First Skeleton
And it won't be the last...
This, this was the second time I had worked with professional level face paint of any kind. By professional I mean water-activated face paints that aren’t the grease paints from your typical Halloween or department store. I have nothing against grease paints, they are also great in an experienced artist’s hands. These water-activated paints just happened to be the ones I decided to start with to give face painting a try. This was my first time ever attempting to do a classic skeleton face. It took four hours to complete and I had not seen anyone in my friends or family spend that kind of time on Halloween makeup before. I can only assume the reasoning was that it wasn’t worth it to them to spend so much time on one face for one day, but it was absolutely worth it to me. Halloween has always been my favorite time of year, ever since I was a child. Of course, the candy was great as a kid, but it was more of a bonus for me because I just LOVED to dress up and be something other than myself for a day of fun, frolicking and playing pretend as some creepy creature. I’m not sure why but Halloween has become quite big for all ages, and I’m curious to know why we all find it so alluring to play make-believe as someone or something else for a day. The decor adds a whole other layer as well. Halloween decorations have always filled me with wonder and I think that’s how I came to be so in awe and passionate about Halloween. The whimsical Halloween inspiration that can fill children and adults alike with such joy has always enveloped me, and no one did it better than my auntie. My auntie actually wasn’t my aunt, she’s was my babysitter for many years, but she was family to me. Every year she would always transform her home and wardrobe into a fantastical array of Halloween displays. I would walk up always so excited to see her house even though she generally always had the same decor every year, it still gave me that same feeling EVERY time. She did however change her costume each year and my family and I were always very excited to see what she would come up with. She made most of her costumes, all of which I still have today after she had given them to me before she passed. It’s something unexplainable, the feelings she promoted in me on those Halloween nights every year. I believe it ignited something in me that has been an unwavering flame ever since. After I completed this skeleton face, I would go out to a local farm that puts on children’s Halloween festivals and take pictures with all the youngsters and their families. Because I know how much absolute amazement, warmth, and joy I got as a kid from my auntie and so many others who would put on these grand displays at Halloween, I too wanted to instill that in children and adults alike. It’s wonderful to be on both sides of giving and receiving those gifts and feel the same way on both ends. I actually had worked on this farm and people were paid to dress up and walk around for the kids, but I wasn’t ever put on the dress up team. Perhaps they didn’t know my skills, and to be fair, I didn’t even know about until I did this skeleton that day. But I didn’t care, I went anyway cause I wanted to be there. It made me feel so good to do that and I didn’t give one stitch about if I was paid or not. That’s how much I love Halloween. I love Halloween so much to spend four-plus hours on face makeup, spend countless hours searching on the internet and visiting every Halloween store for the perfect accessories, decorating to the nines and planning a whole day of easy to eat meals where I would have to eat tiny bites and drink through a straw tediously just to make sure the makeup stays nice, all without being paid so that I could make kids feel how I felt on Halloween when I was their age.
I’d like to devote this costume in memoriam of my auntie. Auntie, if you’re listening, I thank you for everything you did at Halloween. It instilled in me a passion so deep that it has become a part of me, that was your gift. I will never forget you and your joy, performing for us kids. Thank you for giving the gift of all your costumes and decorations that inspired me so much. Because of you, I too can pass that joy for generations to come
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