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Schools

Kassi Lehman: The Origins of Face Painting

Spotlighting Avon High School senior mastery projects.

Name: Kassi Lehman, Class of 2011 graduate

Senior Mastery Project: Long before face painting became a county fair staple, it was used in some cultures as a way to intimidate, celebrate, and protect. Using face paint was once considered "extremely manly." These days it's just the opposite; using make-up to enhance features is considered feminine. Through her research, Lehman learned about the origins of face painting and its use in various cultures throughout history. To present her findings, Lehman created a portfolio of 40 photos of faces/bodies that represent the paintings of various cultures all over the world.

Why she chose this topic: "I’m a professional face painter with my mom’s company. We do face painting and temporary tattoos ... so I thought it ... would be really interesting to explore the origins of face painting because it’s something I didn’t really know much about," Lehman told Patch.

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How she got involved with face painting: Lehman and her mom started face painting six years ago, drawing inspiration from a picture of Lehman and her sister after a face painting session with Christopher Agostino, a well-known face painter. Lehman's mom went on to start a face painting business called Zoodle.

Fun Facts: Lehman enjoys theater and theater make-up, horseback riding and volunteering for Horse of Connecticut, a non-profit organization dedicated to the rescue and rehabilitation of abused and neglected horses.

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Future Plans: She will spend the summer working for Zoodle and getting ready to attend Clark University in the fall.

Editor's Note: Hey, Avon Class of 2011 graduating seniors! Do you want your senior master project featured on Avon Patch? E-mail the information to Jessie.Sawyer@patch.com, along with a photo of you and your project. Parents, you can submit on behalf of your children as well. We will be spotlighting one senior mastery project a day, Mondays through Fridays, throughout the entire summer.

What other senior mastery projects should we feature? 

 


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