Earth Goddess Healing, body painting photo shoot

Back in September I managed to squeeze one more Earth Goddess body painting in before the season got cold and altogether not conducive for body art modeling and photography. And it was my first and probably only couple's photoshoot that I will be including in my series.


(Work in progress shot, painting Kelly.) Also, please read the blog entry she wrote, reflecting upon what it was like participating in my body art series as well as her thoughts and feelings about body image and learning to love the skin your in.


(work in progress shot, painting Sam)

My friends Kelly and Sam have been through something remarkable together. If you spend anytime with them, the way they are around each other, the way they speak, laugh and feel would make it plain as day that they are strong and more importantly, made stronger by their love of one another and the life they chose together.

When Kelly was diagnosed with cancer her life and the life of her wife, Sam, began to change.



They are still on a journey of healing and I was honored to momentarily step in and take part when they asked if they could be painted and photographed together for my Earth Goddess series to commemorate the end of Kelly's chemo treatment.



I think that these photos do catch a glimmer of their experience, and their exuberance for eachother  but I feel they also speak about the condition of Mother Earth.  I often feel that the prevalence of cancer and the many other diseases plaguing mankind can also be seen reflected by the condition of the Earth as it battles to remain balanced in the face of pollution, deforestation, genetic modification and more. Many people believe that the Earth is too big to fail, that our actions are insignificant to the planet's health but there is plenty of evidence that begs to differ.
As above so below.



And all I know is, the path of healing is most effective when loving, helping hands are there to lend support. In these photos I can glimpse Mother Earth's own journey towards healing, which of course is guided by her lovers, her protectors.

And so must it be.

With Love and Light,
-Chelsea Rose 

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Earth Goddess UPDATE

So it has been quite some time since I have shared with you the progress of my Earth Goddess body art photography series. So far I have painted 13 women for the series resulting in 10 photo shoot sessions.

Scrolling back through my blog posts It looks like the last photoshoot I shared on my blog was my Triple Goddess session which was my 6th photoshoot in the series( the first time I had painted and photographed three women in one session.)

So picking up where I left off, My 7th photoshoot was with the gorgeous India-born, Portland raised model and artist Maulie:

I was quite excited to have the chance to add an Indian woman to my Earth Goddess series, thus broadening the diversity represented.  And this location was one that I had picked out from the very beginning as a definite spot for an Earth Goddess shoot, but it had taken some time to find a model who was willing to trudge up the long vertical hike through soggy cliff sides and precarious foot bridges.

Maulie proved amazing despite the fact that it was early May, thus resulting in a cold rainy morning in the mountains which was certainly not the most comfortable time to be nude in the wild.

And here are a couple of the finished photos:

My 8th body painting/photo shoot session was with amazing Sonoko, a Japanese born, Hawaiian raised  intellectual and all around babe.

I painted and photographed her on Sauvie Island on the nude side of the beach during an intensely bright day in June. The harsh direct lighting proved a bit of a challenge during the photo shoot but we still came away with an amazing amount of breathtaking photos. And Sonoko later reported having some super crazy, spirally tan lines!

Check out a couple of the finished photos:

My 9th body painting/photoshoot session was with a strong and vibrant Puerto Rican woman from New York.  I photographed her in one of my most favorite spots along the northern oregon coast:

I particularly enjoy how she is connecting with the earth here as she runs her fingers through the sand.

And then I really enjoyed the way her hands worked to collaborate with the rocky horizon line.

My most recent body painting/photoshoot session was with super mama and model Monis Ayala:

I painted her inside a canopy we set up for some much needed shade and privacy during a particularly sunny and crowded day at Rooster Rock state park.

Luckily within the clothing optional section we found plenty of privacy as we made our way through the reeds and berry bushes till we came upon shady forest paths.

Her son was due any day, her womb so full and yet she had lots of energy and strength and was able endure the long hot hike like a true champion. I feel she really reflected the amazing rasiliance and beauty of the Mother Goddess / Mother Earth.

So whats next?

Well I am having a particularly hard time casting for a couple of the last photo shoots I have planned. I am in dire need of a pregnant black woman and a elderly black woman. I have had no luck casting for either of these models through my usual channels so I will have to find new ways of reaching out. If you know of someone who fits what I described above please feel free to send them my way. Otherwise, wish me luck!

