Oh my goodness, where do I start … I am inspired every day by artists from all over the globe … many close to home who I have the pleasure of working with week by week and some further afield – this week I’m going to focus on my favourite international artists.
My top five change regularly depending on what I’m working on and what mood I’m in; but these guys are always at or close to the top, week in week out!
NICK AND BRIAN WOLFE – Orlando, USA. I had the great pleasure of meeting Nick a couple of years ago and took part in an awesome training workshop with him. Sadly, I never got to meet his equally amazing brother, Brian before he lost his battle with cancer last year, but was fortunate to receive messages of advice and support from both of them over the years.
I adore watching them work; I could watch for hours – their style is unique; the speed with which the designs come together is awe-inspiring and their repertoire endless!
I feel hugely privileged to have been painted by Nick on his last visit to the UK (shouldn’t really have grinned in this shot as it ruins the mouth effect but couldn’t help myself!!)
Check out their tutorial videos on FabaTV – as well as learning loads; you’ll laugh throughout too – the glint in their eyes is never far away! I am very precise with my style of work and Nick and Brian both inspire and help me to “loosen up” with my painting and go with the flow a bit more. If body painting is more your thing; then you can’t go far wrong checking out their work – many designs are like “magic eye pictures” the more you look the more you see – designs within designs within designs!
LYNNE JAMIESON – Werribee, Australia. Lynne is the magical talent behind Face Magic. 
I have admired Lynne’s work from my first days of face painting and whilst I’ve not yet had an opportunity to participate in face to face training; I have relished the tutorials she has filmed for FabaTV. Her application style is highly individual and it is fascinating to watch her effortlessly work her magic in front of your eyes. Her humble and modest persona makes you warm to her immediately and she has a wonderfully calm and relaxed style of teaching.
Whilst her manner may be gentle; her artwork is flamboyant and dynamic – each design pops off the face and exudes character and charm.
JENNY SAUNDERS – Melbourne, Australia. Another antipodean inspiration; I have been a fan of Jenny’s work for some time; seeing photos appearing on various websites/social media sites over the years but it was an article in Illusion Magazine (Issue 18) that really raised my interest and admiration. Her work oozes with personality and character and is so vivid and vibrant.
Each face instantly identifiable with its rainbow of hues and meticulous line-work and blending. Her photographs clearly illustrate the joy and excitement in each child’s eyes and, in my mind, totally epitomise the wonder of our craft.
GENEVIEVE HOULE “JINNY” – Quebec, Canada. An exquisite face and body painting artist whose seamless shading and decorative line work have always been a great influence on my work. Her style of painting, particularly her blending, is more akin to make up application – beautifully smooth and totally precise. She has produced a couple of fantastic training DVDs which are somewhat pricey and I’m not sure that they are still available in the UK – but if you can get hold of a copy – they’re fantastic.
Alternatively, she has produced some wonderful youtube tutorials for beginner painters which can be found on her website or directly at her youtube channel. And, of course, you can also find her on FabaTV!
(I wasn’t able to make contact with Jinny before publishing the article to get her approval to share some photos but there are plenty to be seen on her website if you’d like to take a look!)
MARK REID – New Mexico. How could I finish my top faves without including the inimitable “King of Cats”, Mark Reid. Another amazeballs artist that I’ve also missed several opportunities to meet over the years! There are very few tiger faces that I see painted that don’t scream out a hint of Mark in some form or another! His brush technique and symmetry are exemplary and I understand from friends that he is a fabulous teacher – with, unsurprisingly, a huge emphasis in his workshops on linework, linework, linework! He even has his own range of brushes and glitter gels!
Like all of the artists I’ve mentioned today, you can get access to his training through FabaTV and Mark has also produced several books and DVDs which should have pride of place on every face/body painter’s shelf! In the UK you can purchase these from Illusion Magazine, The Face Painting Shop, Facepaint UK, Dauphines and probably others too!
So that’s my top five – I’d love to know who inspires you … please feel free to comment below!
(Links to all the artists websites can be accessed by clicking on their names! I urge you to take a look and be inspired too!)
Fascinating Faces Face & Body Art 