What Colour do mime artists often paint their face?



whitewhite originated from stage shows dating back as far as 467 BC. This form of entertainment used gestures, mimics and dance, not words, to communicate and entertain. The purpose of the white face was to help the audience be able to see the performer from far away.

How do you paint a mime face?


Quote from video: So first step for the mind face white it out this is pretty simple all you're gonna be doing is truly taking any sort of a white makeup that you like and you're going to be covering your entire.

Why do mimes wear black and white makeup?

Why Do Mimes Wear Makeup? Using gestures, mimics, and dancing in lieu of words was the means of communication and entertainment during this time period. This white face was primarily intended to enhance an audience’s ability to see the performer distantly.

Do mimes have to have white faces?





The great pantomime artist, Marcel Marceau and others of his craft, use whiteface makeup because mime, as a silent or non-verbal art form, relies solely on facial expressions and the white grease paint makes these more visible as language is not used to convey ideas or thoughts.

Why do actors paint their face white?

The term is a reversal of the form of performance known as blackface, in which performers use makeup in order to make themselves look like a black person, usually to exaggerate negative racial stereotypes. Whiteface performances originated in the 19th century, and today still occasionally appear in films.

Which paint is used for face painting?

Paraffin Wax face paints usually have a clay like consistency and can be activated using water. Many professional face painters like to work with paraffin wax based face paints because they dry quickly, provide very good coverage and allow painters to create very intricate details.

How do you make mime white face paint?

You only need a few common household materials to make your own white face paint.



  1. 2 tablespoons solid white shortening.
  2. 5 teaspoons cornstarch.
  3. 1 teaspoon white flour.
  4. 3-5 drops glycerin.



Why do mime paint their faces?

Mimes painting the face white originated from stage shows dating back as far as 467 BC. This form of entertainment used gestures, mimics and dance, not words, to communicate and entertain. The purpose of the white face was to help the audience be able to see the performer from far away.

What do mimes wear?

Mime artists today have a very distinctive look with their outfit and makeup. Mimes wear a white shirt with black horizontal-stripes, dark pants, red suspenders, a red scarf, white gloves, a beret hat, and black leather shoes. Don’t forget to paint your face with makeup, this is crucial!