2025 ABAA CONVENTION Class descriptions
Convention classes are 75 minutes long
There are generally 3 to 4 classes on offer in each time slot & 5 Time slots per day
 

Brendan Ord

Class 1

Upsize your balloon designs

Been doing basic balloons for awhile? Want to upsize a little? want some

thing to impress the birthday child?

From zero to hero - will show you how to take your basics and upsize them for the wow factor at your next party.

Basic skill level required .

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Class 2

Basic Wearables

Finished Face painting- need to do a few balloons before you leave and want to leave an impression??

Let’s do some basic hats and basic backpacks that can be modified and upsized later, but for now give you an interactive wow balloon that leaves a memorable impression.

Basic skill level requirement

 

Elle Slattery

Class 1

Going with the flow 

How to go with it and how to let it all go.  “Going with the flow" can transform your artistic journey into a super fun and liberating experience. Unrestricted by silly things like perfect outlines or perfect strokes, this approach encourages spontaneity, flexibility, and allows you really let that creative intuition take hold! Create designs from style as opposed to “_script_”!!!. Perfection Is never the aim – in fact, you’ll want to steer well clear of that entirely- It is the nemesis of “the flow”. Your butterflies, flowers, snowflakes, swirls etc will take on new life and will be changed for good. The possibilities are endless when you paint outside the lines. Quite literally, i assure you.    

 

Class 2

The Fifth Elle-ment

Earth. Fire. Wind. Water. Those are four elements. The fifth? The awesome power of the face paint brush*. Apply the fifth element to these simple four and you create not only chemistry, but magical transformations. Earth becomes Ethereal Flowers. Fire; Red Hot Flames. Sky; Snowstorm Wonderlands. Water; Ocean Paradises. This time the sky is not your limit. Nor the depth of the sea. Nor anything. Come deep sea dive, reach for the sky, tip toe through the tulips and cause an inferno, creating designs that know NO bounds. Eyes, arms, crowns, cheek…. flank?!… the possibilities are endless. (also, for those playing at home, Elle-ment is a “hilarious” pun as my name is Elle and I love puns)

 

Gina Nomachi

Class 1

Body painting Basics

Discussion and practical demo on what you need to know about body painting. Discussing model prep, underwear, and all important nipple covers and how to apply them. We'll then jump to getting a model painted, with various brushes, techniques and how to cover the body for speed and high impact finish. Great for competition or corporate gigs.

 

Class 2

UV painting

Discussion on UV paints, how to use them, how to paint with UV. Practical lesson , so you can understand the importance of space, viscosity, and colour choices. We'll look at techniques, brushes, stencils and sponges and cover everything from Flames, flowers and space Fantasy.

 

Hayley Burke
Class 1 

Fabulous Flowers 

Paint along

This class will be perfect for anyone who has trouble perfecting their on the job flowers, whether it be the brush loading, muddy looking petals, size and shape of petals and leaves and position on the face.

This is a wonderfully thought out practical paint along class from super quick and easy flowers to the more delicate challenging flowers-

• Single layer flowers

• Rosette

• Simple roses

• Rosebud

• Carnation

• Peonie

Also a focus on-

• Correct brush loading

• Angle of the brush

• Perfecting the “wiggle” for a more 3D effect

• Muscle memory in depth.

CLASS 2

Delicate wings & Flower crowns

Demo style class

Design 1

An asymmetrical Fairy design in 2 parts

Asymmetrical designs can be tricky so I’ve created a beautiful design focusing on the important principals, balance and the use of complementary colours to make the design pop.

Part 1: Fairy side eye design (perfect for busy gigs)

Part 2: Adding the second side to make a full flowy asymmetrical design for gigs where you have a little more time.

Design 2

Flower crown design-

A beautiful delicate forehead flower crown design demonstrating my signature Rosebud flower with a focus on composition and colour combos.

Design 3

Ghost technique Butterfly-

It’s all about the shape so the use of focal points and correct sponge application are a key part of any Butterfly design.

In this class I’ll be demonstrating one side the “incorrect” shape and the other side “correct” then fixing up the incorrect side in detail.

This is my unique way of teaching a butterfly design as seeing the 2 shapes “correct” and “incorrect” side by side is always a light bulb moment.

