Lions And Tigers And Buttocks, Oh My! Body Painting By Craig Tracy

Along with the likes of Joanne Gair, Emma Hack, Verushka, Guido Daniele and M.A.C. make-up body artists I have featured, Craig Tracy is another individual who creates art with body paints on the human form.



Born and raised in New Orleans, Craig Tracy, shown working above, first started body painting in 2002 and opened his Louisiana gallery, Painted Alive Bodypainting, in early 2006.

Using a traditional paintbrush, an airbrush, sponges and finger-painting, Tracy's body paintings each take approximately one full day to complete. He uses a different model's body (and in some cases, multiple models) for each image.


above: " Toes" by Craig Tracy

His work has been used in several ads and other commercial applications. Being from New Orleans, it's not surprising that he has many jazz related images, but my favorites, without a doubt, are his nature and animal works.


above: "Elements" by Craig Tracy

The images of his work in this post are actual photos of body art in which Photoshop was NOT used.

Eminence (Lion):

the process:


Tiger (on breast):

the process:


Twee Fwog (his title, not mine):

The process:


Shelter (Elephant):

the process:


"O":

before and during:


South Side:

the process:


Koi:

the process:


Inferno:


Inclement:


His stunning illusory image of a tiger was created with three models to increase awareness and benefit a cause that is near to the heart of the artist:


Tigers have always been his favorite animal and when asked to aid in the effort to protect, repopulate and re-wild this the most endangered tiger in the world, Craig immediately said yes. "Only 100 South China Tigers are reported to remain alive and if my body painting can help increase that number by one then I'll have lived with purpose." states the artist.

the process:

Craig with the final work:




Please visit http://english.savechinastigers.org/ and help support this effort if you can.

See much more of his work here.
©2009 Craig Tracy, Painted Alive Bodypainting Gallery, All Rights Reserved.
827 Royal Street, New Orleans LA 70116.

The Tramp Stamp Goes Upscale With CHANEL Temporary Tattoos

With the body art craze continuing to grow, it's no surprise that a luxury brand would capitalize on the trend. And it seems that french brand CHANEL is the first to market luxury temporary rub-on tattoos, LES TROMPE-L'OEIL DE CHANEL.




In the Chanel Spring-Summer 2010 Fashion Show in Paris, the models were not only sporting fashionable fabrics, but a series of temporary tattoos designed and applied by Peter Philips, the Global Creative Director for CHANEL makeup.

Chanel CD Peter Philips applying the body art:





They are now selling the fifty-five exclusive temporary tattoos, originally hand-drawn by Peter Philips. Artful images of CHANEL symbols and icons, including Oriental cherry blossoms, bejeweled Swallows, Chanel's double CC logo, strands of pearls, link chains and toggle clasps have been turned into rub-on body art. They add visual trompe l'oeil jewelry to the body in the form of classic ornamentation.



necklaces and leg art:


bracelets:



Yes, you can buy them.


Created as a special limited edition, the set of 55 of the applicable body art is now available for purchase from Chanel boutiques ($75), online stores and at Selfridges. They only take 30 seconds to apply and last a few days.
Buy them here.

images courtesy of Chanel,the Daily Mail, LA Story and Luxuo

More Stunning Body Painting: The M.A.C. Chinese Dress Exhibit

Body painting, body art or body makeup applied in a trompe l'oeil fashion on a naked or barely clad body never seems to grow tiresome . So, after sharing some of the amazing works by Emma Hack, Veruschka, Guido Daniele, and Temptu Paints with you, here's some beautiful body art of a different flavor.



For the opening of the M.A.C. cosmetic boutique in Shanghai a few years ago, talented make-up artists painted the bodies of models in the traditional 17th century Chinese dress referred to as Qi Pao or Cheong Sam. The event in Shanghai was called The Body Painting Cheong-sam Spectacular. Then the show appeared in February 2006 to simultaneously celebrate the Chinese new Year and kick off Olympus Fashion Week. Following that, it came to the United States to tour various Nordstroms, where it was called Chinese Dress.



