Best Of Images Sponge and Brush World Body Painting Festival 2009

Each year I wait to look through the "Best Of" images from the World Body Painting Festival. I love to to see all the artists with there models. The beautiful and wonderfully painted models posing with the paint stained and tired artists. Especially wonderful are the images by Ulf Sherling. Here are pictures taken by Ulf. Please go see more at http://www.bodypainting-festival.com.

Candid Shots From Seeboden

Here are some pictures of the back of the body art we painted.  And I take hat "we" to liberal use. I was humbly and happy to be simply Mark's assistant.  If I could help any friend win this great honor _ well what could be better than that.

And here too are some fun shots of work by the 2009 Sponge and Brush winners, Brian Wolfe and Nick Wolfe.  The first image is their prelim artwork and the second image with the dinosaurs and diamond is their final #1 winning artwork.  I love these guys,  I think the diamond was a bit of a statement, and we all have and get to make our own statements as artists.
One reason we are aritists and don't sell insurance! Brian and Nick are very talented with creative spirits and minds.  Their artwork was amazing, as were so many.   I'll post more soon.

Fun And Fifth From Seeboden

Well working with Mark Reid was a blast.
I am slammed for time but will post candid pictures later tonight.

The World Gears Up

Well the time is near and many I know are gearing up to head to Austria for the World Body Painting Festival. The Festval week runs July 13th thru 19th. There are workshops and competition, and side events with 40 nations represented.
This year's themes for Friday and Saturday is Poetry: the power of words and Sunday is Spirituality - beyond the physical world.

Check out more on the Festival web site

http://bodypainting-festival.com/general/festival-2009.html

Mark Reid's Laughter

Mark Reid has the best laugh. It's real and it rolls...... and in his rise as a successful painter and instructor in face and body art..... he's laughing even more these days.

He is one of those artist that it just flows from him - a god given gift. And he shares that gift by showing others how to paint. Mark spent years a single dad, he has three children and now grandchildren and he had spent his fair time clipping coupons so yes he's due.

Years ago I took Mark's first class, then a year later I took another private class with him - and darn it to this day if I don't hear him in my ear as I paint....
I prefer to hear him in my head yelling .."Loretta...." across a ballroom or club crowded with body painters and models..... as I ever sooo slowing respond. I guess the superstar thing hasn't awed me as it has others. Mark is Mark, full of laughter and beautiful images.

The Amazing Craig Tracy

I had a wonderful call today from artist Craig Tracy. If you love body art paintings like I do you can not but love the artworks created by Craig. His fine art can be purchases in his art gallery Painted Alive aka Craig Tracy Gallery in the French Quarter. If you're in that area it is a must stop place to shop.

When I first met Craig was able to spend a few days with him and I came away truly more centered as an artist, as I love to create body art paintings but too I love creating mixed medium artworks. In spending time with Craig who is an artist in his very fiber and soul I knew I had to find my real art, the art that inspired my soul and tingles my fibers.

He is not a humble man, he is outspoken and says it like it is. I like that. He is a strong man, a strong artist, a sensitive artist moved by the art of others and who lives to create and move this art form forward, for the love of art.

Lest You Think It's T & A

"Sun"
Body Paint and Photography By Craig Tracy
Painted on body painter, MUA and model, Stephaine Dalvit with her new son Presley

So I am busy busy busy..... but too I have been communicating with some painters in order to post some info about them and some of their tall tales.

I had interresting talk to day with a photographer I respect. One who is a master at photgraphing the nude or painted body. And it is not about T&A and if you see some blogs aroound - you know that's for them exacting what the are using these images for The T&A to seel whatever they are hawking at you.

Here's am image I hope you love as I do - proving for me the art I love is really that - Art.

Festivals and artists

I'll continue to post abut the various and growing events and festivals where artists gather to paint but I must begin to show some of these amazing talents....... oh my where and with who do I start.