Face paints for St Patrick’s Day are essential for every face painter. Shamrocks, Guinness pints, leprechauns and harps are always in demand — but let’s be honest, some of these designs aren’t always easy to pull out of your head on the spot when you’ve got a queue forming. We’ve all been there!

That’s why we’ve put together this simple guide to help you feel prepared for your St Patrick’s Day face painting events. From quick crowd-pleasers to designs that look impressive but don’t slow you down, we’ve got you covered. And of course, you can shop all your St Patrick’s Day face paint essentials directly from our online face paint shop.

Shamrocks – The Most Requested Design 🍀

On St Patrick’s Day, I always get asked for shamrocks. Hands down, they’re the most popular design for men and women, and they’re also often worked into children’s designs — like in the centre of a butterfly, paired with flowers, or even added to unicorns.

There are a few ways to achieve the perfect shamrock, but my go-to method is using a petal brush. It’s by far the easiest and fastest way. You can use a single green, or double dip for extra impact.

For a more defined, realistic and professional look, I like to double dip:
Start with a darker green, then wipe the tip of the brush on a baby wipe and dip just the tip into a lighter green. Press down to create a petal, then add another beside it to form a heart shape. Repeat this three times, then add a small teardrop shape between two of the hearts to create the stalk. And voilà — an easy shamrock!

Add a touch of glitter and this becomes a standalone design that a lot of adults will ask for. I’ve linked a full shamrock tutorial using a petal brush below — be sure to check it out.

Guinness Pints – Perfect for Adult Events 🍺

St Patrick’s Day is very much an adult festival too, and many events are mainly adult-focused. At these, both men and women will often ask for a small Guinness pint on the cheek.

This design might seem daunting at first, but it’s actually very simple. Create a curvy pint shape using black, fill it in, then add white on top in the shape of foam sitting on the glass. A little sparkle finishes it off — and you’re done!

It’s quick, effective, and always gets a great reaction. I’ve linked a Guinness tutorial below from the Guinness Storehouse event last year if you’d like to see it in action.

Harps – When Speed Matters 🎶

Harps are probably one of the more difficult St Patrick’s Day designs to freehand, especially when you’re working through a busy queue. While we have painted them by hand before, the fastest and easiest option is to use a stencil.

Pair your stencil with a finger dauber and make sure your paint is a nice creamy consistency — not too wet — so it doesn’t bleed underneath the stencil. This gives you clean, crisp results every time. You can also use stencils for shamrocks if you prefer speed over freehand work.

Leprechauns – Keep It Simple 🎩

 For leprechauns, we usually stick to a leprechaun hat rather than a full character. It’s quick, recognisable, and works for all ages.

You can use a stencil here too, but a green one-stroke with some added dimension looks amazing and still doesn’t take long. A small angled flat brush really helps with precision and shape. I’ve linked a tutorial below showing this technique if you want to practice before your event.

Final Thoughts 🍀

St Patrick’s Day events are busy, fun, and full of repeat requests — so having a few reliable designs you can paint quickly makes all the difference. From shamrocks and Guinness pints to harps and leprechaun hats, preparation is key.

Don’t forget to check out our online face paint shop for all your St Patrick’s Day essentials, and keep an eye on our social media for more tutorials and tips coming soon. Happy painting, and may your lines be sharp and your queues move fast!