Body painting is considered the haute couture of cosmetics. It combines the meticulous artistry of an oil painter with the special expertise of a makeup artist who understands how to paint human skin, said James Gager, the creative director of M.A.C.

The practice dates from ancient Egypt, when henna was the paint of choice, and has been practiced for centuries on clowns, mimes, opera singers and actors. It's now become very popular for the technique to be used in advertisements and magazine editorials and covers (who could forget that Demi Moore Vanity Fair cover? shown below)


above: Body makeup for Demi Moore's Vanity Fair cover by Joanne Gair

"Body painting is like a puzzle you are trying to work out on the human form," said Patrick Eichler, a senior makeup artist at MAC who led the team creating the peony qi pao, also known as a cheon gsam, on Ms. Ge. They practiced on her last week in a dress rehearsal for a body painting exhibition scheduled for tonight, marking the opening of New York Fashion Week. She is to be repainted today and appear with 11 other elaborately painted models in the show called "MAC Chinese Dress."



A few years later, the M.A.C. Cosmetics Chinese Dress Exhibition was shown at Nordstrom in San Francisco’s Westfield Shopping Centre. The body painting included the application of over 10,000 crystals as well. It was such a hit, the exhibition then toured various Nordstrom's in the US.

I have images from the exhibitions in both Shanghai and the US, so you will notice that in some instances of the same design, the models vary as does the body makeup slightly.





DRAGON
Design: Sue Wong; Lead Makeup Artist: Demia Keppel; Makeup Artists: Pam Jacobsen, Christine Biggers, MEgan Sutherland, Elisa Nunez, Sylvia Lee, Hallie Jacinto; Headdress: Stephen Jones


PEONIES
Design:Nadine Luke; Lead Makeup Artists: Glenn Moala, Jenn Karsten; Makeup Artists: Yvette Soares, Ignacio Maciel, Jack Caton, Rachel Ervin; Headdress: Stephen Jones




SUN FLOWER
Design:Nadine Luke; Lead Makeup Artist: Christine Salopek; Makeup Artists: Rosana Vares, Jorge Monroy, Noelle Barce; Headdress: Stephen Jones



LILY PAD
Design:Nadine Luke; Lead Makeup Artist: Victor Cembellin; Makeup Artists: Thang Dao, Shauna Pierce, Jennifer Ledo; Headdress: Stephen Jones



GOLD LEAF
Design:Nadine Luke; Lead Makeup Artist: John Stapleton; Makeup Artists: Janilea Mora, Selena Curry; Headdress: Stephen Jones



BLUE WILLOW
Design:Nadine Luke; Lead Makeup Artist: Louise Zizzo; Makeup Artists: Missy Olson, Kelly McCabe, Stacy Maki; Headdress: Stephen Jones



THE WAVE
Design: Nadine Luke; Lead Makeup Artist: Amna Pervez; Makeup Artists: Casey Wallin, Maranda James; Headdress: Stephen Jones




JUICY COUTURE
Design: Juicy Couture; Lead Makeup Artist: Kris Jorgensen; Makeup Artists: Alecia Littledale, Kimmee Park, Miriam Carvalho, Daniel Belena


THE FAN
Design: Nadine Luke; Lead Makeup Artist: Bryan Campbell; Makeup Artists: Manuel “Monroe” Casado, Melinda Cazarez, Beck Morgan, Nick Fancolli; Headdress: Stephen Jones




CHINESE OPERA
Design: Vivienne Tam; Lead Makeup Artist: China-li Nystrom; Makeup Artists: Melissa Kerekes, Sarah Pugh, Jeff Jarwin, Chase Alvarez, Caline Raab; Headdress: Stephen Jones



Here are some great "behind the scenes" shots of the MAC exhibit to kick off Fashion Week:






above: the talented Nadine Luke who served as the designer on most of the painted dresses in the exhibition.

M-A-C Cosmetics is not the only one to paint traditional Chinese dress on naked bodies, other artists have done the same. Here are a few examples for you:





From the Sony Fair 2006 in Times Square, Causeway Bay, Hong Kong:


Thanks to M.A.C. Cosmetics, China Daily and Xinhaunet.com for the images