Earth Goddess body art in the Columbia River Gorge

I am FINALLY getting around to posting about the body painting and photo shoot for my Earth Goddess series that I completed back in August!

This was the 14th body painting I have completed for my Earth Goddess series. I had such a wonderful time with my model as we picnicked and painted on the bank of the Columbia River Gorge in one of Oregon's clothing optional state parks, Rooster Rock. 

As usual it took me around 4 hours to do the full body painting. 

Here are some of the finished photos from the shoot: 

My model, being an adventurous soul, was most willing to get into the water for some shots. I love the results! And I am SUPER excited to learn that the body paint held up relatively well in the water and so now I am dreaming of an entire new "Water Goddess" series. But I am getting a little ahead of myself. I feel I am pretty much finished with my Earth Goddess series so now I must get serious about finding a gallery that will show the finished images, and also start putting together a book for self publishing. 

I hope you enjoyed these photos, more soon. 

Much love,

-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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Sixth Earth Goddess shoot: Triple Goddess + Portland Goddess 2013 Calendar PRESALE!

This weekend I did my sixth body art photoshoot for my ongoing series "Earth Goddess."




We were aiming to evoke and honor the Triple Goddess( Maiden, Mother and Crone.)


(Process photo by Danny Ebru.)
I painted three women in one sitting. It took me about two hours each to do the body adornment. This is a personal record for me! The location was a lovely faery cottage situated in the wooded foothills of southern Washington. It was such a fun art adventure! The interaction between the four of us was full of silliness despite the seriousness of the finished photos. I am so very excited and pleased with the entire experience and very glad to share these stunning first glimpses of the photoshoot with you. Hope you enjoy!

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I would also like to introduce you to a new Lucid Optic Lab independent publication that is an art calendar featuring my acrylic painting "Goddess of the Hunt" for the month of August:

  ----Portland Goddess  2013 Wall Calendar----

PRESALE - 2013 Wall Calendar

  -----The Portland Goddess Calendar ------

The Divine Feminine has been honored and depicted by every culture around the world since the beginning of human history. Her wisdom and majesty lives on today as she continues to be known and worshiped by many names throughout the world. As is the nature of the Goddess, her strength, wisdom and beauty are a major source of inspiration not only spiritually but artistically. This independent publication combines the work of twelve Pacific Northwest artists who mindfully came together to honor the Divine Feminine and to share with the world their personal visions of her sacred and enthralling presence.

This limited edition calendar features the art of Portland, Oregon artists Laura Borealisis, Justin Slattum, Liv Rainey-Smith, Nicole Linde, Joanne Licardo, Robin Urton, Matt Schlosky, Sam Arneson, Nicholas Frenette, Anna Todaro, plus Danny Rodriguez and Chelsea Rose of Lucid Optic Lab

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

 Take advantage of the presale and save 15%. Presale price $17, Regular price $20. Check out the sale listing HERE.

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Anyhoo thats whats going down in my lil art realm right now. Wow we are almost through with July already! Next on the list, Danny Ebru and I will be setting up our booth at the Portland Saturday Market this coming weekend, July 28th.  Come find us, collect some art and say hi!

Much love and light,
-Chelsea Rose 

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5th Earth Goddess body art photography shoot!!!

On Saturday I did the 5th body painting/ photoshoot of my Earth Goddess series :



Earth Goddess
body art photography by Chelsea Rose
Model: Bran

Earth Goddess

body art photography by Chelsea Rose

Model: Bran

....This shoot was the most challenging of the series so far but I am very excited with what we came away with. 

The creative process went something like this:

We decided to rent motel rooms( Thanks so much kickstarter backers!) in Oceanside for Friday night so that we could wake up at 3am and I could get to painting.  We were all pretty groggy and it was super weird waking up so early but we managed and I was done with the full body painting by 5:30am.



We got to the beach by 6am and I was super happy that we had decided to begin the creative process so early( even if it was a bit painful) because we had the entire beach to ourselves with some lingering misty/fog clinging to the horizon lines. It was so beautiful! My model Bran braved the cold early morning, sand bugs, rock climbing and so much more. She really deserves a big thank you for being so courageous and being willing to step out of her comfort zone for the sake of art!

Oh, and of course we also made time to poke around in the lush tide pools that were exposed due to the extremely dramatic low tide. There were so so so many sea anemones and star fish!

Anyhoo, my next photoshoot is planned for the weekend of the 21st. I think it will be a fascinating session if I can manage to pull it off. I will be painting three women in one sitting. Wish me luck!!

In other news, I am still painting and drawing as my messy art table can attest to:


messy means progress!


and here is a little black and white shot of my current acrylic painting in the works. This photo was taken a few weeks back when I was feeling stuck. Its interesting how looking at some of my super colorful work in black and white can really help me figure things out and break various mental blocks down. I just finished this painting today, so full color photos will be up soon!

