Body Artists Compete on Syfy's Face Off

So the trailers are out for the Syfy Channel's hit show Face Off. The show follows FX makeup artists as the compete to win the ultimate face off in special effects.  Since the shoes inception last year when I am out working people ask oh do you know that show, or you should be on.... Well yes I know and love this show and no I should not be on Face Off. While I am well versed in the basics of FX makeup and can hold my own, and even teach classes on how to create basic effects and on prodcuts use, I am not up to pare with many a talented FX Makeup Artist. But some of my dear friends are!

The second season of Face Off airs January 11th and boasts 13 talents, artists with skills in make-up, and according to Syfy it will include a wide range of skill sets including prosthetics, 3-D design, sculpting, eye enhancers, casting and molding. Each episode involves incredible reveals of the competitors' finished work, and the drama (ahhh the drama, ya know you wath for the drama as well as the cool FX outcomes). And of course of one contestant each show is sent home by the panel of expert and celebrity judges.

Frankly, if you can handle the drama the judges alone make being a participant worth it.Syfy has  three-time Academy Award winner Ve Neill (Pirates of the Caribbean, Edward Scissorhands) and Hollywood veterans Glenn Hetrick (Heroes, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, The X-Files) and Patrick Tatopoulos (Underworld, Independence Day, Resident Evil: Extinction) as Face Off's judges. And that no small potatoes folks!

So who did handle the heat. Two friends, body artists Nix Herrea and Athena Zhe. Both are young talented artists, both are full of character and neither is too hard on the eyes. It's true these two are just too darn attractive! Go to the Syfy channel and read their bios.

 I will tell you about Nix and then blog about Athena in a day or two.

The first time I met Nix I was co-prodcuing the US Body Painting Festival and He was heading to Japan. I wanted in to make a stop at our event. I had at midnight let a well known, highly talented, face painter, who after having tipped a few, paint my face. I can not name her here as she and I both know any photos I am saving to blackmail her with and then retire on those funds! Just our little joke. I had on face paint that looked like I was a drunken, drag queen involved in a hit and run. I was talking about with Nix and he is there just as sweet as he really is and a real pro - staightfaced.  Suddenly I realize! Oh my face I not and Nix just bust out laughing. We have been friends ever since. I tryuely love this man. I have loved seeing him grow and cultivate his skills to produce some of the most stunning body painting images on the planet.

Here are a few of his older works I really love.

This was the first thing I ever saw of Nix work live and in person. He called me in to the photography studio at Face And Body Art International Convention where we first met, He had painted, with the amazing Kurt Drake of Wolfe FX, in UV makeup, And here Nix had these 3-D glasses. So here we are a large handful of us in this not so big hotel meeting space standing in the darkened room, UV lights glowing and we are all ahhhhhhhing over what we saw. Trust me when I say the picture here, while very fine, was nothing like seeing this artwork in that room. Even more awe (and for me) inspiring it Nix's noting this was his first UV body art.

Body Art By Nix, assisted by Kurt Drake and Brian Wolfe (master painters by there own rights) Photography by Rich Johnson and model here is Kelly White .

The first time I saw this -wow, I was so taken. Still am.
Body Art by Nix, Face Paint by Jillian H, Model by Defenz Mechanizm and Photography by Warren Products / Warren Bradford Whitmore.
 

OK one more I really love. Saw this as I too was dabbling in gold. Lovely.
This was painted at another Face And Body Art Convention.
Body Art by Nix, Photography by Shay, I do not know the model, but I check on this,

Wow right!  See more of Nix work at http://www.modelmayhem.com/701794.
Nix Body Art is for hire.

Nix seen here on Syfy also has a signature airbrush makeup and stencil line, See those at The Painted Navel Extreme Makeup FX.



Ok next post is about  Athena Zhe.

Teri Wyble Body Painting's Top World Model

Teri Wyble for the USA has been named the top model of the World Body Painting Festival 2010.
She really is a great model understanding how to show, pose and "wear" body painting.  In the words of the WBPF "What would be the photo without the expression of the model.  That's why each year we award the "Bodypainting Model of the Year".  The award goes to the model, that expresses and represents the bodypainting artwork the best".

Certainly Teri is doing something right,  in 2009 Teri was the model in the photograph judges gave special recognition to (scroll down to see that image and read about the award of 2009). She has the smile of an angel person, a very sweet person.  I am delighted she has been given this honor.  Here's Teri is in a photograph by Micheal Genswaider and body painting art by Julie Fuselier & Lorie Hamel.

 

A simply beautiful example of the marriage of arts in body painting - fantastic modeling, great photograph and amazing body painting artwork.

Brian Wolfe - Monster Maker and Dad

I noted for some time I'd get back to this blog as I do so love sharing body painting with the world - save the creeps that steal my posts. Oh well.  I promised too I  would start with my friend Brian Wolfe as he had just been in my area and we arranged a great class and sharing time with a handful of northern california painters. Well....... He was back. So at least I am on this...................

When I think Of Brian - I do indeed think master Monster Maker and Dad.  Now Brian is talented in the use of special effects makeup - but I tend to think of him first as a face and body artist, then as one who also works in special effects.  Brian works as a solo artist but is best known for working as part of a team with his twin brother an equally talented artist Nick Wolf.  As an artist Brian's work has been featured in the most popular face and body painting magazines such as the current publication Illusion, and in face painting training books by the Wolfe FX and Face Art company, Diamond FX company and Impact. Good additions to every painters library.

