Halloween face paint ideas: Frankenstein's monster face paint

Are you in need of some Halloween costume ideas? We've got this great Frankenstein halloween face paint idea and plenty more...

Poor old Frankenstein's monster was made from scraps of other people's dead bodies and then brought back to life - yuck! But the character makes the perfect subject for Halloween fancy dress. If you've already got the costume sorted, don't forget the perfect Halloween face paint to go with it! Oh, and of course the classic 'zombie' walk for a finishing touch this Halloween.

To paint Frankenstein's monster, first find a comfortable place to work and cover surfaces in case of spillages and mucky fingers. Using a water-based face paint is best as they wash off easily with soap and water. Face paint is safe to use on most skin types but always do a patch test of the paint on the back of your child's hand. If there is no reaction in an hour or so it should be safe to use.

To create the Frankenstein face paint you will need:

• A pot of clean water
• Water-based face paint in green, black, purple, red and silver
• Face painting sponges
• 1 thick paintbrush
• 1 thin paintbrush
• 1 straight edged paintbrush (if you have one)

Frankenstein face paint step 1: for the base

Sponge a green base all over your child's face. It doesn't matter if the base is patchy as Frankenstein is a very shabby monster. Add some purple paint to your sponge and blend it into the cheeks and forehead to make unhealthy-looking shadows.

Frankenstein face paint step 2: for the eyebrows and shadows

Using a wide brush and black paint, make a line across the eyebrows and nose, then extend it up the sides of the forehead. Take a sponge and pull the black paint down into the eye sockets and away from the sides of the forehead. Soften the line across the nose by dragging the black paint towards the eyes.

The shape around the forehead is important if you want to make this monster look like Frankenstein. By shading the sides, you can make the forehead appear higher which gives Frankenstein his characteristic shape.

Using a wide brush and black paint, make a line across the eyebrows and nose, then extend it up the sides of the forehead. Take a sponge and pull the black paint down into the eye sockets and away from the side of the forehead. Soften the line across the nose by dragging the black paint towards the eyes.

The shape around the forehead is important if you want to make this monster look like Frankenstein. By shading the sides, you can make the forehead appear higher which gives Frankenstein his characteristic shape.

Frankenstein face paint step 3: for the scars

Using a fine paintbrush, make some thin black lines around the monster's face and then paint small lines across to create the stitching that holds him together. Add some red paint at the ends of the lines to look like blood if you want to be really gory.

Frankenstein face paint step 4: for the mouth

Paint Frankenstein's mouth with a thin purple line. Make sure your child is smiling while you do this..

Frankenstein face paint step 5: add the finishing touches

Finally, use silver paint for a bolt on either side of Frankenstein's forehead. Use a medium straight-edged paintbrush, if you have one, to make a six-sided shape (like a square with a triangle on the top and bottom). Paint a little rod sticking into the head. Do the same on the other side of your child's forehead. Make sure the bolts are opposite one another.

This face painting idea is from 'Face Painting: Over 20 faces to paint' by Parragon Books Ltd, IBSN: 978-1-4454-6516-6, RRP £6.