Bert Verstappen , body painter from Holland

Interview of Bert Verstappen

Bert Verstappen entered the world of body painting recently and in a spectacular manner . As a beginner, he participated to the European Body Painting Festival in Seeboden in 2002 and to his surprise, he won the first prize in the category brush and sponge! Here is his story...

(The interview is illustrated with his art.)

Question : 1. A few words about the country, town or village where you live; do you have children?; what kind of studies you have done or your profession? What is your artistic background? What do you like most in life? Bert My name is Bert Verstappen and I live with my wife and three children in a small village close to the German border, Venlo. I have been working in the admistrative and automation sector. Unfortunately, following a serious car accident and the bankruptcy of my last employer, I am temporarily home without a job. I am considering to switch to the artistic sector. Maybe bodypainting can help in this transition. I have learned artistic skills all by myself, without any course, and this is true for body painting. Question : 2 What are your professional activities? Make-up? Training classes? Other? Bert We are active in the body painting domain for a few years only, so it's still very new to us. We work as amateur and we are not paid, most of the time; we work often for good causes (this gives us a lot of satisfaction). We are becoming well known, and we don't know where this will drive us.

Question 3. how have you discovered bodypainting? Describe the circumstances. How did you start doing body painting your self? Have you done a lot or a few?Have you participed in events, competition? Which ones? Bert During carnival, there is a lot of face painting. I started with this, and it was a success. I gave various trainings to many groups. Then with the time going by, my motivation for face painting faded. I was recovering from an accident, and I was looking for an activity that could make me forget the pain and other consequences. At the same time, my daughter came back home from a disco where a body painter had painted people. She said: dad this is for you, you can make it 10 times better. I searched and found information on the internet in order to improve my skills and by mid-april 2002, a friend asked meto do a body painting show for his 40th birthday party. I was anxious and sweating, but I managed to fulfill the contract and the feedback from the audience was very enthusiastic. this was enough to encourage me to go forward.. I did a few body paintings, randomly. The European Bodypainting Festival in Seebodenwas our first participation to such an event/competition. We had only done three body paintings so far. Seeboden was a stop on our way to vacation in Croatia. To our surprise, we won in the brush/sponge category! Then things started to move faster. In March this year (2003) we took part in the Dutch championship and we finished in the 3rd place.. Two participations, and twice on the podium. This made us very happy. The next event is theWorld Award in July, in ... Seeboden.

Question 4. What do you like most in bodypainting? What do you find most difficult? What products do you use (paints and accessories for special effects)? What is your inspiration? How do you find ideas for new body paintings? Bert The combination of paint and people is for me the most important in body painting. I am still fascinated to see how beautiful a human can be when (s)he is painted in the right way. I am getting a kick from it. The creation of living work of art. A total metamorphosis. How the model shines when (s)he is satisfied. The reaction from the audience. The attention. These are the elements that I enjoy much in body painting. Because of the accident, it is really difficult for me to focus when I am busy, and I am annoyed when people interrupt me during my work. Fortunately, my wife is often present and she answers the questions so that I can continue working, uninterrupted. We use mostly Kryolan and Fardel products. In seeboden, we have discoveed the paint of Tim Gratton? Ideal for body painting. We plan to import these products in Europe, because they are really difficult to find here now. My inspiration often comes from comic strips and the internet. New ideas often come from a competition or the person ordering the work. Question 5. Do you have always the same model or so you have several models? How did you meet them? Describe your relationship with the model during the work. Do you work home, in a studio? Do you work sometimes outside, in the open? Have you been painted yourself? What was the feeling? Did you enjoy the experience? Bert I work most of the time with my daughter as model. She knows her job very well. And she understands this art and knows how to present it. I am still astonished when she shines on the podium and does her show. Because of the circumstances, we have mostly worked inside, but we hope this is going to change with the summer. During the work we are very concentrated, the advantage is that we know each other very well, and what to expect from the other one. No, I have not yet been body painted. A few times, I had my face painted, but I did not like it, so I have not considered to do my whole body. I prefer to paint rather than be a model. But I have a lot of respect for whoever is a body painting model.

