Body painting

In an attempt to keep my blog from being just about The Real Housewives of wherever, I'm going to share some photos of something I absolutely love doing-  body painting.  I was a huge fan of Keith Haring's work growing up and admired his paint on everything approach.  I had an- Oh my God, I want to do that one day- moment when I saw that he'd body painted choreographer Bill T. Jones back in 1983.  Still find those images remarkable.  As someone who has painted on all kinds of surfaces: paper, canvas, panels, walls, furniture, fabric, and beyond, I think a body as canvas offers such promise. 

It was about a month ago that I painted on my friend Henry.  I quickly generated a bunch of loose drawings and paintings of him and used those as a backdrop.  All photos are taken by me. 

Click on any of these to see a larger version.

 

That's Henry in front of the collage of quick portraits.  

Using MAC Chromacake body makeup, I started with his face and neck.

I painted his entire body white and set it with some magical MAC powder.

 

Next, I drew caricatures of him on him using a black calligraphy-ish makeup pencil.  I forget who makes that but wow was it quick and easy to work with.  All those faces took only about 90 minutes to draw.  Again set with the magical finishing powder.

I had some photoshop fun with a couple of the crouching poses above.

I'm a fan of a triptych, so above is Henry unpainted, fully painted, and then an oil stick portrait I did after the project.

Another standing pose.

I scattered those portraits on the ground and had Henry interact them.  Art returning to art was my idea.

 

More of that.

Above is a 30" x 22" portrait of Henry I did days later using oil sticks. That's a great medium as it stays "alive" and very workable for several days like oil paint but it doesn't involve the same extensive cleanup that the paint requires.  I still have absolute love for painting with oils but there is something special about drawing with oils. 

So that's that.  Hope you liked.  Here's a photo from the last body session I did with my friend Mike.

I painted a bonsai tree on his torso.  You can click here to see my previous posting with Mike.  Sucks having such unattractive friends, huh?  :)

Lastly I want to share the very first body painting I ever did.  This is from about 14 years ago..... My partner was my willing canvas.  I used grease paint, eyeshadow, and eyeliner to cover him in an array of faces.

Thanks everyone for indulging me........ I have several more sessions coming up in the following month so expect to see lots more of this kind of work. 

If anyone is interested in purchasing a print of these images, please let me know and I'll make that available on my etsy shop.

xoxo

Comments

[Jill]

Well...that is incredibly cool!

[Suz]

In my next life I am coming back with your talent.!

[Robin M.]

Soooooooo Beautiful:)

[Jodi]

I have to say, I love your photos of the body painting the best. Well done.

[bravofan diane]

awesome work. Love it.

[Stephanie]

Every October in Key West there is a huge party called Fantasy Fest and body painting is a big part of the week. There are numerous contests but there is one specifically for body painting. You should come down and enter.

[dbr]

Classic meets pop. El Greco meets Patrick Nagel. I like the standing pose.

[borgqueen]

Wow you are so talented. Damn talent really runs in your family (ala your nephew).

[Lou LaMarre]

I especially enjoy the photo of him laying painted on the portraits. Very new feeling ideas. Thank you for sharing with all of us!!!

[Frank Coclord]

very n ice

[Allison]

Love it! I can't decide which I like best. I do like your friend laying about on all the pictures, but I think I like the one standing and turning away. This is way cool!

[Louda B]

I love you! These are awsome and Love to hear your spin on the Housewives... Youa re so real! Hope you are all better!

[Blisterina]

The eyes peering out from his arms and legs are fantastic; they jar the senses just seeing them in this context, I can imagine how this work looks in person. Gorgeous.

[Vince]

Thank gawd you are comming to your senses. The Housewives thing is tired and I miss you work. Which is another reason I've stopped visiting your page. Would love to see more of your art work and less Housewives.

[trinity]

that is amazing! I wish I had your talent. Such beautiful work!

[jonatc]

Whoa - coolest thing ever!

[dbr]

Don't listen to Vince. He is just jealous of your success and popularity. Success breeds envy and justification.

You must never never never stop doing caricatures of Alex and Simon. There are possible global catastrophic consequences.

It is possible that your warped drawings of Bravo TV kooks are part of God's important Plans.

And you can still be an artiste.

I'd suggest a pseudonym.

[nicki]

That is beautiful, what amazing work!

[Jodie]

You are just too damn talented, I LOVE all your work. And it's crazy how fast you are! (I'm sublimating my jealousy into admiration. For now.)

[choco_mocha]

You are so incredibly talented :) i admire your work

[Henry Coelho]

THIS WAS SO MUCH FUN DOING!

David is amazing at what he does and I was just more than thrilled when he approached me with the idea, and so I just HAD TO DO IT!!

The whole experience was just beautiful.

I feel honored to be one of his models for his art and will continue to support him in any which way I can.

Thank you for the opportunity David!

<3
HENRY

[foreplay]

i think your paints are awesome I really like the one with the faces.

[foreplay]

Is amazing the talent that you have keep working you are excellent.