We have more Wolfe products on the way! Now up on the site and on it’s way in the mail to me as I type are two of the Wolfe Brothers’ “Top Secret” Step by Step Cheat Books, “Animals” and “Pretty Faces,” just $10.00 each!
These are the same size as the books I currently sell, and are coil bound to make them lay open on the table as you practice your design. They are full of color photos, and every page is a nice, heavy card stock for durability!
Okay, so I promised you a few more new products this week and here they are! I’ve added three new brush sizes from Wolfe…number 1, number 4, and number 8 round brushes, which fill in some of the gaps of the current sizes we carry.
I love to use a combination of both sable and synthetic brushes. Sable brushes are made of the highest quality bristles, which last a very long time. They also hold a lot of paint, so you will find that you don’t have to load your brush as often.
Synthetic bristles, while they may not hold as much paint as sable, hold their shape really well. This makes them great for detail work and at times when you need to rely on consistency in your line weights.
Do you have a brush in your kit that you just can’t live without? I’d love to hear about it! I am notorious for adding whole new products to my website simply because one customer requested it!
We now have Wolfe products in stock and available on the website!
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| Wolfe white in 3 oz and 1.5 oz sizes |
Paintertainment now carries the infamous and elusive Wolfe black and white Hydrocolor makeup in two sizes, 1.5 oz (45g) and 3 oz (90g). Currently we are only stocking black and white, but plan to take on the rest of the rainbow in the coming year!
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| Wolfe paint containers come threaded so they can stack and screw together. This is a view of the bottom of the container, with the bottom cap removed to expose the threads. |
We also now stock the two Wolfe rainbow cakes, in “essential” and “neon!”
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| Neon rainbow cake |
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| Essential Rainbow Cake |
Of course, we couldn’t just stop there! We’re also now carrying several of the Wolfe “Appetizer” palettes, including the 6 color neon palette, the 6 color metallix palette, and a 12 color combination of the those two.
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| 12 Color Neon / Metallix Appetizer Palette |
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| 6 Color Metallix Appetizer Palette |
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| 6 Color Neon Appetizer Palette |
All of these palettes come with brushes as well, and each color can be replaced when empty! We are not yet carrying all of the refills, but hope to soon! The 12 color palette includes both a round and a flat brush, and the 6 color palettes come with one round brush.
More new Wolfe products will be posted up on the site in the next day or two, as I get a chance to photograph everything and update the site!
I’m excited to announce that the Paintertainment shop is now carrying two more Mehron products!
Have you run out of willing models to practice your designs on? Looking for a way to perfect your designs on a face that won’t budge no matter how long you take? You’re in luck! We are now carrying Mehron Practice Heads! For just $36.00 you can have a perfectly still and silent model available 24/7. Who knows, maybe your current “subject” would even be willing to buy it for you so they can go do something else!
If you’re a fan of the Mehron Pro Pencils like I am, you’ll be happy to know that we are not carrying the Mehron Pro Pencil Dual Sharpeners for $5. Each sharpener has two blades, designed to perfectly form a rounded tip with minimal waste. They even come with a little pick that attaches to the sharpener, for removing debris from the blades.
Stay tuned, folks, as I am in the process of bringing on Wolfe FX as a new vendor on the site! We’ll soon be carrying their highly sought after black and white, as well as an array of other fabulous goodies from their product line. I’ll let you know when I have them available! Until then, happy painting!
What were you most thankful for this Thanksgiving? I know there are 13 children in Minnesota who were thankful just to have a family this Thanksgiving!
A couple weeks ago I had the privilege of being a part of the Hennepin County Adoption Days event, which I’ve painted at with my mom for several years. During this year’s event 13 kids were adopted into 9 families. According to their website, Hennepin County has finalized 1,761 adoptions from 2000 to 2009.
What a privilege to be able to take part in such a big day for so many families as they finalize their adoptions! This event is always held right before Thanksgiving, and serves as a timely reminder of what is really important in life.
“There’s no place like home”… this was the quote worn by one family who were all coordinated in custom made Wizard of Oz clothing for this year’s adoption days! I had a lot of fun painting these ruby slippers, yellow brick road, and emerald city on the kids’ grandmother!
I’ve had a couple requests in the past to paint groups of women before heading out for a masquerade themed bachelorette party. Unfortunately none of them have panned out so I haven’t had the opportunity yet! But, today I was inspired while browsing through a Google image search of Venetian masquerade masks and had to give it a try on myself…
This was really my first attempt at a mask, and boy am I ever blind when painting myself without my glasses on! (And afterwards looking at photos, I’m always kicking myself for not putting on any makeup, pretty earrings, or something nicer looking than a sweatshirt, but oh well! It’s just practice!) I always have to literally paint in super slow motion when painting myself like this, so this one took about a half hour. But, it turned out pretty cool in the end. I had a lot of fun with my interferenz gold paint, metallic silver, and adding sparkly details with my Liquid Bling and also adhering some acrylic rhinestones with eyelash adhesive!
