Welcome to the most comprehensive and organized blog for your 4th of July Face Paint Inspiration — we have all of your red, white and blue face painting needs covered.
Face painting is a delightful way to add some extra fun to your 4th of July celebrations. Whether you’re painting for a community event, private party, family gathering, or just for fun, these designs are sure to bring smiles and patriotic pride to everyone involved.
For our face painters in the US, this is likely a key busy period and Pay Per Face (PPF) opportunities can be very lucrative. For this reason, we’ve sourced some of the best line busters and easy face painting 4th of July style to help keep that line moving!
We’ve also sourced some of our favorite more advanced 4th of July face painting designs to amaze party guests at private events and secure those important future bookings!
Start marketing yourself and contacting businesses for 4th of July events well in advance to secure yourself a gig in your town. And use our Ultimate Guide to 4th of July Face Painting for all of the best red, white and blue face paint ideas to help you create a show-stopping design board that packs an explosive punch! 🎆
If you’re not in the US, chances are some Americans are keen to celebrate in your country. So why not learn some of the below 4th of July Face Paints and promote yourself as the most versatile painter in town! 🦅✨🏈
We’ve got more than just designs for you too. We’ve got the key supplies, info on the American flag, top problems you might encounter with it and how to troubleshoot them.
But if you’re here for specific design inspiration only, feel free to jump to the desired section below:
- Essential Supplies for 4th of July Face Paint Designs
- Unpacking the American Flag
- 4th Of July Face Paint Ideas
- American Flag Face Paint
- USA Face Paint
- Firework Face Paint
- Eagle Face Paint
- 4th of July Butterfly Face Paints
- 4th of July Animal Face Paint
- 4th of July Masks
- American Princess Face Paint
- 4th of July Floral Face Paint
- Uncle Sam Face Paint
- Red, White and Blue Face Paint – the different designs!
- Easy 4th of July Face Paints
- Advanced 4th of July Paint Ideas
- Menu boards
- Want More Inspiration Daily?
- Are You Learning for Fun or Going Professional?
- Ready to Go Pro?
Essential Supplies for 4th of July Face Painting Designs
First off, here’s all of the red, white and blue supplies you’ll need to make fast and fun designs this 4th of July.
You can find a full list of the 4th of July top buys at Jest Paint – Fase Paint Store but here are our top picks:
- Red, white and blue one stroke – for applying with a brush for butterflies, crowns and quick eye designs:
- Red, white and blue split cake – for sponging:
- Red, white and blue face paints in individual colors for backgrounds and details:
- 4th of July stencils – stars, fireworks, patriotic touches:
- Red, white and blue glitter:
And while you’re at it, how about a fantastic outfit to make you really stand out and show off your Patriotic Spirit? We love these waistcoats shared by Paint Pal.
Need some tips on how to approach a big 4th of July event?
Check out this super helpful video with tips and tricks from booking gigs to how to set yourself up for success on the day:
Unpacking the American Flag
For those not familiar with the American flag, it is rectangular and consists of white stars (50 since July 4, 1960) on a blue canton with a field of 13 alternating horizontal stripes, 7 red and 6 white.
The 50 stars represent the 50 states of the Union, and the 13 stripes represent the original 13 states.
Note that the flat flag design has straight lines going horizontally across. Now remember that the surface of the human body, most notably the face, is NOT flat!
So herein lies our first challenge when it comes to face painting the American Flag.
Secondly, the lines are going to be very thin and very close together when placed on a cheek, and the stars will be little specs.
To overcome some of these issues, let’s look at the flag in motion!
The first thing we spot… Those wavy lines! Yay, wavy lines are so much easier to paint on uneven surfaces like cheeks.
Check out this fantastic step-by-step American Flag face paint design. Embracing the waves of the flag will reduce the likelihood of wonky lines. However, you may still find this design easier on the arm than the face.
But not everyone will want the flag itself, and that’s a good thing because we’re about to blow your mind with some seriously amazing red, white and blue face painting ideas in our Ultimate 4th of July Face Painting Guide.
4th Of July Face Paint Ideas
American Flag Face Paint
What better way to celebrate the 4th of July than with American Flag Face Paint?
The American flag is a classic symbol of Independence Day and is the basis for many of the 4th of July face paints. Painting the iconic stars and stripes can be as simple or as detailed as you like.
Quick designs
These designs are some of the quickest you’ll find. For ultimate speed, invest in (or make) a Red, White, and Blue split cake. Sponge across the eye/forehead and add some stenciled stars and swirls if it takes your fancy.
These simple stars and stripes designs are bold, effective and fast!
More detailed designs
Check out these fantastic flag inspired designs that will take a little longer to produce but we guarantee they will impress the most patriotic of clients.
Learn how to create a quick and effective stars and stripes design with this great tutorial from Vivid Glitter:
Full face flags
Painting a full face flag can be really tricky! Getting straight lines on a rounded face is a real skill. So if you want to try a full face, consider a waved design to create the flow of a flag that will help to disguise any imperfections.