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Jacinta Huch

Class 1

Mastering 3rd Degree Silicone: on the job Special Effects for Halloween and Gory Gigs

Description:�This hands-on lesson focuses on the use of 3rd degree silicone, a versatile material widely used in special effects for creating prosthetics, wounds, and molds. Participants will learn the step-by-step process of working with 3rd degree silicone, from mixing and applying the material to creating detailed, realistic textures and shapes. The lesson will cover essential techniques such as building up layers for lifelike skin textures, achieving smooth finishes, and troubleshooting common challenges. By the end of the session, you will have the skills needed to create professional-quality special effects for fast moving Halloween gigs.

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Class 2

Creative Face Painting with Stencils: Techniques for Creative Designs and Texture.

Description:�In this lesson, participants will learn how to enhance their face painting skills using stencils to achieve creative, fun designs with precision and ease.

You will explore various techniques for blending, shading, and layering paints through stencils to create detailed patterns, vibrant designs, and themed artwork.

Whether you're preparing for an event, a party, or professional face painting gigs, this lesson will equip you with the tools and tricks to elevate your designs and save time while delivering beautiful results.

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Kellie Robinson

CLASS 1

Face Painting popular designs that boys love

Join me at the upcoming Face Paint Convention, where I’ll be sharing my tips and tricks for creating fast “on the job”, eye-catching designs that boys love! As a professional face painter of “Funny Face Entertainment”, I know the importance of speed and quality when working at busy events—and I’m here to help you level up your skills.

Here’s what you’ll learn in my class:

Quick & Popular Designs: Create bold, vibrant looks in under 3 minutes. Perfect for events where speed matters!

My Toolkit: I’ll show you the products and tools I swear by to keep my designs sharp and my work efficient.

Pro Tips: From brushwork to finishing touches, I’ll share the techniques that make these designs stand out while saving you time.

Whether you’re just starting out or looking to add fresh ideas to your repertoire, this session is packed with value. Let’s paint, learn, and have some fun.

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CLASS 2

Discover how to boost your sales during the quiet seasons by creating Balloon Flower Bouquets

Learn Balloon Twisting and Boost Your Income!

Are you ready to discover a fun and creative way to make extra money during the quiet times? Join my Balloon Twisting class and unlock the skills to create stunning balloon flower bouquets that will delight your customers!

This hands-on class will teach you: • Essential Techniques: Learn the foundations of balloon twisting and design beautiful, professional-looking flower arrangements.

• Creative Design Ideas: Explore various bouquet styles and themes that can be customized for any occasion.

• Practical Tips for Profit: Get insider advice on pricing, marketing, and delivering your creations for maximum success.

Balloon flower bouquets are perfect for birthdays, anniversaries, and special occasions—and they’re a unique and in-demand service that can set you apart. Whether you’re looking for a side hustle or want to add a fresh offering to your existing business, this class will equip you with the tools and confidence to get started.

No prior experience needed! Just bring your enthusiasm, and I’ll provide the rest.

All reactions:

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Kel Mcilwain

Class descriptions coming soon!

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Marion Mitchell

Class 1

Size matters

Learn how to adapt your designs to any size balloons. Want to impress? Make it big! Teenagers that LOVE all things cute? Make it tiny!! Don’t be afraid of those other sizes (yes there are more than 260’s!). Come and see why you should be using all sizes in your work.

This class will be a hands on opportunity to use balloons you might not have used before.

 

Class 2

More Than A Sword

Add designs to your repertoire for those hard to impress boys. These designs will be suitable for line work.

We all know boys can be too cool for school…. Until they see these cool designs! Designs will include a snake, dinosaur, shark and ever popular Pikachu among others.

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Maria Mormile

​Outside Bubbles - Theory & Prac

Students will be bubbling outside.  Nets are provided for the class. 

Bubbles are fun, engaging and spectacular but as a professional bubbler you need to have the knowledge that will enable to produce great bubbles under most weather conditions in a safe manner. In this class you will have the advantage of starting out with the knowledge and practical skill to get you started on a wonderful journey. 

What will be covered.

• OH & S and Insurance

• Ground cover and the effect of bubble mix on grass – DO NOT BUBBLE ON CONCRETE!

• Equipment –nets

• How to produce Giant bubbles and bubbles of all sizes

• Weather/Temperature conditions and how it affects the bubbles

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Marie Zimmerlie

Class 1

Popular party designs

I will introduce my popular party pleaser designs.

 

Class 2 

Animals

Popular animal designs and some random animal designs kids request!

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Michelle Ferron

Class 1

Amazing Balloons for beginners!

This is the class for new twisters who are ready to take the plunge! Learn how to create five stunning balloon designs that WOW – without needing to master complicated techniques or have any prior knowledge.

