KEY POINTS:
From contemporary fantasy films to ancient tribal designs, body artists seek inspiration from a wide range of influences.
The country's top decorators of the flesh will be at the annual Body Art Awards, to be judged by an international panel of artists and effects professionals, including Academy Award-winner Richard Taylor of Weta Workshop.
More than 60 finalists will parade their work at next week's awards.
While body painting requires intense concentration from the artist, it is equally taxing on the models, who must endure standing still in the cold for up to six hours at a stretch.
But how do the artists do it?
We asked three of last year's award winners - Carmel McCormick (Supreme Winner 2007), Phil DuChard (Winner, Airbrush 2007) and Celeste Strewe (Best Newcomer 2007) - for their top tips and how to go about the art of body painting.
CHOOSING YOUR MODEL
When using the human body as a canvas, it is important to choose your model carefully. "It's good to have someone with an athletic build, and they have to be able to stand for long periods of time without complaining," says Strewe.
DuChard chooses his models depending on the design he is trying to achieve. "A fairy design requires a delicate model with fairy-like features."
PAINTS, PROPS AND TOOLS
All three artists use professional, non-toxic body paint and glue for prosthetic pieces. They have an assortment of glitter and accessories on hand to complete their looks.
"I use sponges, and good brushes make the process a lot easier," says McCormick.
DuChard recommends small to medium-sized brushes, cotton buds and fingers to paint your design. "Using a make-up sponge is economical with paint and gives even coverage," says DuChard. "Cutting it in half with scissors gives a nice sharp edge to use as a painting tool.
"Another tip is to paint the edge of medium-weight cardboard or shaped objects and press the shapes on to your design like a rubber stamp."
GETTING STARTED
After collecting ideas and deciding on a theme, sketch your design on paper. Strewe suggests practising on the arms and legs of family and friends to figure out how the design will work on human curves. "When I come to do the real thing I usually start with an undercoat and layer it up," says Strewe. "Then I paint on the design and highlight where necessary."
DuChard opts to paint in the light colours first, as it is easier to paint dark over light. "Once the darker colours and lighter colours are dry, you can paint small details on your design. Dab the cotton buds or use even strokes to paint the details, but take care not to smudge the colours together."
LOWDOWN
What: NZ Body Art Awards
Where: North Shore Events Centre
When & Where: Saturday, 14 June 2008, 7:30pm
