AFTER bringing joy to children as Fairy Raine for 20 years, Lorraine Halse believes there is no reason not to carry on for another two decades.
“Everyone wishes for a fairy godmother, so I think I can get away with it,” she said.
Ms Halse has become familiar in the Redlands as a face painter and fairy party host, but further afield she is also recognised as a body painter.
It is this recognition that led to an invitation to run classes at the Australian Body Arts Awards Brisbane Convention on September 7 and 8.
Having loved doodling and art at school, Ms Halse has never had any formal training, but she is excited to be sharing what she has learned from her art and life in general.
Aside from running the classes, Ms Halse will also participate in the body art competition in which paintings need to reflect the theme ‘buried treasure’.
“For me buried treasure is what’s on the inside, in the heart, of each of us,” she said.
Although some people respond negatively to body painting, Ms Halse said it can be very liberating for the person who is painted.
Fairy Raine emerged after Ms Halse started a fairy stall at the Cleveland markets in the mid-1990s.
After two years she created the fairy persona when she was asked to run parties.
“The minute I put on the fairy wings, I knew that’s what I wanted to be when I grew up,” she said.
A few years ago, Ms Halse thought it was time for Fairy Raine to hang up her wings, but the requests continued to arrive.
Although children’s birthday parties are her favourite, the invites come from nightclubs, adult parties and markets.
“It’s not just children who get to have fun,” she said.
Ms Halse said people find find it soothing and relaxing to have their faces or body painted.
“It is the chance to be a child again; sitting still and slowing down in this busy world.
“It’s a chance to be reinvented. It’s like wearing a mask,” she said.
Fairy Raine also has a regular gig with Santa Clause in the run up to Christmas, enjoys popping into nursing homes to spread fairy magic and recently started her a home-based family day care.
“I am deeply humbled when I am invited to share in someone’s special day and I take great pride in what I do,” she said.
“I will do whatever it takes to put a smile on someone’s face,” she said.