Question 6. (question to the models) How do you feel when you are painted? Confortable,uneasy, clothed, naked? Was it difficult the first time or not? Do you give suggestions or opinions while you are being painted, or you don't say anything about the work while your father paints? Which body painting has left you with the best memories? Where was it and why? Bert's daughter To be a body paint model is a pleasure. Sometimes difficult when it takes a long time, but usually, time flies. My father takes this into account and makes sure that we have a good time during the work. A lot of talk and laughs! To relax is important. I have no problem to be naked, when you are body painted, after 2 minutes you don't have the feeling to be naked anymore.I am still amazed to see how my father pulls everything together, building the body painting progressively in several phases. In the beginning, sometimes, it doesn't look too good and I can become nervous, thinking it's not going to give a good result. But he understands the art to deliver in the end a complete and perfect body painted model. He knows exactly what he is doing and he is in my opinion a true professional. He resists working on the details too soon. He creates a basis, and then adds progressively different phases, different levels of details. The dragon that my father did during the festival in Seeboden stands brightly in my memory. i think that my face was the best, and I noticed this from photographers who always wanted to do more photographs, and finally because we ended in the first place.

Question 7 How do you feel during and after a body painting? A body painting work for a competition always means some tension before. What are we going to do and how? A constructive tension. Just before a body painting work, I am not so nervous, but in a competition, I am nervous, for sure.The tension helps me to sharpen my skills. After the first 10 minutes, my tension goes away and I am so focused that I have no time left to be nervous .*smile*. When everything is completed, I always have a deep feeling of satisfaction. Tired, but satisfied are my feelings. Question 8. Anything to say about you plans, desire? Something you would like to do and you have not done yet? What are your plans for trips and attending events and competition in 2003? Bert Body painting is now my passion and my life. Hopefully, I can please a lot of people with this artistic expression. People can visit my Web site www.bodypainteurope.com. After being known locally, I hope I can achieve the same nationally and maybe internationally. We have been invited by Tim Gratton to go where he lives in Sydney. Dit is a very expensive trip, but we want it so much that we should be able to do it. I am married with my wife for 25 years and it would be a wonderful anniversary trip! I hope to stay in good health and to find a new job, and if we could combine this somehow with body painting, it would be excellent. We will be present in Seeboden for the World Award in July. We look forward to see many known and friendly faces there. Body painting has become a life style for us and we hope we can enjoy it during many years.

Merike Pesonen, body painter from Finland

Interview of Merike Pesonen

Merike Pesonen is one of the few body painting artists from Finland.She participated several times to the European Body Painting Festival in Seeboden and I met her there in 2002.

Question : 1. A few words about the country, town or village where you live; do you have children?; what kind of studies you have done or your profession? What is your artistic background? What do you like most in life?

Merike: .I'm from Finland, from a little and beautiful town called Mikkeli (Saint Michel) where I live and work. I have there my own make-up school called Great Look, where I teach to my students make-up and masks for theatres, films and so on.
I have studied for my profession in Helsinki in maskering school Make Face Professional.
I have three children, two cats and one rat.

(Merike Pesonen at work and model Elina - Photograph (C) )

Question : 2. how have you discovered body painting? Describe the circumstances. How did you start doing body painting yourself? Have you done a lot or a few? Have you participed in events, competition? Which ones ?

Merike: During my studying time I had a good opportunity to learn body painting and I liked it since first time, then I started to practice more and more. I have been doing body painting in Finland in festivals, different kind of happenings, shows and so on, for already five years, also I took part in competitions, in Finnish Championship where I have won third places and International Champions fourth place.

(Body painting by Merike Pesonen - Photograph (C))

Question : 3. What do you like most in body painting? What do you find most difficult? What products do you use (paints and accessories for special effects)? What is your inspiration? How do you find ideas for new body paintings?

Merike: What I like most in body painting is that the subject - model - is a living person and that's why the design is also living and moving on that body.Most interesting is to find ways to produce the design or idea which I have in my mind. Also it is always a big challenge to make ideas working and look good.
My ideas just come suddenly in my mind, I don't think about them much before, I just get to the idea, I dont practise it, I jump on it.
The materials that I use are latex, glue,brush, colours of Grimas, airbrush, wax and false parts. I also use some materials which come to my mind, once I wanted to do something crazy with sticking plaster.

