To Body Paint
or not to Body Paint, that is the question?
by Gary Cole
|
|
Subscribe to facepainthq | |
| Browse Archives at groups.google.com | ||
If you want to join the world's largest e-mail discussion list for face painters then enter your e-mail address in the box to the left. Get connected to beginner and professional face painters from all around the world. Ask literally any face painting question you want and get real answers to help you progress as a face painter. It is free and you will receive tips on how to paint a particular face, how to stop the line when its time to go home or how to build a successful face painting business. Share your photos with others or if you have a need ask for help and the painters will e-mail you a face painting idea for your upcoming event.
At FABAIC 2012 (the world's largest learning opportunity
for face and body painters) I was once again asked my personal perspective on
body painting as a participant or nonparticipant as a conservative Christian
that is very much involved in this industry. This is a theme often asked of me
both publicly and privately. I thought I would take the time to put it down in
writing once and for all to be published to a formal FAQ to those that seek a
conservative's perspective. This isn't an issue of religion but a perspective as
a professional, that happens to be conservative in this industry.
No doubt body painting is very mainstream in the face
painting world. It is wildly accepted as a creative art form. Just attend any of
the major conventions and you will find it actively being done or even
instructed. The objective is not to tell people to take part in this art form
and it certainly isn't to encourage folks to join in. This is to perhaps open
folks minds to an alternative approach. In the end, only you can decide if you
wish to participate to not.
Now those that actually know me, know that for being a
conservative, I am more open minded than most. For me it is simply an issue of
free agency. I'm not nieve and in my opinion certainly not prudish on this
topic. If you disagree, then that is your right. I am well traveled and have
visited art museums from Sao Paulo, Brazil to Paris, France. You simply cannot
go in and see classical art without seeing nudes aplenty. I don't think anyone
would challenge the fact that nudes have been part of art for long before any of
us have been around. I don't question that the painted body partially or fully
nude is noted by most as an art form. The reality is for one it is perceived as
brilliant art and to another it is perceived as porn. Some of this comes from
where you live in the world, how you were raised, social norms and even your
religious background. This might even fluctuate as you mature or start to have
older children of your own.
I've been to more face painting conventions than
literally anyone I know. With this I have seen more than my share of body
painting. Some of these artists are extremely talented. Some of my personal
favorite body painters are Pashur, Vargas and Mark Reid. I would challenge that
even they have lines in the sand where body painting moves from an art form to
eroticism. It might vary by person but there is still a standard. Most
conventions even define standards for body painting competitions. In one it is
required you paint over a cotton bra and cotton panties on a female. Others
require nipple covers and a thong. Another allows a totally uncovered body but
that is usually more the standard in Europe. The point is, even in this
industry, there are different viewpoints in regards to acceptable body painting
standards.
I know some that are extremely comfortable with this life
form to the point that mothers might paint their own adult daughters
nude, or very close to it and think nothing of it past that of art. If
that is their choice then that is their right. Legally, there are even
boundaries. I assure you if one painted a minor that was nude and photos were
taken at a convention, those photos could very well get them to multiple years
behind prison walls and a permanent mark on their record as a child molester
even if you are painting your own child. The U.S. law is pretty clear on
defining legal boundaries. Every convention that I am aware of demands that the
models that are body painted be legal adults (as they should).
So how does this apply to me and my perspective on how I
handle this? I personally do not body paint as a practice. I see it from my
personal moral standard and my expectations for my own children. I have six
children of my own. At the time of this printing I have daughters 31 and 29 and
also sons at 26, 21, 17 and 13. While I openly admit that I am far from being
the perfect parent I do try to be an example for my children. I also admit that
we all are hypocrites at some level as we often don't live up to our own
standards. With this said, I try to be the example. How logical is it for me to
suggest to my four sons to avoid porn as found in adult men magazines, in movies
or on the internet and in the same vain have me as an adult paint the body of a
nude 21 year old female model? I see it that if I would feel awkward to do such
in the presence of my wife or children then it is simply something I should
personally avoid. It is a boundary that I personally do not wish to cross. My
suggestion is if you would feel hypocritical to do this form of art in front of
your family or your peers outside the face painting world, then you should avoid
this art form.
I suppose my whole point in this FAQ is to boldly state
that because others body paint or don't body paint, that alone should not be
pressure for you. Simply ask yourself what YOUR STANDARD IS and then stick to
that standard. When you do this you can be comfortable with the person looking
you in the mirror, your peers and your family. Bottom line is you do what your
heart truly tells you to do. As for me, I'll abstain.
Gary Cole