And secondly I think of Brian as a Dad. He is a devoted husband and father.  And that solid home front is something he readily makes note of, it clear how important that is to him.  His family can be found at his side in full face and body paint.

As a body painter Brian stays true to his Monster maker roots. His works are filled with vivid colors and his works most often have just that edge of creepyness to them - or are just downright creepy. Always they are artwork that make you look twice.  Here are some shots I took when he was here last month.

Winners of 2010 World Body Painting Festival Anncounced

What a delight to see the amazing artworks coming from Austria as the 2010 World Body Painting Festival comes to and end.  And as I take delight in friends who have made wonderful rankings and wins I have a heavy heart from friends who have ranked lower than they hoped and worked for.

No matter where one placed the artists have created amazing artworks and all are simply amazing to behold.

• Category Brush/Sponge:

1) Lucie Brouillard / Canada
2) Fray Scott & Madelyn Greco / USA
3) Utting Carly & DominicSkinner / England

• Category Airbrush:

1) Kris Bülow / Deutschland & Patrick McCann / USA
2) Chris OBSN Oberheber / Österreich & Mike Shane / Luxembourg
3) Flavio Bosco  & Franco Vanzani / Italy

• Category Special Effects Bodpainting:

1) Bartram Yolanda / New Zealand  & Alex Hansen / Brazil
2) Ludwig Decarli / Austria
3) Lorie Hamel / USA & Julie A. Fusilier / Canada

• Category UV Effects

1) United Colours - Petra Tronser / Germany & Fredi Schmid / Switzerland
2) Anna Pogodzinska / Poland
3) Harald & Jaqueline Wolf / Germany

• Category Facepainting

1) Millot Lymari / Mexico
2) Lucie Brouillard / Canada
3) Viktoria  Schablinger / Austria

Here are just a few more pictures enjoy.

Awaiting The Winners of The World Body Painting Festival Competition

Everyone is waiting as the winners are soon to be posted for the 2010 World Body Painting Festival Competition.

Here is a photo by Ulf Schering airbrush painted by the every sweet and wonderful Lillian Hopman from Holland. I miss you Lilliana.  And one in classic brush by Brian Wolfe - see you soon Brian.

Please go to the World Body Painting Festival Official Pictures and enjoy the photgraphs taken by Ulf Scherling.

http://eviltwinfx.com

Update on 2010 International Body Painting Art Festivals & Gatherings

I have updated the links on the many Festivals and Gathering of body painting artists for 2010. There are a few events which do have body painting but whose focus is much more about face art, those are not linked here. There are a few smaller events and I will continue to add them here - but for now I have listed the major happenings where  body artists can commune and spectators may see and experience body painting at it's best.

Ok So What Happened In Vegas?

I know your wondering....... gee Sweet Loretta what happened at the North American Body
Painting Championships? All I can say is what happens in vegas, stays........ Ok it really does end up on Facebook and Myspace!

I'll have to take my friend Craig's advise and "grow an ego" meaning I'll just have to get serious! However, I was not into painting that weekend, my heart was with my friends but not in my art - so I went and did my best to hold up the very bottom of the pack. If only the had been giving a finger painting award.......hey wait I do recall an abstract artist using real professional body makeup for the first time making it into the finals. I was the only artist competing who I heard say they liked the artwork... but see, so did the judges. Thankfully we do not all paint the same... now would that not just be so boring?

I was happy to see Scott Fray with his sidekick Foxy Moxy there. His work has a simplicity and to it, Craig Tracy called it tribal - not sure I can label it but it speaks to my soul. I really liked Sandra Gariby prelim artwork - very urban and very fresh - I knew her originality would place her into the finals. Of course there was so much more I loved. As in Austria more paintings in the finals there branding themselves - barf - love my friends hate it when they use this type of platform to brand themselves. Keep that at home for the marketing campaign - we get it! Give us your real art. I mean if you can only get photos here - then your not really doing enough body painting. Not all who paint bodies are body painters.........

I will say it was rockn' fun to see so much kindered talent in one place - as always a great group of amazing artists, seasoned and rising talents.

In all it was certainly a first event, some broken rules and a lack of follow through by the organizers, and as noted in another blog as there are politics in painting, no one wants to scold aloud a top talent, or point out that some noted ranking high again celebrity's again isn't really better than some one who ranked in the middle or that a new look albeit new - isn't necessarily good.
Ah art is indeed subjective - if you compete you must trust the judges and let it go, and if you grumble be willing to do so aloud. If you stay silent, improvements can not be made and we all lose. Growing an art form take - of god will I write it ... ok it takes a tribe. Be part of it in full it you really want to evolve... but I digress
..... and there were established painters who we don't normally see, who came out simply because there was a cash prize..... we all like money.....

in all it was simply a very good and wonderful event.

I've seen a few AP type blogs and photos around - but no better pictures than my friends and fellow artist Robbie Hay took of the finals on stage - I'll have to get those, but alas she is a bit computer naive and can't seem to figure it all out. I love her.

I will say the photographers did not show up and they - you guys really missed out!

Great art - my crummy pics - I always get to wrapped up to take photos! and I was dummping about 8,000 yes 8,000 face and body pics off my two computers and lost a few of these - but enjoy.