Modern Geisha Face Paint

Face Painting

Like Bodypainting, Face Painting is less an art, than an ancient craft which dates from prehistoric times. Used primarily to identify important individuals (like tribal chiefs, shamans, and witch doctors), to denote the different genders and social classes, and to reflect military rank, the painting of faces was a common cultural practice in most parts of the world. Indeed, it survives to this day in Africa, Asia, South America, parts of Australia and in some Pacific Islands.

Tribal Face Painting

Functional Paint

More functional face painting encompasses the use of camouflage facial paint, sports paint used to reduce sun glare and highly specialist protective paint applied for medical reasons. Face painting has also become a widespread amusement for children.

Cosmetic Facial Pigments and Cosmetics

Modern day cosmetic colourants used by Western women represent a clear link with primitive facial paints. This type of cosmetic face-decoration incorporates a huge range of dyes, lotions, applicators and techniques for adorning the lines of the eyes and lips, and for colouring the cheeks, mouth and other facial areas. It remains a complex decorative craft, performed to highlight gender and beauty, and express personality. One high-point of this form of face painting was the Japanese Geisha culture, in which women's faces were decorated to an almost artistic standard.

Beauty

Face painting can achieve undeniable facial beauty. It may not constitute 'art', and may not be included in the history of art, but arguably both the traditional form - as practised by indigenous peoples - and its modern day cosmetic counterpart converts the mundane into something beautiful and visually stimulating.

• For facts about painting types, styles and history, see: Fine Art Painting.
• For details of oil, watercolour and acrylic artists in Ireland, see: Guide to Irish Art

• How to Update This Mini Review of Face Painting