The Goal with fine art bodypainting is to create something that belongs in a gallery or on your wall. My hopes is to do that sometime soon. I have already sold a few fine art prints and plan to stock up on a selection of images that will be for sale on this site as well as a few galleries and coffee shops here in Sydney.
All the images here are exactly as you would see them with the naked eye if you just happen to be in my art studio at the time the image was taken . I feel that bodypainting when it comes to my art should have as little photo manipulation as possible. I do see the value in colour correction and cropping however that is something that I keep to a minimum.
The backdrops are painted using acrylic about a week before the model shows up to be painted. Often the backdrops are designed with the model in mind using his or her measurements for example the painting Durga (Hindu multi armed goddess) was created for the model “Mouse” using her arm measurements and height. Being that “Mouse” got her nickname due to being a tiny (but amazingly tough) woman. This backdrop does not work for other models .. other backdrops like this are the painting Artemus and Imp in flight. Other backdrops like bubbles and fire and water are not set to be uses with just one body painting model.
When I am done with my backdrops I do tend to paint over them however I have been asked to start saving them for sale. These days I am taking the time to make sure the backdrops are properly stretched canvass and will be for sale along with the fine art print. I’m still working on a price.
UV Body painting by Kevin C Mason, Sydney AU
The actual body painting process takes about 2-6 hours of painting. It is a myth that the model is not allowed to move. The type of body paint that I uses allows the model free movement and the 15 years of bodypainting in club and festival environments (Painting drunks with all kinds of distractions ...you know a ROCK CONCERT) makes it so I have plenty of practice painting a moving target. I also spend a lot of time making sure that the model is having a great time. If the body painting model is not having fun I am not doing my job correctly. I feel so strongly about this that Its a continuous topic on my body art blog.
I tend to do my own photography but I am able to work with other photographers if the model agrees or prefers to provide her own. I do have a few photographers that I have available upon request.