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BODYPAINTING TECHNIQUES
Above Right: MAKE-UP ARTIST. (2014). Make-Up Artist Magazine. Issue 106. U.S.: Michael Key. Page 47.
"Body painting turns human skin into a three dimensional canvas. The transitory nature of such decorations allowed our ancestors to become the first animal which could, unlike the leopard, change its spots"
(Polhemus, T. and Randall, H. p. 11. 1996)
Below: page 10. Polhemus, T. and Randall, H. (1996).THE CUSTOMIZED BODY. Santa Barbara, Calafornia. London: Serpents Tail.
Innately very dull creatures, human beings have always striven to and often succeeded at making themselves one of the most colourful and decorated of all species. In tribal and peasant societies this is particularly true of males.
By means of bodypainting or body art human kind was set apart from the rest of the animal world, neighbouring tribes became visually distinct and individual personal differences within each tribe were 'colour coded' for instant identification.
(Polhemus, T. and Randall,
H. p. 11. 1996)
BASIC PRINCIPLES
Carolyn Cowan. (2010). Bodypainting: Working with Oil based paints. [online]. Available from: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=huYBB1wapZw. [Accessed 05 Feburary 2015].
Water Based paints:
most widely used body paints in a range of all colours and they come in a tube or a flat cake. Work the brush into the paint, massaging it into the paint thuroughly before applying it to the model, this will give a good even coverage on the skin. Be aware of keeping your edges very strong and well defined, with no streaks in the paint.
To blend two colours together, lift the colour and pull the edges together, using a clean brush dipped in water. Then dry the brush and wipe over the skin surface again. This should create a beautiful and accurate blend.
Oil Based Paints
Use the brush to blend the paint rather than applying more paint. Then clean the brush with tissue and use it to pull the white up, smudges it with your fingers to emphasise the gradiant. For powdering over the oil paint she applies the white first, the black powder will stick to the white paint and potentially ruin the paint. Oil paints are very pigmented but glossy. Powder must always be applied to remove the shiny, tacky texture.
PRO TIP: Use a flat, square ended brush for bodypainting because they produce even straight lines. Make up brushes that are layered can be difficult to bodypaint with.
Carolyn Cowan. (2010). Bodypainting: Working with Oil based paints. [online]. Available from: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kmOgL4r2KeU. [Accessed 05 Feburary 2015].
PAINT EXPLORATION
Paint Used:
-Global Colours Body Art: Face and Body paint: Glow In The Dark: Under UV Lights: Liquid Paint: Neon Yellow, Neon Orange.
-TAG Body Art: Neon Purple, Neon Pink: Wax Paint
-Snazaroo water based paint: Black, White.
Result: The Global Colours liquid neon paint was very highly pigmented and worked extremely well under the UV light. This product was long wearing and hard to remove. However, it would only be useful on a photoshoot or short video because the paint only reacts under the UV light.
Paint Used:
-SNAZAROO water based paint: Green, White, Blue.
-TAG Body Art wax paint: Yellow, Pink, Black.
Design:
I wanted to to first create a gradiant blend from the eyes up towards the temples, for this I used green and yellow. I smudged the paints together with my finger and used a flat square paintbrush to blend them completely. The black leopard print also fades from the sockets down towards the cheekbones and I used a brown glitter pigment for added depth.
I find the snazaroo paints are easy to work with but require a lot of attention if they are going to be on the face for long periods, the paint cracks and fades after a few hours of wear.
For the second look I wanted to emphasize the features with colour to create depth and highlight. I wanted it to look bird like and abstract and referenced photographs of tropical birds to create the look. However, the make-up ended up looking carnival like and I will need to practise with brush stroke and colour to perfecct this. My final make up look will be an abstract face/neck painting using earthy colours to draw over the features without loosing the shape of the face underneath. I want it to reflect survival and camouflage as a disguise but with an editorial twist, for this I could think about crimping the hair or creating thick plaits.
ARTIST INSPIRATION
Above: MAKE-UP ARTIST. (2014). Make-Up Artist Magazine. Issue 111. U.S.: Michael Key. Page 80 and 83.
Editorial Face Paint: Artist Roshar
Inspiration: Surrealism, Cubism, Pop art, digital art and abstract art.
PRO TIPS:: You have to draw everything at slight curves, since the face isnt one-dimensional. That way when the phot is taken the lines look flat. And to look at the face as if it were an interpretation of a face, a result of a mathematical equasion.
The second image in particular depicts the planes of the face, typically seen within the beauty industry representing the beautiful face in perfect symmetry. The black lines are drawn on with liuid liner which works well against the white paint. I could use liquid liner to draw finer detail onto a face/body and create a detailed piece. Both are abstract editorial pieces and everything about the photographs work together. .The hair has been well placed and the volume adds to the overall creativity. I will incorporate an intricate hairstyle with the bodypainting designs as I feel it will tie the look together. I also want the final look to reflect an abstract editorial piece whilst representing survival or camouflage.
Below Left: MAKE-UP ARTIST. (2014). Make-Up Artist Magazine. Issue 107. U.S.: Michael Key. Page 85.
Photographic Advertisement: Fashion
Inspiration: Make- Up artist magazine, fashion photographs for advertisement.
Roxanne Rizzo HD pure painting pan sticks: left and black liquid liner: Right.
The above images reflect the types of bodypaints I want to explore with. I would like my make ups to be abstract and camouflage. However, I would like to try a scratchy face/ neck paint with an editorial hair and using neutral paints. On the above left image I think all of the colours compliment eachother and emphasize the models skin tone. The paint isnt over worked which I like and you can almost see through some of the colours. The image to the right is interesting and I like the glossy finish to the black paint, it looks like a tattoo shine. I will try to re-create the look in my own style with the same finish using black water based paint, liquid eyeliner and oil paints, seen on the Carolyn Cole video above. Instead of matting down the black paint I will leave it glossy on the skin, this technique would be inaffective for anything other than a photoshoot.
PRACTISE EXPLORATION
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Above: I used grease paints to draw a ram skull against the chest and left areas of skin clear where the sockets would be/ missing bone. For blending in small areas I used a very fine, pointed paintbrush and avoided smudging the greasepaint. This body paint was anatomically more accurate than the first deer skull I painted and I scaled down the size of the skull quite dramatically which made the piece look less abstract. I first drew on tattoo transfer paper and then copied it over onto his chest because I found it hard to keep both sides of the skull level on my first attempt and the balance was off. I didnt want to loose the dripping element but it was excessive on the first painting so I used the oils finely underneath the horns and created a dripping paint effect with a pointed paintbrush. Model: Peter
The above images are a bodypaint I did using black water based paint: snazaroo. The quality of the paint wasnt HD perfect but the colour is easily blendable and not difficult to remove. I was able to add shadows by dipping a clean brush into water and simply smudging out areas of paint which I found technically efffective. I will in corporate water based paints in my designs for the camouflage look for this reason. Model: Shaun
Below: Abstract, animal features similar to cat eyes. I used liquid eyeliner on my face to practise this look, I wanted to see how effective it would be for a scratchy/ abstract look as I am thinking of using it on my final looks. I fount that the brush kept drying out quickly and I didnt have much working time with the prouct. It was also messy to remove and I think the water based paints are more effective, I dont think I will be using liquid eyeliner on my final application. Model: Myself
The inspiration for my designs is 'wildness' and 'survival' I have looked at various animal skeletons and predators within my research and examined their bone structures. The research has influenced my designs and I like the appearance of black paint or ink against a paler skin tone.