Much love always,
-Chelsea Rose 

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New Earth Goddess body art photos + Holiday specials

Hello All,
Just got back from the deep magick woods of Southern Oregon where I was doing two body painting/ photo shoots for my new body art photo series “Earth Goddess.” These are the first three shots I have released from the trip!

(from my first shoot of the trip...more to come)


(from my first shoot of the trip...more to come)


(from my second shoot of the trip...more to come)

Yes, booth photo shoots were such fantastic experiences on so many levels. But really I have to give major respect and heaps of gratitude to my two amazing modeling subjects who braved the late fall chill( literally freezing!)wearing nothing but a thin layer of body paint to make this vision come alive. Brr! Also must certainly giving thanks and much love to my guardian faeries; Wonder and Tinker, for finding and connecting me with my modeling subjects but also providing a safe, cozy place to stay and create, scouting the woods for shoot locations, presiding over the operations of the photo shoots as well as some how manifesting last minute props and tools as random needs made themselves known. I love you! Thanks for everything and more.

And as for the future of my "Earth Goddess" series? Well I have lots of wishes and I am excited to see what manifests. I do so hope to get to do a body art photo shoot in the snow for this series, as well as a misty forest beach shoot. I am on the look out for ethnically and body type diverse modeling subjects + a pregnant woman or two. I also hope to try my hand at a group body painting photo shoot someday. So if I count that all out it adds up to about 7 or 8 more shoots before I can call this series done. But we shall see, making plans always seems a bit rash considering the universe already has her mind made up about things and keeps it a secret. But I am looking forward to sharing more of the recent shoots with you, so keep an eye out!

In other news...the Holiday season fast approaches and so I wanted to share with you two limited time offers:

FREE SHIPPING on your purchase of "The Goddess In All Of Us" book + more

****Holiday Sale - free shipping + a bonus of two surprise 4"x6" Goddess In All Of Us first edition prints. Curious? Well take a look a closer look at this special here.

Also, we are offering %25 off on our Mandala and Yantra Calendars:

*****Holiday Sale - 25% OFF

Mandalas & Yantras, Sacred Geometry Art 2012 Calendar

combining the work of several independent artist with the wisdom of traditional symbolism and sacred geometry we mindfully created a calendar to enhance the quality of the lives it touches through its presence.

The 12 month calendar features art from five different artist, Joanne Licardo, Roger Long, Mark Marasco, Danny Rodriguez, and Nobuaki Suzuki.

In this calendar we have marked holidays and observances for the U.S., Christian, Hindu, Buddhist, Shinto, Rastafarian, and Celtic traditions.

Wall Calendar is 8"x8" with a saddle-stitch binding.

check it out here!

Much Love and Light,
-Chelsea Rose

P.S.
I am now on tumblr and deviantart Come find me, add me and say hi!
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1st photos from my new Earth Goddess series and more

Hello Lovelies,
I have some great news!
On Sunday I finally began my new "Goddess In All Of Us" series called "Earth Goddess."
I have been waiting all winter and spring for the rain to finally let up so that I could take my painted Goddesses outdoors and photograph them meshed in the wilds of mother earth. And so it has begun! I am pacing myself, so for now I have posted two images from the shoot on Sunday, and here they are:

Odaemin the Strawberry Woman
body art and photography by Chelsea Rose


Odaemin the Strawberry Woman
body art and photography by Chelsea Rose

It was hard work but I think we had lots of fun. Studio photography, like the first series was, is SO much easier and controlled while shooting in the woods is anything but! Firstly we had to lug all of our photography and camp equipment out into woods that were secluded enough for a safe, relatively private day. Then we had to contend with the fickle moods of the sun, who continued to switch from searing sun to nice gray even overcast clouds, not to mention the onslaught of swarming insects. But despite the hardships....It felt sooooo good to do the body painting out doors.


Look at all that dreamy green we got to hang out with!