( Body painting by Merike Pesonen - Model: Zlotta - European Body Painting Festival 2001, Seeboden)

Question : 4. Do you have always the same model or so you have several models? How did you meet them? Describe your relationship with the model during the work. Do you work home, in a studio? Do you work sometimes outside, in the open? Have you been painted yourself? What was the feeling? Did you enjoy the experience?

Merike: .I have the same models for a long time, one is my own daughter. I have good relationship with them, also during the work. I met some of my models in the courses that I was teaching them.
Mostly I work in my own school, but of course any where needed. In Finland body painting is not yet very well known, so I go to show this form of art in happenings, festivals etc.
I never painted myself, I prefer to paint other people.

Question : 5. (question for the model) How do you feel when you are painted? Confortable, uneasy, clothed, naked? Was it difficult the first time or not? Do you give suggestions or opinions while you are being painted, or you don't say anything about the work while your sister paints. Which bodypainting has left you with the best memories? Where was it and why?

Model (Sandra): Yes, sometimes I feel naked when I' m in stage, painted. I feel comfortable if there are other models around, but if there are no other models, it feels a little bit unconfortable. The first time I was very young and it was a little bit scary experience because I was nervous and tense.
But when the body paint was ready and photographers started taking photos, that I liked as now I also like to be the centre of attention when somebody takes photos of me. And of course I have some suggestions and opinions while she is painting me.

( Body painting by Merike Pesonen - Models: Elina and Sandra - European Body Painting Festival 2002, Seeboden- Photograph (C) by Robert )

Question : 6. Anything to say about you plans? Something you would like to do and you have not done yet? Anything that you would like to ask to people who will read this interview.

Merike: My future plans- well I like to work abroad and where needed. This year I will go Austria and Brazil. About Brazil, there is one big International Dance Show in Brazil this year, before that, we have been to Canada.I will go there with this Dance Club group, my daughter is part of this group and taking dance lessons.There will be group of 13 girls and I will go with them to do the make-up for the show and take care of them.

( Body painting by Merike Pesonen - Model: Sandra- European Body Painting Festival 2002, Seeboden- Photograph (C) by Robert )

Irma de la Guardia, 1st Prize Body Painting Competition of the Brussels Festival of Thriller and Fantasy Film 2001

Interview de Irma de la Guardia

par Solange VÁZQUEZ, traduction M.-C. Diaz

Le corps humain a certainement été le premier support pour la peinture: les primitifs qui ont été nos ancêtres, ont très vite su que leur peau serait plus attractive ou plus terrifiante, si ils la couvraient de symboles et de pigments. Avec le temps, la pratique de décorer sa propre anatomie est devenue très limitée au champ de la cosmétique faciale, mais il y a une discipline qui essaie de récupérer la magie transformatoire de ces premières expériences-là: cela s'appelle le body painting. Avec des moyens beaucoup plus sophistiqués que ceux de ces antropoides volontaires, l'espagnole Irma de la Guardia a gagné le premier prix du prestigieux concours parallèle de body painting au Festival International du Film Fantastique de Bruxelles 2001. L'artiste, née a Tanger, a créé Morphosis, un être ailé qui semble être tout juste arrivé d'un autre monde.

Question : Combien de temps t'a-t-il fallu pour terminer l'oeuvre ?

Irma : Ouf! Je ne pourrais pas le calculer. Avant de commencer à peindre, je fais un travail très laborieux de dessin, de recherche d'accessoires et de fabrication d'esquisses. Cela me prend beaucoup de temps. Ensuite, j'ai mis quatre heures a reproduire mon idée sur le
modèle.

(Morphosis: Modèle Yamil et Irma de la Guardia - Photographie (c) Robert)

Question : Et tout cela a été nécessaire pour l'écoulement de la douche, n'est-ce pas ?

