Onestroke face painting is one of the most exciting techniques in the industry — and the good news is, it's much more accessible than it looks. With the right tools, a little practice and some guidance, even complete beginners can start creating stunning one stroke designs. Here's everything you need to know to get started.
What is One Stroke Face Painting?
Onestroke is a technique where two or more colours are loaded onto a flat brush at the same time, allowing you to create blended, multi-coloured designs in a single stroke. It was popularised by artist Donna Dewberry and has become one of the most sought-after techniques in face painting. Butterflies, flowers, leaves, rainbows and tigers are all classic one stroke designs.
What Equipment Do You Need?
To get started with one stroke face painting, you'll need:
- A flat one stroke brush — this is the key tool. Look for a good quality flat brush with firm but flexible bristles.
- A quality face paint palette — the palette you use makes a huge difference to your results. You need paints that are smooth, vibrant and easy to load onto a brush.
- Water — just a small amount to activate the paints. Less is more!
- A practice surface — a practice board or even your own arm is perfect for getting to grips with the technique before working on clients.
Choosing the Right Palette
For one stroke beginners, choosing the right palette is crucial. You want a palette with a good range of colours that work well together, in a format that makes loading your brush easy and intuitive. Sally-Ann Lynch's bespoke one stroke palettes are specifically designed with this in mind.
The Beginners Bespoke Face Paint Palette is a great starting point if you're completely new to face painting. As you develop your one stroke skills, palettes like the Whimsical Onestroke Palette, the Fabulous Onestroke Palette and the All The Colours Palette will open up a whole new world of colour combinations and design possibilities.
Your First One Stroke Design
The best design to start with is a simple leaf or petal. Here's how:
- Load your brush with two colours — one on each side of the flat brush. Not sure how to load your brush correctly? Read our step-by-step guide: How to Load a One Stroke Brush for Perfect Results.
- Blend slightly on a clean area of your palette until you can see a soft blend in the centre.
- Press the brush flat onto your practice surface and pull towards you, lifting gradually as you go to create a pointed tip.
- That's your first one stroke petal! Repeat in a circle to make a flower.
Common Beginner Mistakes
Here are the most common mistakes beginners make — and how to avoid them:
- Too much water — this makes the paint runny and hard to control. Use just enough to activate the paint.
- Not enough pressure — press the brush firmly onto the surface to get a full, wide stroke.
- Rushing — slow, confident strokes give much better results than fast, hesitant ones.
- Poor quality paints — cheap paints don't load well and give dull results. Always use professional-grade paints.
Keep Practising!
Like any skill, one stroke face painting takes practice — but the results are worth it. Start simple, be patient with yourself, and enjoy the process. Before long you'll be creating stunning designs that will delight your clients and set you apart as a face painter.
Ready to get started? Browse Sally-Ann's full range of one stroke bespoke palettes here and find the perfect palette to begin your one stroke journey.