My model was a fascinating person to speak with and the 5 hours i took to paint her went by fast with all the great conversations we had. She is mixed Ojibway Native American and helped me come up with the title for her group of images: "Odaemin the Strawberry Woman." Firstly Odaemin in native laguage means heart berry. "Ode’min Giizis (pronounced o’DAY-min GHEE-zus) is the sixth moon of the Anishinaabe calendar. It marks the beginning of summer, the longest day of the year, and the harvest of the strawberry in June. The root word of ode’min is “ode”. “Ode” signifies the heart in Anishinaabemowin (the Anishinaabe language). As the strawberry resembles the shape and colour of the human heart, it also represents the sweetest and kindest of emotions that bring people together to feast and exchange ideas." And in Ojibway( Anishinabek) culture it is said that Odaemin was the name for their first shaman. Fascinating no? I think this all relates so well to the time of the shoot along with the feel of the photos.
I will be posting more finished photos from the shoot next week...so stay tuned! Cant wait to see where this Earth Goddess series takes me next...to the coast? to the desert? to the rain forest? to the swamp? And what Goddess will be next to be conjured up out of the body paint and energy collaboration between myself, my model and mother earth?

In other news, I have been focusing a bit more energy on myself in these ways:


I got a new tattoo!
I designed it based on the dimensions of the Fibonacci or Golden spiral ( the spiral is representative of a ratio that is found in the growth cycle and life pattern of all living things. Philosophically it also stands as a symbol for the infinite as well as a portal that transcends boundaries of astral planes and multiple dimensions.) I embellished the sacred shape with spiraling leaves and a bud to create something akin to The Flower of Life.

I also did some dready maintenance by redyeing my dreads with Henna. This revitalized the health of my scalp and turned me once more into a ginger. I then had my friend Queen Bead help me sew all my faerie wool dreads back in and viola:


I also just recently had some blood work done and found out a few interesting things I had no idea about. I am anemic and allergic to gluten and yeast. So for the next three months i will be eating very differently from before. I have been a vegetarian(who ate fish) for 5 years..and i suppose its now time to start eating chicken again( as a way to get more iron.) And i love breads soooo much, but from now on i will have to stay away unless its some odd creation such as rice bread.

So thats what i have been up to.

Here is what is coming up on my agenda:

Today is Last Thursday Artwalk on Alberta street! So we will be down there with a full booth of art for the event( set up around 20th-24th street i think.) Hope to see you there!

For July I am having a solo show of my Goddess In All Of Us series at In Other Words feminist bookstore and library, right here in portland oregon. I dont have the opening date yet, but I will share once its chosen.

....other plans are formulating but are probably to vague to begin listing off, so thats it for now!

Phew...this is a lengthy entry isn’t it?
Hope your summer is shaping up wonderfully.

Love and Light,
-Chelsea Rose
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Finished Acrylic painting and new Goddess Posters for sale!

Good Morning! I have survived another weekend and have some fruits of labor to share with you.

Over the weekend I managed to finish up this painting I have been working on:

(Angel or Alien?
14"x14" orginal acrylic painting on canvas
by Chelsea Rose )
...I took this photo as the gloss varnish was drying.

She started off as a pen and ink drawing i did a couple months back:

(original pen and ink drawing by Chelsea Rose)
...its always interesting to see what sort of changes the original concept drawing goes through as i work on turning it into a painting. I had a lot of fun painting this peice because I used my two favoerite colors as my pallete basis: green and purple. I did a video/time lapse recording of me putting the first layers of color on the painting. check out my work in progress video here.

So now that she is done I need to decide on which of the following drawings to turn into a painting next....

This one:

(Misstress of the Orb, orginal pen and ink drawing by Chelsea Rose)

Or this one:

(Bulb Goddess, orginal pen and ink drawing by Chelsea Rose)

....which one do you think I should paint next?

I am also in the process of releasing some new prints I had made of some of the photos from my The Goddess In All of Us series.

In this photo you see the Goddess posters: size 13"x19" which I am selling for $20 each.


This shows the 8"x10" prints which I am selling for $15 each.
I am working on getting all of these new prints avilaible in our etsy shop for purchase. Should be all listed and ready for purcahse by tonight. So keep an eye on the shop for our new listings!

Thats it for now!
Much love and many blessings,
-Chelsea Rose
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Yellow Maiden pen and ink plus two more Goddess prints

Just listed some new items in my online shop!

Yellow Maiden
4" x 12" x 1"
ink illustration over acrylic painted canvas, gloss varnished
by Chelsea Rose
Origianl art peice selling for $30. see the sale listing here.

I also released two more of my limited eiditing Goddess prints:

Goddess In All of Us body art photograph
Fetal
Blissful Hope
By Chelsea Rose
4" x 6"
First Edition fine art print on photo paper, sealed in a crystal clear archival envelope.
signed by the artist, Chelsea Rose
selling for $10 here.