Once I get some more time to edit my other photos, maybe I’ll share the step by step process of this one too, if not here than on my free e-newsletter!
We’ve just received a new shipment of acrylic rhinestones! New additions to the assortment now include smaller 5mm round gems, tear drop shaped gems, and larger 18mm red hearts. Check them out on our Acrylic Rhinestone page, where you can also browse our many other shapes and sizes, as well as adhesives!
I had the pleasure of painting “Father Frost” and “Mother Frost” on their way to a Halloween costume party last night!
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| Working on Mother Frost |
For “Mother Frost” I used a mix of the regular Aquacolor paints (white & blues), and interferenz paints. I used a little snowflake stencil which was pretty slick, and had fun adding details with a bottle of Mehron white Detailz paint and some Amerikan Body Art Liquid Bling in silver. She brought her own sparkly blue eyelashes which were very cool, and also put on some pretty blue & aqua eyeshadow and lips!
For “Father Frost” I first covered his face and head in a base coat of Interferenz Silver mixed with a little bit of Aquacolor white, which gave him that frosty, pale look with some shimmer. Then I used more interferenz blues around his eyes to add some drama with the frosty cracks and icicles around his eyes. Aquacolor white made a nice snowflake on his cheek, but I added some blue around it to make it really pop! The blue sparkly dots done with Amerikan Body Art Liquid Bling really added a lot when the light hit it as well! I also brushed a little interferenz blue in his beard too which worked well. I’m kicking myself because I forgot to spritz his beard with a little Glitter Spray! But, it all came out looking pretty cool! (pardon the pun!)
Question: Is it safe to use acrylic paints and other “craft” paints as face paint, as long as the package says it is “non-toxic?” The answer: Absolutely NOT! Non-Toxic does NOT mean FDA approved for cosmetic use, which is what paints must be in order to be considered safe for use on human skin. I’d even go as far as to say that the term “non-toxic” is as meaningless as the term “hypoallergenic,” at least where face paints are concerned. Is the paint labeled “washable?” They are talking about FABRIC. The only language that you must always look for in face paints is “FDA Approved for cosmetic use or made of FDA compliant ingredients.”
Here are just a few images that anyone can find via a simple Google image search for reactions to bad face paints. Does this look non-toxic to you?!
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| Photo by Terra Fender (via) |
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| via YouBecomeArt.com |
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| via Painted Party |
PLEASE read this post in it’s entirety before you decide whether risking a child’s health is worth saving a few bucks…
Professional face painter Susan Judd from Liverpool has done a lot of research into this subject, and was gracious enough to let me share this great information that she summarized to help really explain why acrylic paints should never be used on skin:
“Most ‘non – toxic’ acrylics have formaldehyde as a preservative. This is not bad in its correct application, even in terms of getting a bit on your hands and washing off. The amount that they have in them accounts for this. BUT why are they considered a big ‘no’ as face paint?
Formaldehyde is a probable human carcinogen -cancer causing (it has only been proven in animals, and depending upon the country in Australia it is classified as one) and outright poison that has been researched since the 1940s. It is easily absorbed through the skin, and inhaled.
It has a particular effect on mucus membranes i.e. eyes, throat, nose and gut. 30mls of formaldehyde is a lethal poison to kill a human. And formaldehyde is commonly tested for as an allergen by in an allergy test.
When they approve this as a preservative, they make allowances for, say, it being stuck under fingernails for a few days, but not slapped on a face next to the mucus membranes to be inhaled and seep through and get in eyes. All acrylics are recommended for use in a well-ventilated area as formaldehyde is released into the air as they dry. Again acrylics not so good near the nose and mouth.
Now if the amount of formaldehyde is less than 1% the manufacturer does not have to list that ingredient. As that is a safe amount for its correct application. and it can be labeled Non Toxic.
You will find formaldehyde in shampoo, conditioner etc. but at no more than 0.2% and they have to include releasing agents in them to basically release the toxins as much as possible in the manufacturing process so it is safe for general use. Many things in life contain formaldehyde but are safe due to the way they were manufactured. Unfortunately general paint slips through this as it is not intended to be misused.
Most ‘non-toxic’ paint is a myth, as they just count on people using it safely. And that is why it is approved as paint but not as a cosmetic. Unless labelled formaldehyde free. There are other ingredients we could talk about, but Google formaldehyde to find out more.
Please don’t freak out about you kids having paints in general it is OK just obviously not with prolonged exposure to skin, as face paint. (or ingested in large quantities I suppose) I read up a lot about it but it is just too much to type.
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Formaldehyde (CAS# 50-00-0) is one of the most common chemicals in use today. It is found in many processes and products, being widely used as a preservative, embalming fluid, sterilant and fumigant. Formaldehyde is also used in the production of resins, plastics, dyestuffs, ‘non-iron’ fabrics, paper products, paint, cosmetics, and pharmaceutical products. With such widespread uses and applications, many people come into contact with formaldehyde in one form or another in the workplace.
