Body painting can be considered to be the most ancient form of art. Unlike tattooing and other forms of body art, body painting is temporary, painted onto the human skin, and lasts for only several hours, or at most (in the case of Mehndi or "henna tattoo"), a couple of weeks. A painting that is confined to the face is known as face painting and large scale or full-body painting is more commonly referred to as body painting while smaller or more detailed work is generally referred to as temporary tattoos.
| Ling Shirley from the Secretarial Department in the Head Office is our very own body painting artist. Here, she shares with us her passion for the art and some of her creative works.
"I like drawing although I am not very good at it but I love colours and enjoy playing with various colour combinations. Colours are very therapeutic. I like to experiment using different colours as I can express my creativity and feelings through them. It is very relaxing to watch the different hues of colours blended by the brush strokes.
Due to my keen interest in colours, I signed up for a professional makeup course. I didn’t expect it to come with a session in body painting.
Body painting is easy to pick up, even for those who are not good in art. A basic course takes about three days where the instructors share their knowledge and tips on special techniques. The course is not confined to body painting alone but also nail painting and temporary hair colouring as well as painting on different surfaces such as fabrics, wood, glass, porcelain etc.
There are two types of colours used in body painting; water based and oil based. The water based is easily washable while the oil based is longer lasting and removable only with oil. These colours have gone through toxicological assessment and are safe to use, even on a baby’s skin. A starter kit comprising a few bottles of basic colours and a set of brushes cost about RM1,000.
To me, body painting not only gives me the satisfaction to pursue my interest and unleash my creativity but also enables me to earn some extra income. I have received many requests from friends and brides who wish to look different and special on their big day. I charge a nominal fee of between RM30 to RM150 depending on the design and size. For a simple design, it takes about a couple of minutes to complete while an elaborate one will take longer. Samples of my works are posted on my facebook, ling_sl@yahoo.com." |