2026 ABAA CONVENTION Class descriptions
Convention classes are 75 minutes long

There are 3 classes on offer in each time slot - 5 Time slots per day

Gina Nomachi

Class 1: Zombies!!!!

Time to get your zombie on. In this hands on class we will look at 3 kinds of Zombies.

(a) On the job scary zombie. Something you can have in your list and a go to for Halloween or when it's requested. No longer than 5 minute design. Practice on each other. 

(b) Cute Zombie- something not so scary

So that little ones when they look in the mirror don't burst into tears! (Yep I've had that happen before.) Another 5 minute design, and practice on your board or each other. 

(c) Adult zombie- when you get asked to do a makeup for an adult at Halloween. How much do you charge? How long should it take and how do you expand a 5 minute design into something you can charge an hourly rate for? In this design we break down anatomy, colour choice, contours of the face, pustules and blood. 

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Class 2: Fast, OTJ boy designs 

This one is tried and tested, and will be in your design list after you perfect these in 3- 4 minutes. This hands on class, we will go through placement, proportion & paint techniques. The 3 P's.  Boys love these deigns, and they are great because they work around the eyes and not over them. Scrunchy faces anyone!? However these faces they are great for anyone. 

We will cover Wolf, Shark, Crocodile, Dinos, and Scorpion.

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Jacintah Huch

 

Class 1: Onestrokes & Stencils

In this paint along workshop, I'll show you different application tools and products to combine stencils and one-stroke techniques to produce fun & fast designs perfect for busy events, festivals and birthday parties. 

 

Class 2: Special FX Made Fast

This hands-on Special FX class is designed to create fast, realistic wounds and dimensional zombie effects — perfect for Halloween events, haunted attractions, and high-volume gigs. Learn how to create terrifying looks on the job and under pressure using simple, efficient techniques that deliver maximum impact.Throw away the wax and latex and see the best products to use to keep it simple and fast but still scary & grosse at fast paced events

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​​Laurie Faulkner

An Introduction to Henna Body Art (2 classes)

PLEASE NOTE, AS I SUPPLY EVERYTHING FOR STUDENTS, I MUST LIMIT ATTENDANCE TO A MAXIMUM OF 12.

An Introduction to Henna Body Art (maximum 12 students) Henna is a beautiful herb that produces subtle body art lasting up to 4 weeks. Natural henna stains the skin a reddish brown then gently fades as you exfoliate – enjoy this ancient art form with a modern twist!! If you can draw a dot, a curve and a straight line (and we know you can), Laurie (with more than 2 decades of experience in this field) will guide you through the rest, Decorate your body with intricate lace-like motifs, or empower yourself with bold tribal designs. It’s safe, painless, temporary and lots of fun. All materials supplied and you get to keep a booklet with all the basics to get you started on your Henna Journey. Laurie will start you with some simple exercises on paper, then you will spend the rest of the time decorating yourself, or each other and go home with some beautiful body art.

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​Mandy Stanger

Class 1: Superfast Face Painting for Large Events

If you’ve ever faced a line that wrapped around the block, this class is for you. Learn my favourite speed tricks, setup hacks, and go‑to designs for big events. eg. Unicorns, Butterflies, Dolphins, Dinosaurs & more!  Your future self (and your queue) will thank you.

 

Class 2: Superfast Face Painting for Sports Events

Sports crowds are high‑energy, high‑volume, and high‑expectation. This class teaches you how to deliver crisp logos, team colours, and fast cheek art while keeping the line flowing and the fans pumped.

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Maria Behrendt

Lets make Chibi balloons

Don't let their small size fool you. These balloons make a big impact. Let's explore how a simple base that structure can be turned into almost anything just by swapping colours and adding a little bit of artwork. Suits all skill levels.

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Maria Mormile

Class 1: Intro to Indoor bubble Tricks

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

What will be covered in this class:

 

• OH & S and Insurance  , Ground Cover, Hand Bubbles, DIY foam fun for Kids, straw bubble play.

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Class 2: 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 in this class:

• 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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Class 3: Beginners Balloon Class - Essential Balloon Twisting Techniques

Techniques

Basic Designs

Balloon Retailers

Equipment

Tips & Tricks

Trouble shooting

Balloon twisters to follow on YouTube for the beginner

Balloon Retailers

​This is where it all starts! Play or Passion, grass roots are the foundation of good skill development.

