Archive for July, 2009
The Checklist (yes, it deserves the capital letters)
Posted on Jul 31, 2009 07:41:00 PM
Want to see the list of stuff I took to the Body Art Awards? It’s insane. I only drive a Toyota Echo (seen here actual size). Here it is. You’ll just have to believe me when I say there were only about 3 things on it I didn’t use, and I still missed some things.
Area Setup
Table
Chair
Stool
Cushion
Oil Fin Heater
4way plug box
Hairdryer
Extension Cord
Camera
Bucket
Water spray bottle
Design Book
Drinking water bottles x3
soft drinks x2 and plastic cups
chocolate or biscuits, apples
Hair
Wig
hair net
elastics
hair brush
gel and hair spray
Costume
Veil
Train
fan
nail polish or false nails
false eyelashes
body glue
jewels
Face Paint Kit – check it contains,
Wolfe Black, Wolfe White, Kryolan Large Red, Diamond FX Palette, Kryolan
Palette, Ben Nye Palette, Kryolan small black, red, white, starblend
powder White, starblend powder red
sponges, dagger brush x 2, 1in brush x2, size 5 and 3 round brushes,
size 10 filbert, size 2 filbert, large body brush, powder application
brushes, water pot, gold, blue and red glitter
Wipes, lots!
Cotton Buds
Things you might want to know before you enter a Body Art Competition
Posted on Jul 30, 2009 09:40:00 PM
With my now grand total of one competition under my belt, I thought I would make a list of the things I want to remember for next time. Some of these are things I was told beforehand, but most of them I figured
out on the day. Some of them I really, really wish someone had told me beforehand! So then I thought, why not put it here where you might find them useful.
1. Slippers are essential! Our backstage area was concrete covered in plastic wrap. No matter how warm the room is, if your model’s feet are cold, (s)he will be cold. Also, hard floors start to hurt after a while. Take nice soft, padded warm slippers with you. Your model will thank you.
2. An extra chair can come in very handy. I have a folding one that takes up no room at all.
3. Tissues, baby wipes, cotton buds. All three of these are absolutely necessary. Don’t think you can leave one at home and be ok. 
4. Absolutely everything you take will end up covered in paint. Chairs, cushions, slippers, robes, towels, you, your assistant, everything.
5. Robes are good (that’s what I took). Sarongs are better, they can be wrapped around any part of the body and they are lighter and easy to wear without smudging too much of your work. Polar fleece blankets are
best of all. Perhaps take all three. You just never know what the room will be like. The room we were in was unevenly heated. My model was freezing and less than 3 meters away another girl nearly passed out from the heat.
6. Oh, on the note of fainting. Right before you faint or throw up, your body sweats, all over. As you can probably imagine, this is an absolute disaster if you are body painting. So that leads on to …
7. Look after your model. Do the best you can to make sure they aren’t freezing or roasting. Make them move, eat and drink regularly. Take chocolate! Do not put them in something they cannot eat or drink in. If
you have a prosthetic glued-on type of mask and it doesn’t have a hinged jaw or a wide enough gap for them to poke a drink bottle or a cracker in then shame on you! They will have to wear it for hours and hours. If
they get faint and sweaty and ruin your entire piece it will be your fault.
8. Take a great assistant. Someone who won’t mind being sent on errands for food/ water/ coffee. Who is willing to figure out how to do new things. Someone who will say things like “It’s ok, <insert name here> 
you’re going to be fine.” and will keep you from panicking when you’re suddenly convinced that there’s no way you’re going to finish in time. My assistant was all these things and more. No, you can’t have her.
9. And finally, try to remember to have fun. You entered because you love body art, right?
How it feels to win a prize
Posted on Jul 27, 2009 02:38:00 AM
Absolutely marvellous!
Wow, I’m exhausted. The New Zealand Body Art Awards were last night and I spent 15 hours there, 8 of them solidly body painting. I’m told it was a beautiful, sunny winter day, but I wouldn’t know. I spent the entire thing locked in a dungeon. Their words, not mine. The prep room was underneath the stage, usually used for set and prop storage, I suspect.
This, as previously noted, was the first time I had ever painted a whole human being. I got SECOND PLACE in my category, which was Hand Painted Novice. I’m so very, very proud and happy! When they told me I was a finalist I actually jumped up and down, in spite of being nearly dead of stress.
I have to say a huge thank you to two people, my model and my assistant on the day. Thanks Haylee and Anna, I could not have done without you! You were both amazing.
Here are some links to photos from the official photographer. I prefer them to mine because mine were taken backstage and have fire hydrants and paint pots in them. The links are a little strange. It loads up a whole page of thumbnails and THEN clears them all and takes you to my photo. Very odd, but never mind. While you’re there, have a look around at some of the stunning body art talent we have in this country!
Oh, and this is me, going onstage to collect my award! Take a look, because I don’t take many photos of me. 
Anyway, I’m sure I have lots to say. I know I do, but I’m still a zombie, so I shall leave all that for tomorrow or so. Have a good evening and thanks for having a look.
/gibber /whimper
Posted on Jul 24, 2009 02:37:00 AM
Whose brilliant idea was this? I’m even dreaming about it now. Well,
having nightmares anyway. I figure I must have dreamed every possible
thing that could go wrong last night.
Which is good right? Now I’ve thought of them, I can prevent them.
What to do after you enter a Body Painting Competition
Posted on Jul 23, 2009 07:36:00 PM
Preparation is everything. Unfortunately, the NZBAA is in two days and
I’m SO not ready!
Actually, I’m sure that I am, that’s just nerves talking.
So, here’s a couple of things I’ve found out just by entering a body
painting competition…
Concept – come up with one that makes you happy, you are going to have
to spend a lot of hours thinking about it! But stay within the theme if
there is one. Why shoot yourself in the foot by ignoring the theme?
The theme for the Awards this year is Fantasia Asia (same as the
facepainting). This makes me happy because my favourite creatures are
dragons and phoenixes and together they are the symbol for a happy
marriage in China. So the concept for my entry is a bride. The Emperor’s
New Bride, in fact. I linked East to West by using the fairytale “The
Emperor’s New Clothes”. My bride will be wearing such “fine” fabrics
that they can only be seen by truly intelligent people. Isn’t it lucky
that the audience will be made up of such people?
Test your colour scheme – I had it in my head that I’d paint blue
flowers. Unfortunately, the blue I liked did not stand out against the
red background I was set on. Strange but true. So began a long process
of trialling different colours of flowers to find ones that did. You
won’t believe the colour combo that worked best. I sure didn’t. But
you’ll have to wait until after to see it. Only 2 days.
Practice at least all the pieces separately – I haven’t had a complete
run through. Neither my model nor myself could find the time. I have
body painted all of the separate bits, either on my model, or on my own
arms and legs. I’ll be honest, I still don’t really feel that confident
about putting it all together. Perhaps this section should actually be
“have a complete run through”. But since I didn’t, I’m only 80%
convinced it’s necessary. Tell you after.
Props – have them. If nothing else, they give your model something to
work with on stage. But check out your performance space too. The 4
meter train I wanted will not work out. At the model rehearsal last
night I found out that the runway part of the stage is much, much
smaller than last year. Last year there was a 30mtr catwalk and it would
have looked amazing. This is a smaller stage. So I have chopped the
train to just over 2m. I still think it looks great and it will be
easier for my model to manage.
OK. My model is ready, my assistant is over the flu and I have to try to
sleep! Everything will be fine…