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Party Arty: NYC’s Best Face-Painters

by Rachel Sokol

Resistance is futile: if you’ve got a kid, at some point in their festive lives, you’re going to have to hire a face-painter. NYC is home to tons of talented folks ready to turn little party animals into a princess, a tiger, a superhero — you name it. And because we live in a creative capital, many have backgrounds in fine art, makeup artistry, performance, etc. (All of the artists featured here use FDA-approved, water-based hypo-allergenic paints, as well as skin-safe glitters.) Click through to see our roundup of NYC’s best face-painters, and note that many come with their own squad for face-painting en masse!

Face Art by Melissa

Melissa Munn, a former opera singer, was inspired by the sheer joy face-painting brought her own daughter. “I decided to try it at home and painted her and her friends on play dates. I started getting calls for parties, and then I realized, 'Wow! I think I have a business.'” Munn's portfolio is proof that face-painting isn’t just for kids—princess and superhero parties led to events for adults. She now paints big "kids" for masquerade and landmark birthday parties; preps Park Avenue clients for galas and balls, and does body painting and work for photos shoots and music videos. “I am so grateful to be able to do what I love,” she says. “I know the world can't run on face-painting, but for a lot of kids, it's such an essential part of the fun of childhood and they really remember it.”

Good to know: Munn has painted fan’s faces at New York Rangers and Knicks home games, and taught painting classes on FabaTV (Face and Body Art Television), a subscription-based learning channel for face and body painters.

Face Art by Melissa
212-876-3332
Online: faceartbymelissa.com

photo: courtesy Melissa

Cover photo: Face Art by Melissa

Do You Have a Favorite Face-painter in NYC? Share with the group in the comments below!

– Rachel Sokol

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