Monday, May 24, 2010

Tender Truth-body painting and weekend tidbits

So this weekend was fairly productive.

On Saturday i did another body painting/photo shoot session with a very pregnant woman:

Tender Truth
(body painting and photography by Chelsea Rose
Model: Courtney)


Tender Truth
(body painting and photography by Chelsea Rose
Model: Courtney)

I love doing these body painting sessions in the upper loft of T.Ruth Artspace gallery. Saturday was super stormy. It rained hard for most of the day but Courtney and I were pretty cozy all cooped up and working on making her unique pregnancy portrait pictures a reality.

body painting process
It took most of the day to get the body painting finished.
We started painting around 10:00am and did not finish with it till around 3:30pm.
Its amazing how much i get to know my models during this time period. Courtney felt that while the body painting process is a tedious one...it was a good way of honoring and better understanding how much time and patience there is inherent in genuine creation- such as the creation of a child. Patience, love and righteous intent are key to a healthy creating experience.
This was my second time body painting and photographing a pregnant woman but i have a feeling it will not be the last. It seems pregnant woman have a lot of interest in having their pregnancy documented in a meaningful, unique and heartfelt manner. Courtney said she thinks i should put up fliers at her pregnant yoga class to scare up more interest. I just might do that and see where it takes me!

As far as other art projects go, i am currently a step or two away from finishing a pen and ink illustration i have been working on that is based off a very iconic symbol of prosperity: the Maneki Neko - or the Japanese fortune cat:

...i should be sharing my version sometime this week if i can manage to find the time to put the last finishing touches on my drawing.

....speaking of good fortune and prosperity- I have some great news.I am thrilled to say that my Grandmother who has been fighting lung cancer is in remission! I love you Mom Mom! Now all we have to work on is getting Pop Pop to gain some weight back and we will be in fairly good shape. :)

I am also working on an interesting commission- a coloring book! A dear who is also a friendly blogger and etsy seller had asked that i make a coloring book for her 7 year old daughter's birthday in June. I jumped at the challenge! While i have never done a project quite like this before it sounded rather irresistible. So far i have all the coloring book pages printed out. Now i have to craft the cover and do the binding. I think it might be interesting to use a heavy watercolor paper as the cover and back...and then use a sewing machine to put in some brightly colored stitching as the binding. This is a very experimental project for me- i cant wait to see how it turns out. I will be taking pictures of it to share!

Check out this amazing blog give away that is being hosted by one of my favorite blogs to read! Enter for a chance to win a custom made dread tam by Sand and Sky!

So thats all the tid bits i can muster up for today.
Good tidings and luck with this last week of May.

I do so hope that the rain will let up for Thursday since it will be the big Last Thursday artwalk on Alberta st fair. Seeing that the fair has been rained our for the last two months- we are really crossing our fingers that we will have a dry one, other wise we are going to be getting a super late start at the art vending season.

Much love always!
-Chelsea Rose


9 comments:

  1. I love your body painting, and I can see why it would be a big hit with pregnant women. I wish I had documented and celebrated my pregnant body while I was expecting...

    Do let us know how the coloring book turns out, I bet it will be amazing!

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  2. Oh.My.God. I've seen your amazing stuff but I've NEVER seen that you do this! This is SOO awesome!! Totally sharing this!

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  3. How exciting! A coloring book! I think that's perfect for your type of linework. I can't wait to see how it turned out. I'm so jealous of your Last Thursday art walks. I'm hoping against hope that when I move to San Jose I find something like that. They're just so much fun! Not as snotty as the gallery walks where the attendants try to talk you into buying $20,000 paintings.

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  4. Kelly- i hope its a big hit because i love doing these body painting sessions so much and these soon to be mothers seem to really connect with the entire experience! I will totally let you know how the coloring book turns out :)

    Tara, Thanks so much for stopping by!! I never miss reading your new blog entries- i love your natural living gypsy life style, its soooo inspiring! im very glad you are enjoying my body painting project. happy trails to you and yours.

    Megan- yea, a coloring book, i think it really does make a lot of sense with my line work. What an awesome commission right? im having a lot of fun making it. San Jose has got to have an art walk of some sort! I wonder if you could contact the city and ask if there are any websites you can turn in vendor apps to to get the ball rolling. Good luck on your exciting new move/school!

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  5. Absolutely gorgeous girls! I think that's my staple comment for all your work Chelsea. I'll get more creative next time.

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  6. Love it. Have done years as a labor nurse and I have yet to see someone like that. Very, very nice.

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  7. Very cool body paintings, and the photography is excellent. I like the lighting almost chiaroscuro in a way. Those sessions would be cool to do an oil portrait as well.

    As far as Neko is concerned I think its a great idea. I have one myself, he usually sits on my amplifier and his name is yum yum. It's funny that you posted that cause I am working on a Neko design too. Great minds think alike.

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  8. so cool! thanks for sharing :D i hope these photos are gonna end up somewhere awesome because they deserve it!

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  9. This is just beautiful! I wish I could have done this while pregnant. I bet you'll find a lot of women love the idea of being part of amazing art while pregnant. :) Thanks for sharing~!

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