Alternatively, try these 4th of July Pirate Bandanas to incorporate a good amount of the flag design without committing to the full face! For bonus points you can add a USA stamp on the cheek.
USA Face Paint
Using a USA letter stencil makes for a quick and effective design perfect for the cheek or the hand. No stencil? No problem, practice your freehand letters and add “USA” to any design.
We love this USA fireworks inspired design tutorial for those wanting the ultimate “Team USA” design:
Firework Face Paint
Fireworks are a quintessential part of 4th of July celebrations. Capture their magic with a dynamic face painting design.
Paint colorful fireworks bursting across the forehead and cheeks. Use bright colors like red, blue, and gold, and don’t forget to add glitter to mimic the sparkle of real fireworks.
Quick Designs
Grab your round number 3 brush, red, white and blue solids, some glitter and you’re done! These line-busting firework designs are both effective and super quick!
More detailed designs
If the time allows you can create some truly spectacular fireworks designs that will mimic the magic of the evening.
Unsure how to make those fireworks pop? Check out this great tutorial for a step-by-step guide on color combos and placement:
And this great fireworks mask by Art Factory:
Eagle Face Paint
The bald eagle is a symbol of American freedom and strength. Create a striking look by painting a bald eagle around the eyes as either a mask or emulating the Eagle’s eye with the customer’s actual eye.
Quick Designs
We highly recommend a one stroke Eagle Mask design if speed is your goal. These super cute designs can be pulled off very quickly with the right tools.
Grab your angled or flat 3/4 inch brush and black or brown to white one stroke to create dramatic eyes and fluffy feathers. Add a vibrant beak across the nose and you’re done.
Patriarchy at its most majestic! 🦅
Add some extra 4th of July flair with a flag or using red, white and blue feathers.
More detailed designs
If time allows, check out these superb eagle-eye and cheek designs. Utilizing your customer’s own eye creates a bold design that truly impresses. Of course, adding the flag backdrop not only makes this patriotic but also brings the design together.
Overwhelmed by the iconic eagle? We don’t blame you! These magnificent birds are not the easiest to paint.
Luckily, Shawna Del Real has put together this awesome tutorial to help you out:
4th of July Butterfly Face Paints
Butterflies are always a hit with kids and adults alike. All you need is red, white, and blue to transform your standard butterfly design into a patriotic masterpiece. Grab that star stencil, add some stripes, and of course some 4th of July Glitter for extra sparkle.
Quick designs
Utilize red, blue and white split cakes (for sponging) and add teardrops, star stencils and starbursts for quick and effective designs like these:
More detailed designs
Below are some of the more time-consuming 4th of July Butterfly Face Paints that we love.
However, by utilizing split cakes (for sponging), one-strokes (for wings), and reducing the detailing, you can also create some of these designs in under 3 minutes.
For extra wow just check out the blue stars lip in the below design 🤩
4th of July Animal Face Paints
It’s not just the Eagle that we can utilize in our 4th of July Face Painting — all of your animal designs can be given a patriotic flair by simply switching your color scheme.
Check out some of our favorite red, white, and blue animal designs, perfect for your 4th of July menu board.
4th of July Tigers:
With a red, white and blue base you can easily transform your tiger designs into 4th of July Favorites. Check out the star placements for extra wow.
We have collected our favorite animal designs on our blog Animal-Themed Face Paint Designs complete with a bunch of tutorials to help you improve your base designs.
4th of July Cats and Dogs:
Again, it’s red, white and blue that forms the base of these designs. Whatever your preferred cat or dog design, a change of color and you’re good to go
Are you struggling with your cat or dog designs? It can be tricky to get the correct facial characteristics. Luckily we’ve got two great tutorials to help you master these designs. Then switch the colors to red, white and blue and you’re ready for face painting 4th of July Cats and Dogs. Cat Face Paint Step-by-Step & Dog Face Paint Step-by-Step for Beginners
4th of July Unicorns, Monsters and Snakes:
We love these red, white and blue unicorns, snakes and monster designs – 4th of July flair for everyone.
Read our Unicorn Face Painting for Beginners blog post for a detailed, step-by-step on how to create a perfectly proportioned unicorn eye design.
✨ Looking for a challenge? Check out our fantastic collection of Monster and Spooks in our Halloween Face Paint Ideas and Tips and challenge yourself to turn one 4th of July friendly.
4th of July Masks
Masks can be tailored to fit any theme and are perfect for both kids and adults who want a striking design.
A-symmetrical masks create a powerful design, can be quick to complete and asymmetry can help us hide any mistakes! Perfect for a busy event.
Sponge one eye blue, the other white and add in teardrops and swirls to combine the design.
After a super quick option? Reduce or remove the outlining and add chunky glitter for extra flair.
Check out these super quick mask designs (at minutes 3:15 and 12:10 – or watch the whole video for 5 more fun quick and easy designs to add to your board).
For a more detailed design create a symmetrical mask using all three colors sponged as a base, surround with teardrops and stars. A gem cluster here adds extra pizzazz to the design.
American Princess Face Paint
Who doesn’t love a Princess Crown design? These red, white and blue 4th of July Princess Crowns will leave nothing but smiles on the faces of your customers.