And I have begun dragging around a sketch book, small enough to fit inside my purse:




When I was younger I was practically inseparable to my sketch books. I am happy to be getting back in the habit of always having one near.

Anyhoo, lots of new art is coming soon. Keep an eye out.

Much love and light,
-Chelsea Rose 

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New Earth Goddess shoot in Rooster Rock State Park

I am so SO happy to say that during the past weekend I did my fourth body painting/photoshoot session  for my Earth Goddess series!

We drove out to Rooster Rock State Park and set up a canopy near the clothing option section of the park and quickly got to painting:

My partner in all things Danny Ebru was there to lend a hand and impart words of wisdom. These work in progress shots are a curtesy of his presence.



I was super surprised at how quick this body painting session took to complete. Normally a full body painting takes me six hours yet it only took about 3 hours this time around!

Once the painting was done we began to hike through the trails in the clothing optional section of the park. The trails were lush and wound their way along the edge of the Columbia River Gorge. It was beautiful and full of wonderful little nooks to shoot in.


My model Asima was brilliant. Her easy confidence, positive energy and personal wisdom really made for some exciting captures. I took over 400 photos in about two hours.
I have just begun to look through, sort and edit the photos.

Here are the first two finished photographs, roughly edited, that I have posted publicly:

Earth Goddess
body art and photography by Chelsea Rose
model: Asima

Earth Goddess
body art and photography by Chelsea Rose
model: Asima

Hope you enjoy them!
...More soon to follow so stay tuned... ( Danny managed to take a time lapse video of me painting Asima's face and neck. Keep a look out for that, it will be posted on our youtube channel  )

My fifth Earth Goddess shoot is this weekend. We will be painting and photographing in the "Cove" beach in Seaside at the crack o' dawn. Wish us luck!

Also, I want to say a big big big thank you to the generous and supportive souls who contributed to my kickstarter fundraiser earlier this year. I think about you all the time and feel so inspired. This project wouldn't be the same without your support. So, thanks again :)

Much Love and Light,
-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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More Strawberry Woman Body art photos + Rainbow Gathering snapshots

Summer feels to have finally blossomed!

And I am slowly unfurling my new body art series centered on honoring and manifesting the "Earth Goddess."

Here are two more shots from the first body paint/photoshoot of the series:


Odaemin the Strawberry Woman
(body art and photography by Chelsea Rose)


Odaemin the Strawberry Woman
(body art and photography by Chelsea Rose)

...Very excited to share more with you from this shoot. Photographing my Goddesses in the woods is a fascinating experience because mother nature is constantly adding her artistic twist in each photo. I love the way she played with light in both of these captures. In the first she’s creating a enchanting waterfall of light that kisses my model's profile. In the second i love how mother nature lit up the third eye so dramatically. Cant wait to get outside for another body art shoot and do some more collaborating with the forces that be!

In other news, we rocked a booth for Last Thursday Artwalk on Alberta st. The first one that wasn’t rained out all year!

(photo by danny )
And this coming weekend we will be selling art in our booth at the yearly Mississippi street fair. Come say hi if you can!

However this past weekend was an amazingly beautiful experience. I went to the Rainbow Gathering in Washington. It was massive, and the quality of human interaction was profound. I made and met some wonderful friends and soul kin, and did a fair amount of body painting too!
Here are some photos:

(photo by danny )
Here I am deep in the forest of Washington within the Rainbow. non stop smiles.
wearing my moms old jacket, which she wore to her first rainbow gathering back in 1982.


(photo by danny )
Not sure how it happened but the universe gifted me an amazingly random meeting of a long time artist friend from online. And now we are brother and sister of the rainbow!!


(photo and words by danny )
"an eclectic group of people filled the forest of southern Washington by the thousands this July to celebrate the idea of peace and brotherhood. We ventured for about 2 hours to get there, which is nothing compared to those who drove in from all over the country. Every state had people there to represent their land. Our tent was set in the forest next to the base of some massive trees and right next to the African drum tent which held the rhythms till sunrise. We had tons of fun drumming, wandering, and making friends. "

(photo and words by danny )
"Sun rise on the large meadow at the gathering.
As the sun hit the field and warmed the earth a swirling steam rose up out of the ground, undulated over the clearing and gently woke the rainbow folk to a refreshing new day."

(photo and words by danny )
"an eclectic group of people filled the forest of southern Washington by the thousands this July to celebrate the idea of peace and brotherhood."

....I really wish we could have stayed longer and made a true home of the gathering. But alas, work called us home early. I hope to gather for the next Rainbow, where ever it might land...and make a few weeks trip out of it. Yes yes!

Feeling refreshed and charged with love and light!
Looking forward to the future.

My "Goddess In All Of Us" series will be on display inside at In Other Words Feminist book store for the month of July. And here is a perfect reason to come check it out :



Blessings,
-Chelsea Rose
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