Irma : Je suis très consciente de faire quelque chose de tout a fait éphémère. C'est précisement pour cette raison que beaucoup de gens ne la valorise pas. Mais ce que tant de détracteurs considèrent comme un défaut, je le considère comme une valeur: nous créons des oeuvres d'art vivantes, nous prolongeons et déformons le corps jusqu'à le transformer, et cette vie compense le temps minimum d'exposition. C'est fantastique de voir comment bouge quelque chose que l'on a peint.

Question : Mais l'art se vend. Combien coûte un de tes travaux ?

Irma : Je serais incapable de mette un prix à Morphosis, parce que cela a été une oeuvre très laborieuse. Mais je fais des présentations, des fêtes et des événements similaires à partir de 125.000 pesetas.

Question : Et ta profession te permet de vivre ?

Irma : Non. Elle demeure encore exotique en Espagne. Les gens ne la connaissent pas et ne la réclament pas. Donc, pour l'instant, cela ne me permet pas de vivre, bien que j'aimerais faire connaître cette discipline ici. Dans d'autres pays, elle est beaucoup plus assumée.

Question : Comment t'es-tu initiée au body painting ?

Irma : Je proviens du monde des arts scéniques : caractérisation, dessin de décors. J'ai beaucoup travaillé pour l’opéra, mais je souhaitais faire quelque chose de plus osé et de personnel.

Question : Est-il difficile de peindre sur la peau ?

Irma : Moi, j'adore, parce que la peinture se transforme et acquiert une condition caméléonique.

(Morphosis: body painting par Irma de la Guardia - Photographie (c) Robert)

Question : Oui, mais est-ce que c’est désagréable pour le modèle?

Irma :En effet, c'est peut-être plus incommodant pour le modèle.
Je prend d'habitude des gens dont la patience est prouvée, parce qu'ils doivent rester longtemps immobiles et nus bien sûr.
J'essaie de les connaitre avant et de leur expliquer tout le processus pour qu'ils s'impliquent et ne se sentent pas violentés. Malgré le fait qu'ils sont nus, la couche de peinture les habille d'une certaine manière. Pour cela, cela n'est pas scabreux. En effet,. je me souviens dans une presentation que j'ai faite, de type esoterique, une vieille dame avec ses petits-enfants s'est dirigée directement vers moi. J'ai pensé qu'elle allait m'enguirlander, mais, au contraire, elle m'a dit que mon travail lui paraissait fantastique et qu'elle ne l'oublierais jamais.

Question : Est-ce que certains ont eu peur en se voyant transformés ?

Irma : La plupart sont restés tout a fait sans réaction, parce que je ne les laisse pas se regarder dans une miroir tant que l'oeuvre n'est pas
terminée. Voir les traits est très décevant et équivaut à dévoiler le "truc". J'ai beaucoup de plaisir à contempler la surprise sur leur visage: ils ne se reconnaissent pas.

Question : Y a-t-il un corps particulier que tu aimerais utiliser comme toile ?

Irma : Eh bien je n'ai aucune idole que je rêve de peindre. N'importe quel corps avec de jolies proportions m'est valable.

Question : Alex de la Iglesia, par exemple ?

Irma : Pourquoi pas ? En ce qui me concerne, je serais enchantée. On peut tirer parti de tous les corps, même s'ils ne sont pas idéaux.

(Morphosis: Body painting par Irma de la Guardia- 1er Prix - Photographie (c) Robert)

Sandra and Iris Zacher, body painter and model

Interview of Sandra and Iris Zacher

Sandra and Iris Zacher are two sisters. Sandra paints Iris. They have enthusiastically discovered body painting and they participated for the first time to the European Body Painting Festival in Seeboden in 2002. They share their discovery of body painting in this interview, in German and English, illustrated with photos, all from 2002.

Question : 1. A few words about the country, town or village where you live; do you have children?; what kind of studies you have done or your profession? What is your artistic background? What do you like most in life?