Make Princess Crowns quicker by removing some of the details, switch double-dip flowers for simple but effective teardrop clusters, and add bling for ultimate design enhancement.
Need a tutorial to follow to perfect your Princess? We love this easy to follow, simplistic American Princess design (and there’s a bonus super fast cheek design perfect for all ages):
4th of July Floral Face Paint
Floral designs are always a great addition to any board. They can be used as speed designs or as more detailed designs to showcase a range of face painting techniques.
Again it’s all about colors and composition to nail these 4th of July Floral Designs.
Or create your own 4th of July floral design using our Spring-Inspired Flower Face Paint Ideas blog to inspire you and help guide you on design creation and placement. 🌸
Uncle Sam Face Paint
Uncle Sam is an iconic American figure with his stripes and stars top hat, white beard and bushy eyebrows.
Check out these fun Uncle Sam face painting designs.
Red, White and Blue Face Paint – the different designs!
Bored of the same old designs and want to stand out from the other face painters in your area?
Mastering unusual designs with a 4th of July Flair will make sure you’re remembered year after year.
Here are some of our favorite more unusual 4th of July Face Paints.
4th of July Skulls:
Spooky and patriotic, we love these fun designs.
💀 Need to perfect your skull? Check out this incredible tutorial by Elodie Ternois (LodieUp) Beginner’s Skeleton Face Paint Tutorial.
Statue of Liberty Face Paint:
We love these fantastic designs that pay homage to the iconic Lady Liberty.
Learn how to recreate this fantastic Statue of Liberty Face Paint with this tutorial:
Patriotic Pilot and the Mighty Mustache:
We love this jet plane design that goes into the side shave and utilizes that extra space to create an amazing red, white and blue jet stream. ✈
Or check out this amazing USA-proud mustache sure to delight kids big and small.
Patriotic Superhero Designs:
Superheroes are among the most requested designs all year round. The two at the top of the list are usually Batman and Spiderman. Lucky for you, we have two super cute 4th of July designs to add to your board.
Simply by changing the colors and adding some fireworks or stars these popular designs are now 4th of July friendly!
Captain America is of course the ultimate iconic red, white and blue superhero so don’t forget to add one of these variations to the list too! 🦸🦹
Easy 4th of July Face Paint Ideas
If speed is what you desire these quick and effective designs are just what you need. The key to speed is not having to load too many different brushes and stick to a couple of key techniques to create fantastic designs.
Grab your red, white and blue one-stroke with your favorite flat or angled brush, number 3 or 4 round brush for teardrop clusters, star stencils, and chunky glitter, and you are good to go!
These 4th of July Eye Designs are the ultimate line busters for those busy events.
Need a tutorial for line busters?
We’ve found some of the best online so you don’t have to. Check them out below.
Detailed 4th of July Eye Designs:
With a little more time up your sleeve, you can add outlines and glitter detailing to create impactful and beautiful 4th of July Eye Designs like the ones below.
We love this 4th of July Eye Design by Fairy Fox Design and the informative tutorial on how to create it. Enjoy!
Advanced 4th of July Paint Ideas
You might be unlikely to bust these looks out on the job but we just love the detailed complexity of these patriotic designs and had to include them for those looking for inspiration to challenge themselves.
Want to see how this level of design is pulled together? Watch this awesome time lapse video for this full face American flag design:
Menu Boards
Need some inspiration on creating a 4th of July Menu Board? Check out these two great options below.
Remember using another artist’s designs on your menu board is a no-go — if you didn’t paint it, you don’t have the right to use it as a representation of your own art.
But definitely use them for inspiration. We love to share our knowledge as face painters, just not our actual art.
Want more inspiration daily?
Join us in our premier online community on Facebook (International Face Painting School OPEN GROUP) where over 30,000 face painters globally connect daily sharing inspiration, advice and of course their go-to designs.
You can also compete in our monthly challenges, which are run by the very talented Simona Rad. In these challenges, you can win awesome prizes and learn some super fun new designs.
Are You Learning for Fun or Going Professional?
If you’re here because you’ve picked up face painting as a hobby to help with a school or community event or just to do something fun with the kids, that’s so awesome! We have a ton of resources we hope you find really useful to help you get started.
You might really enjoy this blog in particular: Top 10 Face Painting Designs and you should definitely subscribe to our useful newsletter!
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If you’ve been painting for a little while and considering whether this is something you could turn into a side hustle or full-blown career, then the following blogs will be really helpful for you:
- Top 10 Reasons to Become a Face Painter
- How to Become a Face Painter and Get Paid
- First Time Face Painting: Tips & Tricks for Your First Gig
- How much to charge for face painting (real prices)
You can also find out much more information on our dedicated Face Painting for Beginners page.
Ready to go Pro?
Learn from the best to increase your confidence for face painting 4th of July designs and all special occasions! Check out all of the information on our comprehensive Professional Guide to Face Painting and we highly recommend joining the hundreds of face painters globally who are training with us at the International Face Painting School.
🤩 Find out more here: International Face Painting School Classes:
