What you need for a body painting contest

A body painting contest needs more than paint and brushes. Each artist needs a stable work table, a chair, good lighting, water for brushes, and enough room for a model to move safely. Stock disposable gloves and aprons, skin-friendly glue, remover and fixative before the event—not on the day itself. This shopping list also covers judging, sound, power, prizes and basic crowd control so the competition can run without last-minute shopping.

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What to bring

Grouped the way you'd shop for it, with quantities.

Furniture

Work tablesqty 12
Tablesqty 6
Chairsqty 80
Judges' table
Clothes racksqty 6
Bollardsqty 12
Party tentsqty 2

Equipment

Bluetooth speakersqty 2
Microphone
Microphone stand
Extension cordsqty 8
Power stripsqty 6
Phone chargersqty 4

Lighting

Work lightsqty 12
String lightsqty 4

Body paint

Body paint setsqty 16
Face paintqty 12
Glitterqty 24
Body paint brushesqty 80
Spongesqty 120
Templatesqty 30
Makeup mirrorsqty 16
Brush cupsqty 32
Mixing palettesqty 32
Makeup removerqty 8
Skin-friendly glueqty 8
Fixative sprayqty 8
Vaselineqty 4
Disposable glovesqty 400
Disposable apronsqty 80
Disposable capsqty 80
Plastic tableclothsqty 20
Protective filmqty 4
Bathrobesqty 30
Towelsqty 40
Sink basinsqty 8

Tableware

Reusable cupsqty 120
Platesqty 100
Cutlery setsqty 100
Serving plattersqty 12
Serving tongsqty 8

Catering

Coolersqty 4
Coffee machinesqty 2
Kettlesqty 2
Thermos flasksqty 4
Drink dispensersqty 3
Ice packsqty 16
Groceries
- Coffee - 3 packs
- Tea bags - 200 pieces
- Sugar - 2 kilos
- Milk - 12 liters
- Oat milk - 6 liters
- Cola - 12 bottles
- Cola Zero - 12 bottles
- Orange soda - 8 bottles
- Tonic - 6 bottles
- Spa Blue - 10 crates
- Spa Rood - 4 crates
- Apple juice - 6 packs
- Orange juice - 6 cartons
- Lemons - 3 kilos
- Ice cubes - 12 bags
- Paprika chips - 8 bags
- Plain chips - 8 bags
- Tortilla chips - 8 bags
- Salsa - 6 jars
- Mixed nuts - 4 kilos
- Olives - 4 jars
- Cucumber - 12 pieces
- Cherry tomatoes - 4 kilos
- Carrots - 3 kilos
- Grapes - 5 kilos
- Apples - 60 pieces
- Bananas - 50 pieces
- Hummus - 8 tubs
- Cream cheese - 4 tubs
- Baguettes - 12 pieces
- Wraps - 8 packs
- Sliced cheese - 4 kilos
- Ham - 3 kilos
- Vegetarian slices - 3 kilos
- Chicken salad - 3 kilo
- Egg salad - 3 kilos
- Mayonnaise - 2 bottles
- Ketchup - 2 bottles
- Mustard - 2 jars
- Herb butter - 12 tubs
- Napkins - 300 pieces
- Paper towels - 12 rolls
- Toilet paper - 24 rolls
- Liquid hand soap - 8 bottles
- Dish soap - 4 bottles
- All-purpose cleaner - 4 bottles
- Disinfecting wipes - 12 packs
- Sponges - 24 pieces
- Garbage bags - 100 pieces
- Paper towels - 12 rolls

Decorations

Competition postersqty 8
Directional signsqty 12
Table décorqty 12
Ribbonsqty 6
Prizes and trophiesqty 6
Name badgesqty 100
Wristbandsqty 150
Table numbersqty 20

Cleaning

Waste binsqty 8
Mop setsqty 4
Bucketsqty 8
Dustpan and brushqty 4
Cleaning cartsqty 2
Paper towel dispensersqty 6
Soap dispensersqty 8

Organization

Clipboardsqty 12
Jury formsqty 40
Pensqty 50
Markersqty 20
Tapeqty 8
Scissorsqty 6
Walkie-talkiesqty 8
Name stickersqty 150
Notice boardsqty 4

Tips

Allow one work table and one chair per participating artist or team, plus a separate judges’ table. Add at least one spare chair and keep clear space around each model.
For every workstation, provide several body paint brushes, sponges, a brush cup, a mixing palette and access to water. Buy extra brushes and sponges so a dropped or contaminated tool does not stop the work.
Plan lighting separately from decoration: one work light per active workstation is a useful baseline, with extension cords and power strips placed where nobody can trip over them. Test the full setup before participants arrive.
Keep disposable gloves and aprons available throughout the contest, not just at registration. Put makeup remover, Vaseline and skin-friendly glue in a clearly marked shared station for models and artists.
Prepare the judging area before the first model is painted: provide a judges’ table, printed judging forms, a microphone if the results are announced publicly, and prizes packed and labelled by category. This prevents the final presentation from becoming a search for missing items.

Frequently asked questions

What supplies do I need for a body painting contest?: Plan for body paint sets, face paint, glitter, brushes, sponges, templates, mixing palettes, brush cups, makeup mirrors, fixative spray and makeup remover. You will also need gloves, disposable aprons, skin-friendly glue and Vaseline for safe application and cleanup.
How many tables and chairs do I need for a body painting competition?: Provide one work table and one chair for each artist or team, then add a separate judges’ table. Keep at least one spare chair available and allow enough space around every table for the model and the artist to move safely.
How much lighting is needed for body painting?: Use one dedicated work light for every active workstation, especially in a tent or indoor venue with uneven lighting. Test the lights, extension cords and power strips at least one day before the contest.
What should I buy for body paint removal after the contest?: Provide makeup remover, water, brush cups, disposable gloves and paper or washable cleaning cloths at a shared cleanup point. Set this station up before painting starts so models can remove paint immediately after judging.

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