Sandra : Zuhause bin ich in Türkheim, einem 7000 Einwohner Ort in Bayern, Süddeutschland. Hier wohne ich zusammen mit meinem Freund Manfred und meinem 10-jährigen Sohn Paul im Haus meiner Eltern. Meine Familie ist mir sehr wichtig! Hier ist immer was los!
Geboren im Fasching 1972,wurde mir meine Begeisterung für Kostüme ,Verkleidungen und Verwandlung bereits mit in die Wiege gelegt. Nachdem mir normale Verkleidungen schon bald keine Freude mehr bereitet haben, habe ich begonnen, ausgefallene und aufwendige Kostüme zu kreieren und fertigzustellen.
Nach und nach kam hierbei immer mehr Farbe ins Spiel und so führte mich mein Weg schließlich zum Bodypainting.

The place where I'm at home is Türkheim, a village with 7000 inhabitants in Bavaria, Southern Germany. I live here with my boyfriend Manfred and my 10 year old son Paul at my parents' place. My family is very important to me.
There is always something going on here!
Born during carnival 1972, my enthusiasm for costumes, fancy dresses and metamorphosis was given to me in my cradle. When plain costumes didn`t please me anymore I started to create and craft eccentric and sumptuous ones. Little by little, more and more colours came into play and so it brought me in the end to body painting.

(Sandra and Iris Zacher - Photograph (C) by Fritz Zacher, Türkheim)

Question : 2. how have you discovered body painting? Describe the circumstances. How did you start doing body painting yourself? Have you done a lot or a few? Have you participed in events, competition? Which ones ?

Sandra : Natürlich kannte ich die Kunst des Bodypainting aus der Werbung und von verschiedenen Messen und Promotionsaktionen . So richtig bewusst ist mir diese Form der Verwandlung aber erst durch die vielen Zeitungsartikel und die homepage des European Bodypainting Festival in Seeboden geworden. Wir haben uns ganz spontan entschlossen, 2002 teilzunehmen. Dort habe ich dann auch mein erstes Ganzkörperpainting angefertigt.
Seitdem sind 5 weitere dazugekommen.
Das Festival in Seeboden war der bisher erste Wettbewerb für mich....aber sicherlich nicht der letzte.

I knew the art of body painting from advertising, trade fairs and sales promotion actions, of course. But I really awaked to that form of metamorphosis by reading articles in newspapers and watching the home page of the European Bodypainting Festival in Seeboden. We decided spontaneously to take part in 2002. There, I finished my first whole body painting. Since then, I have made 5 other ones.
The Festival in Seeboden is so far the first competition for me........but certainly not the last.

("Dragon" Body painting by Sandra Zacher - Model: Iris- Photograph (C) by Robert )

Question : 3. What do you like most in body painting? What do you find most difficult? What products do you use (paints and accessories for special effects)? What is your inspiration? How do you find ideas for new body paintings?

Sandra : Was mir am Bodypainting am besten gefällt ist das Experimentieren mit Farbe auf der Haut. Außerdem ist das Bemalen eines Körpers für mich eine Art Ausgleich. Der „positive" Stress einer Bodypainting Session lässt mich abschalten und so manche Anspannung vergessen.
Momentan ist es für mich noch sehr schwierig, Dinge und Formen auf dem Körper räumlich darzustellen. Aber mit ein bisschen mehr Übung wird dieses Problem sicher auch bald gelöst sein.
Ich verwende verschiedene Produkte unterschiedlicher Marken, da ich noch in der Erprobung bin und noch keine Vorlieben für spezielle Produkte entwickelt habe. Mit der Pinsel & Schwamm- Technik werden diese Farben und mittlerweile auch verschiedene Special effects auf und mit dem Model zu kleinen Kunstwerken.
Die Ideen für meine Motive nach und nach. Vielleicht ist ein Bild in einem Buch oder einem Comic ausschlaggebend, dass ich mir Gedanken um die Umsetzung eines solchen oder ähnlichen Motivs mache....vielleicht entsteht die Idee aber auch einfach abends, bei einem Glas Wein oder beim Joggen.
Die Inspiration beim Malen selbst ist dann schließlich von meinen momentanen Emotionen abhängig. Ideen werden in Farben und Formen umgesetzt. Ich arbeite stets ohne Vorlagen oder Skizzen. So kann es auch durchaus sein, dass etwas komplett anderes entsteht, als eigentlich geplant war.

