakers have included Cameron Garrett at this jam. If you face paint in the Garden State then be sure to put this one on your calendar.

EFABE.eu

The European Face and Body Art Event is a weekend workshop in Rotterdam, Holland. Renowned artists such as Natalee Davies and Anna Wistrich will be leading the March 2020 event.

Holland

UK Face Painting Convention

UK face painters will have likely heard about this convention which has been running for more than 16 years. Dozens of instructors will be on hand to share with you the latest techniques, tips, and tricks for being the best face painter you can be.

World Bodypainting Festival

This is could be considered the granddaddy of body painting conventions. While you may think of this convention as strictly for body painters, they do host a contest for face painting. Competitions are held for professionals and amateurs. Held in Austria, this event receives a ton of attention from news outlets around the world. While you’re competing, get inspiration from the world's most talented face and body painters. First, second and third place trophies are awarded along with products valued from 300 to 1000 Euros by Snazaroo. Perhaps the best prize of all is the world-wide recognition you’ll garner.

Bodyssey

Calling all Canadian face and body painters! This is the jam for you. Get advice from experts, shop new products, and compete at this well attended event. Check their website for details on their next convention.

West Coast Haunters Convention

If you love all things haunted, this Portland, Oregon convention is right up your alley. Some of the classes include airbrushing techniques, zombies, gore FX, and beginning makeup for haunts. This convention isn’t just for face painters. You can also learn the fundamentals of magic, get started on your first horror novel, compose haunted music or make a gargoyle terrarium lantern.

TransWorld

If the previous convention sounds intriguing, but you’re based in the Midwest don’t worry. Held in St. Louis, TransWorld is a convention for the Haunted House industry. Industry experts will be on hand to give makeup demonstrations and discuss all things spooky.

IMATS

IMATS global conventions are held in Vancouver, LA, New York, London, Toronto, and Atlanta and attract professional and student makeup artists. Body painting is a huge part of this global convention. If you’re a face painter looking to transition into makeup artistry, attending an IMATS convention would be a smart move.

Here are some additional face painting jams around the world. Do you know of a Jam we left out? Please let us know in the comments section.

EUROPE

Belgium

JAMvention

Czech Republic

Body Art Czech Myths and Legends

France

Country Road Festival

French Bodypainting Awards

Painture Festival

Rencontre Bodypainting

Germany