Anyone have any experience with body painting? What might be a good resource for learning, tips, and technique?

I picked up a body paint kit, some body painting crayons, and even some safe washable crayola markers (which I hear work great). I'm looking for tips on skin prep and finishing as well as any suggestions on how to make it look nice.

Air brushing is cost prohibitive and out of the question right now. I just want to get started.

Not sure if this helps or not, but for acting makeup we put on a generous portion of cold cream first (wiping off any excess) and then applying the makeup. This helps the removal process for the makeup so you don't end up scrubbing off multiple layers of skin.

Keep us posted as we want to do some "body" part painting soon and will probably take some nice pics as well.

Speaking of body painting, has anyone here used the liquid latex, and if so what do you have to say about it? Does it come right off like they say it does??

Hi Tigerfly!
I hear that the Latex is pretty fun stuff. But you have to shave everywhere you are going to cover with latex, even in the crease in back of your elbows and behind your knees. Hopefully Plaid will answer in a few, since she has had experience with it. I've only worked with chocolate painting, so I've only licked off body paint. And Oh! How delicious it was!

Hello all! I'm having trouble logging in under my usual account, so snuck in under another one. Yes, Liquid Latex can be fun... but Eddy is right, you must (no really) shave EVERYTHING first.

My friends and I do Liquid Latex every year downtown... different themes different years (Super Heroines, Seasons, Matrix girls this last time), always with great reactions from people. The Matrix painting was full-body, wearing only G-strings and pasties underneath (Brrr for Halloween, can I tell ya?).

The years before I'd only painted on "tops", not on the rest of my body... and had NO IDEA that I've got hair on the back of my knees. I have never cussed so much in my life as when I was trying to take this stuff off later that night. OUCH!

I've heard the cold-cream-first thing, but haven't tried it... and also heard the next day after the "knee waxing" that a hot shower and lots of soapy water will do the trick... but haven't tried it since to be sure.

A few other things to take into consideration:

1) It will take a lot longer than you think it will to put this stuff on. My friends and I ( women) painted just tops (and small ones, at that), solid enough to not see through... at least 6 hours total. Yep, 6 hours. Have a hair dryer ready to speed up the drying process between coats (like regular paint, doing more thinner layers will get you there faster and better).

2) SHAVE SHAVE SHAVE. I'm really, really not kidding.

3) Try putting cold cream on first... can't hurt as bad as not trying it is what I'm thinking.

4) Remember that just because you've painted it doesn't make it clothed (For legal purposes). We've ALMOST gotten arrested a few times (I even over heard one cop to another, "Is that legal?!?" The response? "Barely."). If you cover your nipples with a pastie first (I like the stick on bra stuff, cut into a circle, because it flattens out nicely against your skin), you are in LESS trouble. If you paint your entire breasts (to the curve under your arm), that's another safety step. And have guardians... the general public doesn't handle barely-dressed women well...

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My current addiction? Ben Nye Cake Foundation: http://bennye.com/

The website is a bit lame for info, it's only really to order a catalog... I shop here:
http://www.fantasycostume.net
because they have color samples all on one page.

This stuff, in no uncertain terms, is the shiz-it. It's a cream, but if you add (just few) drops of water, it becomes liquid... which is very easy to paint on with a brush. The white is WHITE (we did Loud Mimes once... don't ask), and the red is RED, I'm tempted to get some more but haven't had a good excuse yet.

I'm not kidding how cool it was... I helped a friend do makeup for a fashion show, and bought hers right then and there, it made me so happy. It seems expensive, but a little goes a long way (I bet you could color more surface area with that foundation than a big jug of Liquid Latex), it feels very light and breathable (have you ever worn grease makeup? I can't think of anything that makes me feel LESS sexy).

AND taking it off is as easy as adding water. Really.

I've done some crazy face stuff (see Loud Mimes of before) but haven't tried it for all-over painting... but I bet it would be great.

It's late and I'm babbling, but I think that's more than anyone ever wanted to know about body painting (but were afraid to ask).

Oh, and my nick name is Plaid, by the way... (even longer story), though Eddy has never called me that before...

Jenn

I'll give you an excuse - if I see you before the baby's born, you can paint my belly!!!

Miss you, Jenn... so happy to see you around!
~Ang

hmm, thanks for the info. I've never really had a reason to buy the stuff other than personal home use. Thanks for the tip on the legal thing - I wouldn't have thought about that. Never would have thought about shaving everywhere it touched either. Thanks!

My wife and I tried Liquid Latex once. It was a cool idea but it is very messy and REALLY REALLY stinks. When we tried it out, it ran on to the sheets (instant stain) tried to dab it with a towel (more stains) and the odor of it was so strong my wife was sick to her stomach after about 5-10 minutes. We didn't wait for it to dry, it just wasn't worth it anymore.

Aww, c'mon now hubby, you couldn't see liquid plastic and think it might make a mess?! LOL, you just gotta do like when you get crazy with food. Put a drop cloth down and then go to town.

In a Homer Simpson beer voice.

"Drop Cloth!"

Still I didn't think the smell was that bad.