What I like most about body painting is the experimentation with colours on skin. Furthermore painting a body for me is a kind of balance act. The „positive"stress of a body painting session lets me get away from everything and forget some strains.
At the moment, the hardest thing for me is to paint things and forms in a steric way. But with a bit of practise I`m sure that this problem will be solved soon.I use different products of different brands. I`m still testing and don`t have marked preferences for certain products yet. With brush & sponge these colours and different special effects are going to become little pieces of art on and with the model.
The ideas for my designs are evolving litte by little. Perhaps it`s a picture in a book or a comic strip that makes me think about the realisation of such a design or something similar.....perhaps the idea comes up just in the evening with a nice glass of vine or while I´m jogging.
The inspiration during the painting itself is after all dependent on my emotions at this moment. Ideas are changed into colours and forms. I always work without any samples or drafts. So it`s absolutely possible that something arises that was not planned at all.

("Elf" Body painting by Sandra Zacher - Model: Iris- Photograph (C) by Manfred Schweigert, Türkheim)

Question : 4. Do you have always the same model or so you have several models? How did you meet them? Describe your relationship with the model during the work. Do you work home, in a studio? Do you work sometimes outside, in the open? Have you been painted yourself? What was the feeling? Did you enjoy the experience?

Sandra : Am liebsten bemale ich meine Schwester Iris, obwohl ich für ganz spezielle Motive auf der Suche nach geeigneten Modellen bin. In meinem Bekanntenkreis finden sich auch durchaus Interessenten.
Es ist für mich jedoch sehr wichtig, das Model gut zu kennen und einschätzen zu können. Die Beziehung zwischen mir und Model kann nämlich während des Bemalens von einfühlsam und fast intim bis hin zu vollkommen entnervt und angespannt wechseln. Damit muss man umgehen können.
Die Paintings entstehen bei mir zuhause. Hier ist genügend Platz um kreativ zu arbeiten. Für die Fotoshootings weichen wir allerdings auf verschiedene Örtlichkeiten und ins Freie aus. Gerade hier auf dem Land findet man immer den passenden Hintergrund, um ein Model ins rechte Licht zu rücken.

I like painting my sister Iris best, even though ‚I‘m always searching for suitable models for special occasions. There are definitely some people interested in my circle of friends.
However, for me it`s very important to know the model very well and to be able to appreciate the model. It`s to say that the relationship between me and the model can vary from sensitive and almost intimate up to stressed and totally annoyed. One has to be able to deal with this.
The paintings are finished at my home. There`s enough place for creative work. But for the photoshootings we use different places inside and outside. Especially here in the country, you always find a suitable background to put the model in the right perspective.

("Erotica" Painting and costume by Sandra Zacher - Model: Eva - Photograph (C) by Peter Immel, Türkheim )

Question : 5 Can you explain how things went for the James Bond girl event. How did the idea come? Where was it? Have you been contacted or was it your initiative? Who is the second (male) model? Where and when did you paint the bodies? In the movie theater? before or after the film? How long did it take? Was there press coverage? What was the goal? What were the reactions of the public? All positive? Or some people did not like it?

Sandra: Nachdem ich selbst die James-Bond-Filme gerne sehe und zusätzlich durch das Bond-Girl vom European Bodypainting Festival 2001 inspiriert wurde, bastelten wir an der Idee, eine einzigartige Präsentation bei der Filmpremiere der neuen James Bond Filmes im Filmhaus in Türkheim auf die Beine zu stellen.
Als Bond Girl stellte sich meine Schwester zur Verfügung, den männlichen Part übernahm Julian, ein Auszubildender des Kinos. Die beiden Modelle wurden innerhalb von 4 Stunden bemalt. Pünktlich zur Premierenfeier, die vor Beginn des Filmes stattfand, betraten die bemalten Modelle das Kino.
Die Reaktionen auf den Auftritt waren durchwegs gut. Das Publikum staunte und stellte interessiert Fragen zu den Paintings. Für einige Zuschauer war auch erst nach näherem Hinsehen klar, dass die Modelle mehr oder weniger nackt waren.
Die positiven Artikel in verschiedenen Lokalzeitungen waren dann schließlich eine gute Werbung für das Kino und auch für mich. Es war klasse, etwas nicht Alltägliches in einem außergewöhnlichen Rahmen zu präsentieren und etwas Aufsehen zu erregen.