Formaldehyde is a colorless gas with a strong, pungent odor. It is commonly used in liquid form as a 40% aqueous solution known as formalin and in solid form as a white powder called paraformaldehyde. Because of its volatility, both formalin and paraformaldehyde will readily give off irritating formaldehyde vapour with a strong odour.
Health Effects of Formaldehyde
Formaldehyde can affect you when you breathe its vapour or come into contact with materials containing formaldehyde. It reacts very rapidly with moist body tissue, so particularly vulnerable areas are those that can come into direct contact such as the skin, upper respiratory tract and eyes.
The effects of formaldehyde exposure can vary from person to person. Some may show symptoms of irritation at very low levels, while others can tolerate exposure to higher concentrations with little or no reaction.
Typical exposure symptoms include:
Low 0.1 – 5 parts per million
Eye irritation, tears
Skin irritation
Respiratory tract irritation
Moderate5 – 20 ppm
Burning of eyes and respiratory tract
Tears
Difficulty in breathing / coughing
High 20 – 100 ppm
Chest tightening, pain
Irregular heartbeat
Severe lung irritation
Pulmonary oedema
Death in severe cases
Skin: Contact with formaldehyde solutions or resins can cause eczema (dry, flaking and itching skin) and in extreme cases can lead to dermatitis. This is a skin disease that can appear as a simple rash to severe skin cracking and blistering. These symptoms can also be caused by contact with clothing contaminated with formaldehyde.
Eyes: Exposure to formaldehyde vapour can cause reddening and a burning sensation in the eyes accompanied by tears production. Formaldehyde solutions coming into direct contact with the eye can cause serious damage to the cornea, possibly leading to blindness.
Nose, Throat and Lungs: Low ambient concentrations of formaldehyde can cause irritation of the upper respiratory tract. At higher concentrations, the effects become more severe, with levels above 10 ppm causing coughing and chest tightness. Exposure to very high levels can lead to death from throat swelling and chemical burns to the lungs.
In some people, exposure to formaldehyde vapours, even at very low concentrations, leads to respiratory sensitization resulting in an allergic reaction similar to asthma. This can be triggered at any time, even in individuals who have worked with formaldehyde in the past with no apparent reaction, resulting in shortness of breath, chest tightness, wheezing and coughing.
Cancer: Although there is no conclusive evidence available to prove that formaldehyde is a human carcinogen, it has been shown to cause cancer in animals. Formaldehyde is therefore considered to be a probable human carcinogen, particularly as a cause of nasal and nasopharyngeal cancers as these areas are more likely to come into direct contact with formaldehyde.”
So the bottom line is, after reading all of this, is it really worth the chance of causing any level of harm to your child or anyone else’s with acrylic and other craft paints, when there are already SO many products out there that are FDA approved and specifically designed for use on skin? It seems to be common sense to me, although I know many people see the words “non-toxic” and think you are safe to use it for whatever you want. Not so! So, consider yourself officially educated…next time you take your child to get their face painted, or the next time you hire a face painter, make certain you know exactly what they are putting on your child’s skin. After all, the safety of your child is your job as a parent, and the safety of your little customers is your job as a professional face painter.
Here is another bit of info that I pulled off of the Snazaroo acrylic paint FAQ page from “Hopeful the Clown,” who wrote to Binney Smith Company, maker of Liquitex acrylic paints, requesting their MSDS (Material Safety Data Sheet) for Liquitex acrylic colors in tubes, jars and artist colors.
Below is some of the information they received:
A-Chronic Health Hazards: Contains soluble cadmium. Avoid using if pregnant or contemplating pregnancy. Exposure may cause harm to developing fetus. Not for use by children. B-Chronic Health Hazards: Contains soluble nickel. May be harmful if swallowed. Exposure may cause damage to the testes. When using do not eat, drink, or smoke. Not for use by children. c-Medical conditions aggravated by exposure: Pre-existing skin, eye and respiratory disorders may by aggravated by exposure to this product. D- Emergency and First Aid:
1- Eyes: Flush with water for 15 minutes. Call Physician if symptoms exist.
2- Skin: Wipe off excess and flush with warm water and soap.
3- Ingestion: consult Physician, hospital, or poison control center.
4- Inhalation: Remove victim to fresh air and treat symptomatically. E- Carcinogenicity: The ingredients of this product are on the toxic substance control act (TSCA) inventory. F- Do not store near extreme heat. G- For Airbrushing” Use NIOSH certified respirator. Do not inhale spray from airbrush. Use adequate ventilation to control fumes vapors and dust/. Do not airbrush colors 162, 168,161, 312,154,157,168, 150,152,and 160.
Links to check out:
Snazaroo’s Acrylic paint FAQ page
Another good blog post on the dangers of non-professional supplies
News Article: New Mexico State Fair shuts down face painter using acrylics
News Article: Kids left “branded” at Family Fun Day
Here are some more useful links found by Susan Judd (Thanks, Susan!!):
http://www.nontoxicprint.com/safepainting.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Formaldehyde
http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/factsheet/Risk/formaldehyde
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