Goddess In All of Us body art photograph
Meditation
Love Thy Self
By Chelsea Rose
4" x 6"
First Edition fine art print on photo paper, sealed in a crystal clear archival envelope.
signed by the artist, Chelsea Rose
selling for $10 here.

Peace n Love!
-Chelsea Rose
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Print release, new WC paintings and news

Hello All,

I just released 3 more of my 1st edition 4"x 6" art prints for sale on etsy from the Goddess In All of Us body art series. Check it out:


Goddess In All of Us body art photograph
Queen Omega
By Chelsea Rose
4" x 6"
First Edition fine art print on photo paper, sealed in a crystal clear archival envelope.
signed by the artist
On sale now for $10 here.


Goddess In All of Us body art photograph
Shamaness
By Chelsea Rose
4" x 6"
First Edition fine art print on photo paper, sealed in a crystal clear archival envelope.
signed by the artist
On sale now for $10 here.


Goddess In All of Us body art photograph
Wise Woman
By Chelsea Rose
4" x 6"
First Edition fine art print on photo paper, sealed in a crystal clear archival envelope.
signed by the artist
On sale now for $10 here.

.....I have 20 or so left of these 4"x 6" 1st edition prints that i intend to slowly release for sale online. So there is more to come!

In other news, this weekend was a nice one spent relaxing at home watching Samurai 7 (the old black and white movie and then the new anime version also.) We did some watercolor painting, took a nice hike in the local woods, baked some home made samosas, went out to lunch for Tom Kha soup with our friend Dr Bob, worked on more art projects...you get the idea! Still, the weekend somehow seemed short.

here are a couple scans of the watercolor fun:

3rd Eye Navigation
4" x 6"
original watercolor painting
by Chelsea Rose


Succulent
4" x 6"
original watercolor painting
by Chelsea Rose

I am also working on a short story to submit to a fiction writing blog party a friend of mine does once a month. You are supposed to submit one story 2,000 words or less by emailing her a link to where you posted it so that she can feature the writing on her blog along with the other participants. This is just what i need to keep myself writing. Deadlines actually do help sometimes! I have my story all written out but I am still over the word limit by a couple hundred so i am looking to trim it down. i will be posting it once its all done. Content hint: my story is based in a post apocalyptic society with an accidental hero that remakes the fate of the world through her painting. I hope it isn't a snooze! You ll tell me the truth, wont you?

I am also pretty close to being done with crafting a publishing proposal/cover letter to send off to a few publishing companies that i have in mind. I would love to get my Goddess In All of Us body art photography book picked up by someone like Chronicles books but i cant wait for that to happen, i have to seek them out myself.
In the meantime i have been submitting my Goddess In All of Us series to local art galleries in Portland Oregon. I have gotten back some very encouraging responses however most of the galleries seem to already be booked through all of 2011 and a lot of 2012. Im also going to begin approaching out of state galleries but it does seem that Goddess shows will have to be a thing of the future. Wish me luck!

So thats whats up in my current realm of existence.
Much love and many blessings,
-Chelsea Rose
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Goddess Body Art photo prints for sale plus hike into the forest with new dready roots

Can I Interest you in one of these, perhaps?


I have a whole box of em, see?

I intend to slowly list 3 a week for sale in our etsy store.
$10 each. they are First Limited edition prints signed by me on the back! Sealed in a removable crystal clear archival envelope for protection.

So far i have listed the following two for sale:


(body painting and photography by Chelsea Rose)
4"x6" signed print on sale for $10 here.


(body painting and photography by Chelsea Rose)
4"x6" signed print on sale for $10 here.

Onto other news....
I didn't do much on the productive side this weekend other then take some of product photos above of my prints. But i did get a lot of exercise. I went on a 4.6 mile hike up into the mountains to visit some of the amazing water falls! see?

( photo by Lucid Optic Lab )


Also my dread lock birth month is January. They will be two years old on the 25th so I splurged and bought some hand made wool dreads to add in for more length and interest. Here some more photos of em:



( photos by Lucid Optic Lab )
They were lovingly hand made and customized by The Dread Goddess herself who has a shop on etsy at http://www.etsy.com/shop/DreadGoddess Check it out!

So thats about it for now. They say its going to snow tomorrow. We shall see.
How was your weekend? any adventures?

Best wishes,
-Chelsea Rose
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