Unicorn Face Painting Tutorial with Maya Kim: Step-by-Step Guide for Face Painters by Maiya Kim

When it comes to unicorn face painting, most designs fall into two camps — the elegant, ethereal style or the fun, cartoony look. But during her latest Facepaint.com webinar, professional artist Maiya Kim introduced a whole new twist: the chubby unicorn.

This style is whimsical, quick to paint, and versatile enough for both kids’ parties and high-volume events. In this blog, we’ll break down Maya’s full chubby unicorn tutorial, from brush choices to design variations, so you can recreate these magical creatures in 3 to 7 minutes flat.

Whether you’re painting a rainbow-maned unicorn for a birthday party or a tribal-winged version for a boy’s pirate-themed festival, this guide covers all the techniques and time-saving tricks Maya shared — plus her professional tips for flawless feature placement.

Watch the Full Tutorial:

Video Title:Maiya Kim (Unicorn Designs) Webinar

Why Chubby Unicorns?

Unicorns have been a face painting staple for years, but Maya’s “chubby” approach brings a playful charm and makes the design faster for busy environments like fairs, festivals, and school carnivals.

“The beauty of the chubby unicorn is in its proportions — it’s rounder, softer, and more approachable for kids,” Maya explained during the session. “And it’s adaptable — you can make it masculine, floral, or rainbow in just a few strokes.”

The 3–7 minute execution time means you can offer a highly detailed design without holding up your line. Plus, the circle division method ensures your unicorn’s features are perfectly placed every single time.

Tools and Materials

Maya’s kit for the webinar included:

• Craze Angle Brushes (1.5 inch and 3/8 inch) – perfect for base coverage and mane work.

• Round Detail Brushes (double zero) – for precise outlining and detailing in both black and white.

• Craze Flower Bouquet Palette – a versatile selection of colors for unicorn manes.

• Fusion Black and White Paints – for clean outlines and highlights.

• Fusion Linus Rainbow Paint – for quick rainbow effects.

Pro Tip: Maya keeps separate brushes for black and white to avoid constant rinsing and color contamination. This small change can shave minutes off your painting time.

The Core Technique: Circle Division Method

One of the standout lessons from Maya’s webinar was her circle division method. This simple but powerful approach ensures that every unicorn looks balanced and well-proportioned.

Here’s how it works:

1. Start with a main circle for the unicorn’s head.

2. Divide it into four equal parts (like slicing a pie).

3. Place the ear so it touches the one-third mark.

4. Position the horn on the top middle line.

5. Draw the eye in the center of the circle, aiming it toward the nostril for a natural look.

Building the Muzzle and Neck

• For the muzzle, create a U-shape in the lower half of the circle using about two-thirds of your brush width.

• Close the U back into the circle.

• Draw the neck starting from the ear, curving downward to create a chubby wrinkle effect.

This structure is the backbone of all chubby unicorn designs, whether you’re going floral, tribal, or rainbow.

Design Variations

Maya showcased several unicorn variations, each suited for different event themes and client preferences:

1. Masculine Unicorn with Tribal Wings

• Placement: On the cheek.

• Features: Angular shapes, bold outlines, tribal-style wings instead of a mane.

• Best For: Boys who want something “cool” but still magical.

2. Forehead Unicorn with Green Mane

• Placement: Circle touching the right eyebrow, allowing the mane to flow to the left.

• Features: Wavy green mane for a fresh, nature-inspired look.

3. Rainbow Unicorn

• Palette: Fusion Linus Rainbow Paint.

• Technique: Curved strokes to make the mane look full and flowing.

• Best For: Festivals and birthday parties.

4. Floral Horn Unicorn

• Placement: Center of the forehead.

• Features: Rose designs integrated into the horn area.

• Adds: A soft, elegant feel perfect for spring events.

Technical Tips for Success

Maya dropped several pro-level tips throughout the webinar:

• Outline with short lines, not one continuous stroke. This keeps your design lively and flowing.

• Use dots, swirls, and teardrops to make the design look more detailed without adding time.

• Always center the eye in the main circle and tilt it toward the nostril for realism.

• Keep separate brushes for black and white to save time.

Time-Saving Strategies for Busy Events

For high-volume gigs like festivals and school fairs, Maya recommends:

• Using simpler manes (two to three color blends instead of full rainbows).

• Limiting outline work to essential areas only.

• Offering a masculine option so you can paint unicorns for boys without resistance.

Interactive Q&A Highlights

During the live session, Maya addressed common unicorn struggles:

• Forehead Placement Issues: Keep the circle touching the right eyebrow for balance.

• Muzzle Shape Confusion: The U-shape technique was demonstrated multiple times for clarity.

• Boy-Friendly Unicorns: The tribal wing variation is a hit for male clients.

What’s Next from Maya Kim

Fans of Maya’s teaching style have more to look forward to:

• Butterfly Designs – an upcoming tutorial topic.

• Dragon Designs – planned for November (Maya admits she’ll have to compete with Frida’s dragon expertise!).

Also on the Facepaint.com calendar:

• Speed Painting Masterclass with Laura Pennock.

• Brush Demo by Shelby Maggaro.

Why Learn with Facepaint.com

At Facepaint.com, we’re more than a store — we’re a community for professional and aspiring face painters. Along with the largest selection of face paint brands, low flat-rate shipping, and competitive prices, we offer:

• Free tutorials and webinars.

• Contests and community challenges.

• In-depth blogs just like this one.

If you’re ready to try Maya’s chubby unicorn design yourself, shop our KrazeFX face paints and professional brush sets — the same tools she used in this webinar — at Facepaint.com.