Living in a bubble face & body art

Toxic Larimar

2018-09-10T15:54:00.000-07:00

Earlier this year, I took part in a Body painting jam titled Sirens of the Sea, where alongside other painters all sorts of transformations took place based on the sea theme, good and evil Sirens, sea urchins and the sort were created. My creature, Toxic Larimar, based on the current crisis the seas face, still hopes to reflect the enigmatic and stunning nature of it. The oceans face now threats from all directions, from overfishing, to plastic pollution, radioactivity and contamination. But according to recent studies, the biggest threat comes from acidification caused by global warming See Guardian Article.

Yet the oceans stand great, mysterious, powerful and, in many places still cleansing.

Thanks to Mark Pickthall for such awesome pictures again.

Murcielago de colores

2018-04-29T16:44:00.001-07:00

I've started the year challenging my self to some body-painting by attending Glastonbury Body art Weekend, the theme was mythical creatures. In the search to find some latin-american flavour that would inspire me, I came across the Mexican tale of the Multicoloured bat, Murcielago de colores, Who blinded by vanity looses all borrowed feathers to then vanish into the darkness.
I found my self surrounded by incredible talent, from artists, models and Photographers. And we all fell once again under the spell. If just for one day u can be transformed or trabsform someone, head to toes into anything completely otherworldly, why wouldn't you? How much does it matter how many paints, synthetics, cosmetics or glitters it takes? Is it ok in the name of art, beauty and inspiration?
We can all make choices, and we can all make up excuses too for the choices we make. Although the scope of imagination can easily exceed the limits of politically correct, eco-friendly ideal, striking for a good balance is something I admire in other artists and strive for in my practice.
This being my first event of this sort, I was pleased to discover that sense of awe, that amazing acceptance of the body as a perfect canvas regardless of age, shape race or gender. In particular, strong confident graceful women, going all out to represent our art and walk painted on the Streets of Glastonbury... in January.
Thanks to all the awesome artists, organisers, model and photographers. Extra thanks to Tony Cooney for these awesome pictures :)

Theatrical makeup, body painting and SFx

2017-12-06T16:43:00.001-08:00

Well, 2017 is coming to an end, and it's been an amazing year of growth and changes for me, Since last i posted i decided to further my studies to gain some more confidence in the field of face and body painting, theatrical Make up and Special effects. I have loved theatre since i can remember, hence my interest in masks and face painting, something about that transformation and how it can transport you to other realms of imagination. It was time for me to further my studies, within possible and acquire some new skills, and upgrade some old. It's been difficult as the course i embarked on had a huge amount of content to squeeze in a spall amount of time, and, as it happens, it opened up a whole world of possibilities for further development that right now seem out of my reach due to technologies that cant be found where i live.
Never the less, i would like to share with you some of the work that I did.

My first body paint was a mission as my ambitions exceeded the amount of time I had, however I put great deal of thought, placing prosthetics, bald-caps and props within the American indigenous theme, trying to highlight a different perspective on native Americans, as people from the entire continent, bring them some sense of superhero, as after all they have endured a great deal. Now all we have is what's rescued of their traditions, fractions of their wisdom that we must treasure at all costs and protect, as they highlight the protection of the entire planet.

The futuristic themed body-painting took me on a journey on what I would like for the future, hence moving away from grey/silver robotic compositions, to a more green, grounded futurism, where style, technology and nature can all coexist.

The other images I am sharing were other creative challenges. Having finished a few months ago now, I am already feeling the benefits of having done this, so if you got a transformation in mind, theatrical, fancy dress, photoshoot, in Bristol or it's surroundings, I want to help you!

2015-09-18T16:59:00.001-07:00

I've been doing some collaboration work with Photographer Julia Shiva and Model Kelly Wolf last month, exploring the Shaman theme, fully in touch with nature, its elements and that ancestral wisdom. It is my current theme of work also relating it to the previous body painting image. In this case face painting was in focus altho i did add detail to the arms. These images to me talk about our vulnerability and our strength as well as our boundaries, what we are willing to tolerate and what we need to fight for. Something simple or broad like the order of our lives, or the limits of your patience or the confidence of our selves or the compassion in our hearts.

Owl skull

2015-04-13T13:37:00.000-07:00

Today I had the delight of doing some body painting on something I have been working for a while, looking into lost wisdom of our ancestors, and how it can be rescued and treasured. Can it?
Depicted is an owl skull ready to fly into this new landscape, changed by civilization... It will never be what it once was, only its memory can keep it alive. Yet beauty and hope prevail. Thank you Pearl Boheme for your help and inspiration.

2014-11-10T07:55:00.000-08:00

What an honor to get to paint a pregnant belly!!! Some times called Gestational art, some times belly blessing... it is a great way to remember a beautiful time, full of expectation and belly pride. A time to tune in, to relax and to get some pictures of the moment before its too late.
I am happy to be part of this and make it happen. Whether you have a specific idea or just a couple of thoughts or whether you want me to totally make it up, count me in! It can take around 1 to 2 hours plus time for photographs, and day time light works way best but i ca work under other conditions too. Prices vary on location and I recommend wait till you are 8 months pregnant for a good record. Looking forward to meeting this little girl soon :) Have a look under Gestational on the Facepainting gallery of my site for more examples.

Body Painting!

2014-05-06T07:07:00.000-07:00

Looking forward to doing more body-painting this year :)

2013-12-06T06:02:00.002-08:00

For the past couple of years my busiest time has been around Halloween, but i've had the joy of joining Expressarte team for a proper Dia de los muertos mexican style.
I am now left wishing to one day go to Mexico that time of the year and join in the celebration.

The face-painting, known here as sugar skull, is called La Calavera Catrina and it is inspired by etchings from 1910-1913 by mexican artist Jose Guadalupe Posada. In the recent years it has become increasingly popular and I dare say the work of Silvia Ji might have something to do with this.

Sugar skulls are actually made of sugar and traditionally decorated to be placed in the altar where ancestors and loved ones who have passed on are honored (some do eat the skulls afterwards).
Good mexican food, Pan de Muerto ( far too sweet for me) and some good mexican tunes old and new make this celebration pretty awesome. Top it up with performers, live bands and a mexican horror film and it cant get any better IMO.

This year's Catrina marathon of 4 days and 2 night certainly left me thinking a bit on death; that inevitable destiny that unites us all, no matter what class, religion, race, gender, age, nationality or even species we identify our selves as. I think its important to celebrate the certainty of it, her lack of fear or discrimination and with this her beauty. Next year Mr Mandela will be high on the altar of many, definitely in mine. La muerte...may she give him restful peace and may humanity never forget his shine.

Special thanks to Expressarte, Movimientos latinos and the wonderful photographers Roger Alarcon and Ingrid Guyon

Hello blogger world

2013-12-02T06:33:00.001-08:00

As a child, once I queued for a long while to get a butterfly on my face, i didn't like it :( Now I am happier painting whatever else on people's faces, making sure if its a patient child that they get what they want. Now I am expanding to other parts of the body, tho paper, board, canvas & other media some times get my attention too. I am also a mask maker, and occasional performer.

I am happily relocated in Bristol... may the face-painting continue!! Got a few other projects brewing but more on that later...