This class will enable you to follow step by step designs.  It will also help you to understand the importance of strength & stability to your creation.

Knowing basic balloon twisting techniques will enable you to work faster with ease and prevent excessive popping of balloons. More importantly correct techniques will also help prevent over use or joint injuries. Not to mention, it's loads of silly fun!!!

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Marie Zimmerle

Class 1: My favourite girl's designs

In this class I'd like to share my popular girl's designs on the job which includes flowers, princess and character themes. Bring your flat and angle brushes, let's create some pretty designs!

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Class 2: Elegant Adult Designs

Design ideas for grown ups.  Let’s focus on some designs for adults. We will do some eye designs - delicate and elegant.

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Marion Evans

Class 1: Digging Dino’s

In this class I will teach you a number of different dinosaurs guaranteed to keep those dinosaur lovers happy! This is an intermediate class.

 

Class 2: Floral Fantasy Flowers

Flowers can be more than just daisies!! Expand your flower making repertoire to please even the fussiest flower lover. This is an intermediate class.

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​Nina Neher

Class 1: Nina Gems Have you seen me paint a Nina Gem?

I reckon you should. Come watch me demonstrate and answer all your questions. There are 3 basic steps to create a cool, original body painting. Let me show you how I do it. You may learn a whole new way of painting that you haven’t tried before. Even though this is mainly a demo class, I won’t stop you from bringing your kit and painting along. I’ll bring 5 favourite brushes, an old water pot and a spritzy water bottle, some black and white and a small collection of my favourite colours.

 

Class 2: Small Round Brush

I would like to show you all just how I use a small round brush to create amazing linework and designs to highlight and accentuate anything you choose to paint. To attend this class, bring yourself, a friend to paint, your small round brushes, a water pot, black, white, a split cake or 2 or your whole paint kit if you like variety. Using bare minimum equipment and a lot of practice, you can feel good about yourself and your ability to adorn someone with something special. Whip out tiny brush skills that will leave them saying “Holy Shmoly” in a good way.

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Rai Molki

Class 1: Alternate Square Pack Flower ( Balloons)

This class is your introduction to strong, scalable balloon decor using the alternate square pack technique.

You’ll learn to build clean, consistent petals and add detail, depth, and texture so your work stands out.

Finish with a complete flower design, including centres, leaves, and structure you can apply to larger installs.

 

Class 2: Distortion ( Balloons)

This class breaks down distortion so you understand how it works and how to create the shapes you need. 

Learn how to control the air flow of balloons inside balloons and how shapes can change over time and how to minimise that change. 

Explore layering colours and shapes and unique  attachment techniques into your designs.

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Ratih Widyastuti

Class 1: Ghost roses & Ghost flowers.

Great for intermediate, but beginners are welcome too. In this class focuses on how to paint ghost roses & ghost flowers on face & arm.

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Class 2: Popular arm painting designs for adults & children.

Let's have fun painting quick designs of dragon, snake, butterfly & some cute animals on arm.​

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Tammy Harrison

Class 1: Getting Skully

Skulls never go out of style. Loved by all… especially those with a darker soul! Discover how to use facial structure as your guide to create striking skulls and sugar skull designs that work fast and look amazing. From bold basics to decorative detail, you choose how far to take it.

 

Class 2: One Base - Many Beasts! Animal Faces

One base. Endless animals.  Learn how to turn a single simple design into multiple fast, popular animal faces using quick tweaks and smart shortcuts.  Perfect for busy events, faster lines, and confident animal painting.

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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.

 

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.

 

Wendy Fantasia

Class 1: Plan a Body Painting Session - Closed session once started

Instructors for this class are both Wendy Fantasia & Laurie Faulkner
Bring a very small colouring set – colour pencils or paint (no need for a full fp kit) and note paper/pen.
Body sketch outlines will be supplied.

Never body painted before, not sure where to start?
We will take you through the planning stages for doing a creative body paint photography session.

Play along and develop your own design as we go.

This is a taster session and will touch on key areas to be aware of, and plenty to beware of too.
Information intense and fast paced, lot of information coming your way.

At the end of the class you will leave with a rough design ready to fine tune further or an idea of how to build one as well as the confidence to paint a model and put into practice what you’ve just learned.

Class 2: Bring back the Clowns

Cute clowns: these won’t scare anyone and are fun and colourful.
Scary clowns: the key elements to create a bit of horror for Halloween clowns.

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