COMPLETE newbie body painter in need of some advice!!

I'm a qualified make-up artist and part of my course at college included a brief section on body painting. I really fell in love with it, although unfortunately it was just a small unit. I would really love to get into body painting more.

I just wanted to ask the advice of some seasoned pro's out there! What are the main types of shots I should include in my portfolio? Any product recommendations (fixers, paints, brushes and pigments etc) would also be greatly appreciated!

Also, does anyone know if Snazaroo paints are any good for the body? We used the kryolan AquaColor at college but they are a touch pricey to buy a full set.

Thanks so much for reading,

Andrea

Andrea--

There are some body painters on this forum, but I think most of us are mostly face painting.

I am not aware of any body painting sights.
I know that body paints, which are the pretty much the same thing as face paints only in bigger packages, are pricy.

Check out the Face Paint Forum Shop (A link is at the top of the web page).

Snazaroo in my opinion (which I am a newbie too) are a little more see through then some of the other brands. I bought one of each brands (each in a different color) So I could learn what I liked and didn't like. I didn't really like Snazaroo---but some of the best face painters use only Snazaroo--so it really is all what you are use too.

Good luck!!

My first body painting was done using snaz. It took me over 8 hours to do just the front of the body with a fairly basic sunset design. I never recommend using snaz for body painting because it fades quickly and takes longer to apply. I stick with Paradise, Wolfe, DFX, TAG and Cameleon for bodies.

Invest in a good kabuki brush. When I'm using those, I can cover a full body in one color in a little over 15 minutes.

Always consider the shots you want when you plan out a design. Don't waste your time painting the mid section if all you really want is a shot including the chest area.

Dear andreascarlet:
Where are you from?

You have noooo idea just how pricey a "full" set of Kryolan Aquacolor will run. They make soooo many colors I could not name them all. The make the widest range of colors, more that any other company.

I'm am pretty seasoned body painter. I have been painting bodies for over 10 years. I work in classic and airbrush. I co-produced the US Painting Festival the first body painting competition event of its type in the USA. I have ranked at the World Body Painting Festival in Austria on mine own and with Mark Reid.



I had a fluke thing having the doctors brake my leg in 3 places (accident!) during some knee surgery, so I slowed my body painting the last two years. And kept me from returning to Austria to paint with Mark (too bad too from assistant to team members... such is life!) I was painting 3-4 bodies am month.

I just rented new studio space so I am in full gear lining up models. I will being doing a minimum of two a week. I am booked through miod March already!

As far as supplies just search here and other forums you'll find all you need. But do ask I have taught class and been sponsored and been able to rep for quite a few top makeup companies.

I just read some great tips to help me make one of my networking portfolios better. So I be doing that this next week. I am happy to give you some tips, track me down.

My dear friend Craig Tracy is a passionate body artist, he says he wants to see body painting offered as a fine art class in very university.

Fespenter, her model mayhem says she's from scottland