Perception of some designs being "evil"

[Sherry]

I come across in this business that some designs are thought of as evil or "of the devil".  I did a sports event recently and did a full face in team colors.  The colors happened to be red and black.  I was surprised to hear that some thought it was "of the devil" or something like that.  It was either his family or church saw pics of it and made comments.

Here's the pic:




Other designs I've noticed certain people being put off by:  witch, vampire, dragon (which is red and does look kind of devilish), skull, Goth Princess, etc.  

Then I have some that are all for it.  I don't have a devil horn design, but had a lady specifically request it this past weekend.




 I guess this would count too.  My daugher wanted me to paint her from one of the designs from Nick & Brian's Face of Fantasy.  The Fire Fairy.

[smoothdansa]

I remember years ago when I used to work at Six Flags we had two boards.  On one board was a white unicorn with pink, white, and light blue hair.  On the other board was a black horse with white, black, and light blue hair.  They looked the same except the horse had no horn.  Almost every mom was tell their daughter they couldn't get the horse cause it was black.  Now being African American I always took exception to them saying that but would bite my tongue and not say anything.  I think it is usually the overly religious people that take some things to be evil.
I have three dragons on my board and they are all black but are different sizes.  Of course boys go for the biggest one but their parents talk them down to the little one or spider-man.  I personally think spider-man is more evil than dragons but then I just think differently.

[Sherry]

Yeah, on the one hand, I don't understand it, but on the other hand, there is one design that I would never want to paint, so that gives me a little bit of understanding of where they're coming from.  The bullet hole design gives me a bad feeling and I wouldn't want to try it or learn it. 

But the black horse design, that does seem odd.  Many times I notice parents will try to get the children to pick what the parents prefer. 

[Party Picassos Facepainting]

At the Bears game gig, one man passed my table
and made a comment like "it's not right to defile our bodies."
"that it would lead to more serious tatooing."
He made it sound as if "biblically" or "morally" he didn't approve.

Excuse me, sir ---whatcha doing in a BAR!?!

I avoid any raunchy or truly morbid requests. Defiling our bodies?
It washes off, sweetie!  It's just a bit of fun. Have another drink!
PUUH-lease!

[smoothdansa]

That also reminds me of a mom who was walking up to our booth and said to the kids "don't pick anything dirty or evil like naked woman, devil, or skull." Six Flags is a family park, somewhat, so why would she think we would have a naked woman on our board.  But you are right Sherry that parents, esp. moms, want their kids to get what the parent wants which is why I ask the child what they wants and if the answer differs from the mom then I stand there and let them argue it out.  It's quite funny to me but then again I'm evil like that, lol.

[Sherry]

Ha. 

[Psalmbook]

First let me state on the record.. I am a Christian. I'm not the wishy washy type that has a Bible in my house & attends church, but berates everyone for their "evil deeds & lifestyle"(I wasn't commissioned to do that & no where in the Bible does it say that I should). There are some people that they believe it's there job to tear people down & use Jesus to do it(not Biblical!). I love God, I love reading The Word & love helping people to live better lives & feel great doing it!
I also paint dragons, zombies & creepy stuff. Why? Because it's what the client wants & that's ok. I'm very sensitive to people who don't want creepy stuff & let them know that's ok & I won't paint it on them(or their kids), but painting creepy stuff helps me have an "in" with kids I mentor & I've been able to share Jesus with them. I've had great conversations with many people who wouldn't dare set foot in a church all because of face painting.
My own church is amazing & has been very receptive of my work(I paint in kids church regularly). I don't do creepy designs there w/o parents permission(it's just smart that way...).
I wish I could articulate all this better.... I guess I want to say some people can be very narrow minded, stuffy & legalistic in their upbringing. Don't let it get you down. Bursh off their words & do what you love!

[Party Picassos Facepainting]

Amen! Couldn't have said it better myself!

[Psalmbook]

The funny thing is I HATE scary moves(like the ones where people are being hacked to death), but love making scary stuff like zombies. I think it's all the fun of doing the detail.


My attempt at the Wolfe Bros Zombie


My Dragon

[Sherry]

I think you're really good at the scary stuff too, Linda. 

I remember seeing one of your designs at the Haunted House last year.  A girl with skull face paint and a rose... loved it!  Anyway, I kept trying to get a good look at it, but she was hard to follow in the crowd. Wonder if she noticed me staring her down! Ha. 

[Psalmbook]

I didn't get any pictures of the Haunted House designs. It was too dark.
The funny thing is when I painted your friend I got "Stage Fright". It's strange face painting in front of another face painter Silly, huh?
I also had my Extreme Faces book for reference when I got stumped.

[MandiIlene]

I lived in a good 'ole part of florida (UNTIL I JUST MOVED NEAR ORLANDO,YEAH!!) and parents are ALWAYS trying to convince their kids not to get anything EVIL. At one point in time I considered taking the skull off my board for boys cheek art, because SO many parents would point to that one exactly and say you can have anything except THAT!! How rude, thats my artwork!

But its cool, I get it, whatever, painting a skull is going to make your kid a juvenile delinquent and I wouldnt want that responsibility on my hands.

I think I may add a naked lady though, I mean half the time I am at private birthday parties the creepy dad asks me if I can paint a tree or elephant trunk then laughs hysterically. I actually did paint a naked lady on a grandpa's arm at a private party.

FYI: I am watching my cat fail at catching squirrels, its hilarious to me at the moment.

~*~Mandi~*~

[Sherry]

How's the face painting biz in Orlando?  I did an event with some ladies from Orlando last year.  They drove up to Jax for it.  They said the competition there was tough, because so many people were willing to do it for so little.  People that really didn't need the money, but did it just for a little extra money on the weekends.  Is that what you're seeing too.  One lady was a really awesome face painter... I guess she trained through Enjoy Your Face.

[twinkletattoos]

Just had a similar experience at a baby luau a few weeks ago. A little boy was standing in my line and wanted to get The Punisher glitter tattoo. He stood in line all by himself and as soon as he sat in my chair his mom showed up out of nowhere and exclaimed "No...that's the devil." I just replied "It's a comic book character." The mom made him pick something else. The little boy looked so sad and embarrassed in front of all of his friends.

[Psalmbook]

I always tell the kids they have to agree with mom & dad on what they get. They are the parents that were given to the child & they have the last word. I've had moments where I was the only parent who said, no, my kid can't do that & now my kids are the ones in the crowd that are saying no to bad things.
I also won't let the parents force their kids into something they'll hate. A ask that they compromise so the child's happy & the parent doesn't think the child's going to H-E-L-L