Body Paint Instructions

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I shot this in 2008.  The MUA was Warpaint.

Airbrush - The day before the shoot:

• Shave any body hair below the neck that is anything more than "peach fuzz".

 

Airbrush - The day of the shoot:

1. Wash skin and hair thoroughly with soap/shampoo.  The idea is to remove all oils and makeup residues.
2. Do not apply deodorant/antiperspirant.  However, you may bring some with you.
3. Do not apply any makeup; with the following exception: a small amount of moisturizing cream is permissible.
4. Wear loose fitting clothing, but do not wear a bra.
5. You may bring a pair of flip-flops.
6. A robe may be useful, depending on the circumstances.
   
7. Arrive hydrated and nourished.
8. Bring moisturizing cream for after showering.
   

 

This is a shot from my second practice with syrups back in 2006

The techniques I use are homegrown.  The formulations are simple and I use primarily Hershey's Syrup, coconut oil, cocoa butter, poster paint, and Karo Syrup.  I've used white glue and cosmetic- and craft-grade glitter (depending on application) too, but it's generally stuff that would be safe enough for kids to use.  However, you need to let me know if you could be allergic to any of that, or if your skin is very sensitive and you break out easily!

The thick chocolate syrup is very messy.  I will have a safe way to protect your clothes during storage, however, it is best if you do not bring anything that might get ruined, unless we plan to shoot something before the bodypaint.  I will give you instruction on how to minimize mess problems at the site. 

Although the syrup is edible and smells good, it is still makeup and may not be suitable for consumption (if I found my dog stealing a lick from a bowl of the stuff, I wouldn't throw it out.  It's makeup, after all!)  Ideally, the syrup should stay outside the body.  In practice, that has not been a problem, but I have had a model taste the stuff, and I've had a model concerned about the health effects of being covered in syrup.  I have followed-up with female models who sat in the stuff, and who might as well have been swimming in syrup, and no adverse effects were reported.  This is not surprising, considering how popular chocolate syrup is as a "bedroom food"!  Anyway,  I anticipate relatively mild exposure to syrup for models in current- and all future projects. 

Although there is the main disadvantage of being messy, there are some big advantages to syrups.

1) They are quick to apply; Simple, one-layer forms are generally 15 minutes or less; additional layers take about 15 mins each. is means one painter can finish four or more one-layer models per hour.  I can often do full-body jobs in less than 10 minutes (partial body jobs often take a bit longer because of the additional effort to avoid application where unwanted).  In contrast, many other methods (such as airbrushing) can take one to several hours; and this impacts eating, hydration, and restroom requirements.

2) Syrups are less invasive than many other full-body methods.  Whereas some methods use relatively slow brush/pen strokes that are painstakingly applied, reapplied, examined, darkened, corrected, etc.,  syrups are applied and partially brushed-out, and gravity does a lot of the remaining work.  However, additional layers may be applied, if desired.

3) Syrups, coconut oil, and cocoa butter are easy on the skin compared to some painting materials.

4) They are very forgiving of skin aberrations compared to many other methods.  Syrup will cover stretch marks, fine hair, some other hair, birthmarks, vitiligo, tattoos, and even some body jewelry.

5) There is no requirement to shave everywhere.  A model merely needs to have short, thin-ish body hair.

6) For a model who possesses a body that should be in a museum of art, but who doesn't want to do a nude, her natural shape is unquestionably revealed (excepting my minor edits) with syrups; without the minor details we associate with nudity, such as skin texture (see above pic).  Most other technique don't do as well.

7) Syrup always washes off easily with water.

I have some VERY different techniques, but the following instructions generally apply:

Syrups - The day before the shoot:

• Cut any body hair below the neck to about the width of your thumb (when straightened).

Note that shaving is not required.

Syrups - The day of the shoot:

•  

• Clip hair up off the shoulders
• Wash skin  thoroughly with soap/shampoo.  The idea is to remove all oils and makeup residues from neck down.
• Deodorant/antiperspirant may be applied sparingly, and you may bring some with you.
• Dress normally.
• A robe will be useless unless we are shooting things besides bodypaint as well.
• You may bring a pair of flip-flops.
• Do facial makeup or bring makeup for face as directed.
• Arrive hydrated, but limit liquid intake starting about two hours before arrival.