Figure Photos

So what's the deal with all the painted people?
At a family gathering when I was five or so, one of myaunts collected lipstick, eye shadow and liner from guests and painted the face, legs and arms of an attendee that had lots of leg and arm exposed. Everyone got their cameras out to snap photos as she posed for the crowd. Over the years, most photographs that made a lasting impression involved body art of some sort.   During college, I dreaded figure painting and drawing classes because I wasn't very good at it and didn't have the patience to learn.   I sat there thinking it would be more interesting to paint on the people instead of paper or canvas.   Finally I've gotten around to trying it.

When did you start body painting?
I decided to photograph painted people during the fall of 2000. The idea was to have three models painted by three artists. I would photograph all of them on the same generic white background with changes in lighting to capture the mood created by the art and model. I found a handful of models and artists willing to give it a whirl and commenced the project February 2001.   One artist, the late Alex Mattison, was too ill to keep his paint dates so I filled in at the last moment.   My initial efforts were rather bad but I had time to play with paints and figure out what I wanted by my third attempt. I've done a bit more painting, worked with more artists and experimented with different paints since then.

Where do you get artists and models?
THE INTERNET!!!   ... and sometimes I pick up people on the streets.   I peruse artists' sites and model forums. I explain the   concept to   people I want to work with and sometimes they say OK. The   artists decide   what they want to paint and I find models. If you are   looking for   models, I suggest you approach artists, musicians, writers, people with   tattoos, multiple piercings or hair dyed unusual colors.   You will have a much better response rate from these individuals.

What paint do you use?
I've used many things.
Deviant Liquid Latex-Fun to use but OUCH!!! The first model I tried it on used lotion like   the directions indicate. It was not enough. The second model used   cocoa   butter. She had a less painful removal experience but there   were   whimpers and squeals.   Shaving longer hairs from all parts to be   covered   is best unless you enjoy pain.   Use a sponge roller and apply   with the   person in the position they will be photographed.   You get nasty   drips   and wrinkles otherwise.   For painless removal, paint the areas to   be covered with water based paint like the cheap stuff from Joann's,   then   paint over with Liquid Latex. When the latex comes off, the underlayer   of paint is removed instead of skin and hair. (Somepeople   actually   like the sensation of latex ripped from their skin so yins can use it just like the packaging says. More power to ya!)
Createx Multi Surface-I dilute tub paints with a little water and apply with sponge rollers and brushes. Two or three coats give even coverage.   It is fast   drying, flexible and easy to wash off. It looks better on hairless (or   lesshairy) skin. Once dry, dust with a little powder in elbowand   knee   joints to   delay peeling.   I also love their airbrush paints in   the   squirt bottles. The opaques are great.   Use a sponge roller instead   of a regular sponge brush for large areas. The paint builds up and  cracks  easily when applied too thick.
Cheap craft paint from Joann's & Wallmart-This stuff is great. I got a few bottles of the $0.99 paint and   applied with a sponge roller. It doesn't go on as well as Createx   air   brush paint, but it is right decent. Also, the matte finish   works   better photographically.   The expensive paints ($0.99 and up) are   more   opaque and come in more colors. but the cheap stuff is good   for   experimenting.
Ben Nye - I tried Ben   Nye   Lumiere a while back and didn't like the results at all. It turns   out   the problem was mixing the paint with LiquiSet in the paint pot.   I   decided to give Ben Nye another try and got the Aqua Paint. If you   mix   it with a little water it works great.   I tried several applicators   and   found cosmetic sponges work best for me.     If you spray on a coating   of   Final Seal you can wear this stuff out on the town with no problem.   Some folks say hair spray works too.
Mehron has   fantastic   metallic powders and paints that can be mixed with water or LiquiSet.   It's much   better than Ben Nye   stuff but not as many colors.   I mix a   little at   a time with water and apply with a large brush. I'll try the   rest of   their stuff soon and post the results.
Snazaroo makes pretty decent paints.   Paul Roe got me hooked on this stuff. The paints   are more opaque than Ben Nye's but harder to find.   One supplier told me it's because the company makes it difficult to order their products.   It goes on well with a brush or sponge. A single coat is pretty opaque if you're going to do a design on top of it. Two coats give really nice coverage. Once it dries, you can use another color on top without much bleeding and smudging. Even with water, it stays put way better than Ben Nye. Add Final Seal to your water for better wearability.   Kinetic Artistry has an eight color sampler palate that's a real bargain.

What else to you do?
I   am a portrait photographer. I love photographing people. I   photograph   most people with clothes and without paint. I also photograph   plants,   animals   and an occasional landscape.   I have a long-standing love   affair   withs sculpture and pottery but I don't have the time and equipment to do   much   these days.

How much do you pay models on your site?
I   only do TFP (Time for Print) for my artistic ventures. Models get websized proofs of   the   entire session, five nicely touched up signed 8x12 prints and a   signed   release form allowing use of the images for self promotion.   Commercial   use by the model is excluded. That means the photos can't be   used on pay   sites, be massed produced for cards, posters, etc., or sold   in any way by the model unless certain use fees are purchased and   specifically   agreed to in writing.

Can I model for you?
That   depends on who I'm working with and what we need. My primary objective is to make a living so I don't do a lot of TFP photo sessions. When there's a project in the pipeline, I go through all the folks that have volunteered and pick someone that fits the bill.  If you want to model, please send a link to your website /online portfolio or e-mail a SMALL (less than 75 kb) photo of your face and body.  Wear something that gives an idea of your size.   Avoid baggy pants and bulky sweaters.   I'm not confined to the narrowly defined conventional (commercial) concept of beauty, however, men have to be reasonably attractive, firm and lean.  About 80% of people that want to model are male but I rarely sell photos of men   so I don't do much male TFP.  Attractive, well proportioned women of all girths are encouraged to model.   I prefer working with dancers and folks that don't look like they're still in their early teens.  

I'd like to be painted and/or photographed but I don't want anyone else to see the pictures.
No problem!   On   the web, in galleries and in my portfolio, I only use photographs   of   persons that have agreed to the public display and sale of the   images prior to the photo session.     All models must sign a release form.   Paying   customers can rest assured that no one but me and my cats will   see their photos.   Click on Services for photo session prices.