As I like watching the James Bond movies and in addition to being inspired by the Bond Girl at the European Bodypainting Festival 2001 the idea of an unforgetable presentation at the preview of the new James Bond movie in the cinema „Filmhaus" in Türkheim came up.
As the „movie girl", my sister Iris was available. The male model was Julian, a trainee at the cinema. Both models were painted within 4 hours . Just in time for the preview party which took place. Just before the beginning of the movie, the painted models entered the movie theatre.
The reactions about this performance were consistently good. The audience was astonished and asked interested questions about the paintings. Some spectators even realized that the models were more or less naked after having a closer look at them.
The articles in different local newspapers were positive, and they were a good advertisement for the movie theatre and me, of course. It achieved to present something exceptional in an extraordinary frame.

("James Bond" Body painting by Sandra Zacher - Model: Iris and Julian - Photograph (C) by Manfred Schweigert, Türkheim)

Question : 6. (question for Iris, the model) How do you feel when you are painted? Confortable, uneasy, clothed, naked? Was it difficult the first time or not? Do you give suggestions or opinions while you are being painted, or you don't say anything about the work while your sister paints. Which bodypainting has left you with the best memories? Where was it and why?

Iris : Angemalt zu werden ist ein tolles Gefühl. Zumindest die ersten 4 Stunden lang....
Es ist irre, die nassen Farben auf der Haut zu spüren, die Pinselstriche oder den Schwamm.
Besonders spannend ist es für mich, da ich nie weiß, wie das Painting an mir aussieht. Der besondere Kick für mich ist der erste Blick in den Spiegel, wenn alles fertig ist. Ich liebe es, mich zu verkleiden, zu verwandeln. Und was Sandra nur mit Hilfe von Farbe und einigen SFX aus mir machen kann ist einfach klasse.
Während des Bemalens versuche ich durch die Positionen, die ich einnehme, Sandra bei ihrer Arbeit zu unterstützen.
Mehr kann ich eigentlich nicht tun, da meine Meinung nicht wirklich gefragt ist....ich bin auch nicht so kreativ.
Wenn mir allerdings am fertigen Painting etwas nicht gefällt, oder ich einen Verbesserungsvorschlag habe, versucht Sandra, das auch noch umzusetzen.
Das aller erste Ganzkörperpainting in Seeboden war sehr anstrengend für mich. Es war sehr heiß und wir hatten eine sehr kurze Nacht und eine absolut chaotische Anreise mit fast 4 Std. Stau hinter uns. Trotzdem oder vielleicht gerade deswegen war es eine einmalige Erfahrung für mich. Vor allem die Präsentation vor Publikum war
ungewohnt und sehr aufregend.
Ich kann nicht sagen, an welches Painting ich die besten Erinnerungen habe.....Jedes Painting hat seine eigene Geschichte und ist auf seine Art einzigartig. Und genau das ist es, was mich an der „Arbeit" als Model fasziniert.
Die Geschichte, die hinter dem Painting steht. Ich kann mich dann beim der Fotos wieder genau daran erinnern kann, wie alles entstanden ist.

Being painted is an amazing feeling. At least for the first 4 hours....
It`s astounding to feel the wet colours on the skin, the strokes of the brush or the sponge.
It`s especially tense for me because I never know what the painting looks like on me. The very special buzz for me is the first look in the mirror when everything is finished. I love to dress up, to transform. What Sandra can make of me only with colour and some special effects is just amazing.
During the painting I try to assist Sandra in her work by the postures I take. There`s nothing more I could do because my opinion isn`t really asked for....I`m not as creative....
But if I don`t like something at the finished painting or I have a suggestion for improvement Sandra tries to realise that, too.
My first whole body painting in Seeboden was very exhausting for me. It was very hot that day and we had an absolutely chaotic night before and a journey with almost 4 hours of traffic jam to go to the Festival. Anyway or maybe for that reason it was an unique experience for me. Especially the presentation in front of the audience was unusual and very exciting.
I cannot say which painting I like most.......Each painting has it`s own story and is unique in a certain way. And exactly that is what fascinates me to work as a „model". The story behind the painting. I can remember how everything developed while watching the pictures again.

