Bodypainting | clairegolbymue

Body Painting

Johannes Stoetter. Frog bodypaint. (2013) [online image] Available from:http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/world-news/world-bodypainting-champions-stunning-pictures-2029586 [Accessed: Janurary 2nd 2015]

Artist Profile: Johannes Stoetter

The Basics; in class practise

Carolyn Cowan (2010) Bodypainting: Fullers Earth and Flour. [online] Available from:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e-k96wtfwkI {Accessed: January 3rd 2015]

Johannes is a 35 year old bodypainter from Italy. He did his first bodypainting experiment in 2000, and took part in the world bodypainting championships for the first time in 2009, finishing 5th. From then, he started bodypainting full time and came 1st in the 2012 championships. His pieces can take up to five months to plan and then 8 hours to paint, using special breathable paint.

"In bodypainting you create unity between an image and a person.

'A lot of my inspiration comes from nature.

'I think I observe the world, nature, colours and shapes with very clear eyes and an open heart.

'And painting is my big passion. I think the secret of good work is to always have a love for it. "

(2013) A fine body of work. Mail Online. [online] 2nd July. Available from:http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2356721/Johannes-Stoetter-turns-humans-animals-fruit-landscapes-amazing-paintings.html [Accessed: January 3rd 2015]

When using aqua colours, aim for a mayonnaise-like consistency so its spreadable full coverage
Use a flat-ended brush to create clean lines
Bleding techniques (image on right): overlap the two colours with the flat-ended brush, brush upwards slightly or use a wet finger to mix them together.
A stipple sponge can also be used to overlap and blend colours
Nice brushes shouldn't be used for bodypainting, as the water expands the brush hairs and can damage them over time. Specific brushes can be bought for bodypainting
Oil based paints (image on left): blend with a brush. Blend black into white and wipe brush on a tissue in between strokes if necessary. Use white powder and black powder to help emphasise colours.

Use a water-based paint underneath fullers earth, so that when its scraped off, the colour can be revealed.
Adding flour to the fullers earth can help it stick to the skin better
Pigment can also be added to give it different colours.
When you apply it with fingers, you can tap it so then when your fingers lift off, spikes are created.
In her youtube tutorials, Carolyn Cowan also applied it with icing equipment for precision.

I had some problems with the fullers earth, mainly that it didn't achieve a nice, dried crumbly effect, but just seemed to sty moist on the skin even when I applied a very thin amount. I also found that when it came to removing it to reveal an aquacolour underneath, the tool would remove the aquacolour as well, leaving a dirty skintone underneath. I found that adding glitter over the top of fullers earth can look effective, particularly over black, as it makes it look more dimensional.

Madeyewlook (Lex), is a youtuber I've been following for some time. Her work wouldn't exactly be classed as bodypainting, but her approach to makeup is certainly similar to that of a bodypainter and a lot of the time she doesn't just include the face in her makeups, i.e. she'll bring it down onto the neck and chest. I guess i'd class her style as creative/realistic face painting. I've found her videos to be very creative and helpful and include a lot of skills and techniques that i'd consider helpful when trying to bodypaint, such as creating a 3D look or working certain ideas or shapes around bodyparts.

Madeyewlook

Madeyewlook (2013) Red Riding Hood/Wolf Tutorial (Madeyewlook). [online] Available from:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OSXx234P_Io {accessed: January 3rd 2015]

Madeyewlook (2014) Spiderman: Venom Makeup Tutorial 2014. [online] Available from:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k9mdF_NBgig{accessed: January 3rd 2015]

Madeyewlook (2014) Reptile | Lizard Makeup Tutorial [online] Available from:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c_qtyp_5kPw{accessed: January 3rd 2015]

Madeyewlook (2013) Clown Makeup Tutorial (Madeyewlook) [online] Available from:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-2NM59vaWFA{accessed: January 3rd 2015]

I thought this clown tutorial was particularly impressive, because upon watching it for the first time, I though the neck ruffles were clothing and not painted on. I think that its important to have accurate reference images when creating something like this so that you can reproduce it in paint as accurately as possible. The products that Lex uses in her videos are Mehron Paradise paints and also ProPaint (typically for her bases). Nearly all the paints she uses are aquacolours and water activated so they don't smudge or need powdering, although ProPaint says it can be set with a setting spray which will also make the product more water resistant. They are also relatively smudge proof.

To play, press and hold the enter key. To stop, release the enter key.

Makeup Artist Magazine, Issue 80, page 31. October 2009

Bodypainting is rarely used in films of theatre. Using paint on the body in conjuncture with prosthetics to create a fluid image isn't really the same as a body paint, because a bodypaint very rarely involves prosthetics. However, Neill Gorton is currently running a "Prosthetics for Bodypainting course", which incorporates subtle prosthetics into the design of the bodypaint.

Bodypaints are commonly done for photoshoot purposes to create a one-off image, as the bodies are usually contorted in a specific pose that is immovable.

In bodypaints, the body is typically disguised as something else; the aim is almost to make the body seem invisible, such as blending it into a pattern or a background, or painting the body as an animal.

Bodypaint Prosthetics Neil Gorton (2015) [online] Available from:https://www.facebook.com/Gortonstudio/photos/pcb.757389820996571/757383534330533/?type=1&theater [Accessed: February 14th 2015]