This hands-on class will teach you simple yet impressive creations that will amaze kids and parents alike, making you look like a pro from day one. But that’s not all! As a bonus, we’ll also dive into the art of interaction – how to add fun, engaging elements to your twisting that turn balloons into a magical entertainment experience. If you’ve ever thought balloon twisting was intimidating, this class will prove it can be fun and easy!

 

Class 2

To grow a team, or to not grow a team? That is the question

Ever wondered how to grow your small business into something bigger? If so, this is the class for you.

Interactive Q&A At the end of the session, we’ll open the floor for an engaging Q&A where you can ask your burning questions about upscaling your business.

 

Prima Barton

Class 1

Boy oh Boys!

If you are one of those who palpitates when you see a boy or adult male in your line, then this class is for you!

We will do some boy designs that are fairly quick and effective for on the job for the little ones and some for the adults that is ready to partey!  We will learn some basic tricks in shapes that are widely used and do some common requested designs by boys.

 

Bring your practice boards or paint yourself, compact kit and flat or angle brushes for we will use mostly one stroke, your favourite liner brushes, blenders, sponges and some texture stencils. (ex: scales, stars, swirls)

 

*This is a step by step class.

- Full face Skull, Snake, Boy Butterfly, super heroes? What else? and if time permits, we can paint more!

 

Class 2

LOOK AT ME!

Those days when you are just feeling creative coz you have plenty time to play at a party!

We will do designs that is mostly requested and turn them into the next level walking advertising artwork!

 

*This is a demo class. Paint or be painted. Techniques will be tackled!

Bring your practice boards or paint yourself, compact kit and flat or angle brushes for we will use mostly one stroke, your favourite liner brushes, blenders, sponges and some Animal texture stencils and Bling/Glitters! Lots of it!

 

Sarah Asker

Class 1

Beyond the Petal

Learn how to master the double dip and delve deeper into the technique with tips on how to incorporate it into your designs using brushes other than the round or petal/flora brush.

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Class 2

The art of Face Painting

How to improve your face painting with art theory techniques: colour, contrast, placement, rule of thirds, line and much more.

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Sarah Saliba

Class 1:

Adorable balloon design arrangements

Let’s Make It Cute! Join Us for a Fun & Creative Balloon Design Class! Discover simple yet adorable balloon designs that will bring charm to any arrangement! Whether you’re creating a balloon bouquet or crafting stand-alone decorations, this class will help you add a delightful touch to your creations. Perfect for beginners and enthusiasts alike—come have fun and let your creativity soar!

 

Class 2:

Balloon Bouquets

Enhancing Your Business with Balloon Bouquets Expanding your offerings to include balloon bouquets can significantly increase the value of your business. In this session, students will take the designs created in Class 1 and assemble a stunning balloon bouquet. The arrangement will incorporate foil balloons, twisted elements, and a well-balanced composition that can be adapted to various sizes. Mastering these techniques will allow you to create eye-catching, scalable designs that appeal to a wide range of customers.

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Tammy Messer

Class 1

Superhero Tribal Mashup - SBS

Do you get bored of painting the same design over and over? I do!

In this class we will add a tribal twist to the 2 most requested superheroes – Spiderman & Batman.

This is a step by step class helping you to create perfect tribal lines & symmetry.

Bring your paints and practice boards and paint along with me.

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Class 2

All Creatures Great & Small

Lets face it! Some animals just don’t suit the human canvas!

I will share ideas & techniques guiding you to ‘think outside the box’.

Bring your paints and your imagination.

We will create unique designs that are species specific.

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Wendy Fantasia

Class 1

MONSTODINODRAG

Face painting (Demo or paint along – few half-round sponges, basic solid colours, round brushes (4's) x 3, water, towel.)

One essential sponge base

Different overlays = Lots of creatures

Monsters Dinosaurs Dragons

Quick styles for young ones, more elaborate for older clients

Classic techniques, no splits or one strokes, the end result - not speed - as the main focus. Efficient, clean (not your hands though), impactful for great photos.

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Class 2

HERE KITTY KITTY!

Face painting (Demo or paint along – as previous)

One structural sponge base with a few tweaks for different beasts

Different overlays and patterning = Lots of cats and a few other animals

Quicker styles for young ones, more elaborate for older clients Classic techniques, no splits or one strokes, the end result - not just purely speed - as the main focus. Efficient, clean (not your hands though), impactful for great photos