(Body painting by Sandra Zacher - Model: Iris- Photograph (C) by Peter Immel, Turkheim)

Question : 7. Anything to say about you plans, desire? Something you would like to do and you have not done yet? Anything that you would like to ask to people who will read this interview.

Sandra : Pläne für die nahe Zukunft sind vor allen Dingen die Teilnahme beim European Bodypainting Festival 2003 und die Organisation und Durchführung eines Events in Türkheim, das die Leute hier auf die Kunst des Bodypainting aufmerksam machen soll.
Das „Art & hard" Fest wird eine Kombination aus Bodypainting Event, Ausstellung und Party werden. Die Planungen laufen auf Hochtouren und wir hoffen, im September viele Leute im schönen Allgäu begrüßen zu können.
Um meine Technik zu verbessern und noch mehr Anregungen zu erhalten würde ich persönlich gerne mal an einem professionellen Bodypainting Workshop in Amerika teilnehmen.
Alles in allem sehe ich das Bodypainten nicht so ernst. Es ist zwar eine Möglichkeit, meiner Kreativität Ausdruck zu verleihen, aber das Wichtigste für mich ist.....ES MACHT EINFACH SPASS!!!!

Plans for the near future are first of all the participation to the Bodypainting Festival in Seeboden 2003 and the organisation and realisation of an event in Türkheim that should attract the attention of people here to the art of bodypainting.
The „ART & HARD" Festival will be a mixture of body painting event, exhibition and party. The planning is getting up to speed and we hope that we can say hallo to a lot of people in the nice „Allgäu" in September.
To improve my technique and work I really would like to visit some professional body painting workshops in America.
All in all I don`t take body painting too seriously. Though it is one possibility to express my creativity the most important fact for us is.....IT`S JUST FUN!!!!!

("Jester/Minstrel" Body painting by Sandra Zacher - Model: Iris- Photograph (C) by Robert )

Helene Delazer, italian body painter

Interview of Helene Delazer

During the 2002 European Bodypainting Festival of Seeboden, I noticed the work of Helene and I was seduced by its beauty. When I learnt that this was one of her first bodypaintings, I found this extraordinary and I wanted to know more about her work. I hope you are as curious as I am and you will read her interview til the end.

Question 1: A few words about the country, town or village where you live; do you have children?; what kind of studies or profession have you done? What do you like most in life...

Answer:
Abito a Brunico, una piccola città tirolese nascosta tra le montagne "nordiche" della bella Italia. Ho studiato parecchio: filosofia all'università (sto per laurearmi, spero!) ed oreficeria; e poi la vita familiare, la vita semifamiliare, il mondo dei bambini, i casini che ci circondano, i nodi, i sogni, i segreti ... l'impressione, l'espressione, forme, colori ... Nella vita mi piace sentirmi forte, viva, piena di energia, mi piace creare, cercare ... e poi sentire magari quel pizzico di soddisfazione che mi rende felice; e poterlo trasmettere e condividere.

I am living in Brunico, a small tirolean town , hidden in between the North Italian Alps. I have studied a lot: Philosophy at the university (I should finish very soon), and jewellery, the family-life, the semifamily-life, the childrens-world, the complications surrounding us, the knots, the dreams, the secrets.....the impressions, the expressions, the forms, the colors.... In life I like to feel myself alive, beeing strong and full of energy, producing and seeking.......and then maybe I can feel that little moment of satisfaction that makes me happy ...and then have the opportunity to transmit and share it.

Ich lebe in Bruneck, einem kleinen norditalienischen Städtchen, versteckt in den Südtiroler Bergen. Studiert und erlernt hab ich so einiges; z.B. Philosophie an der Universität (ich hoffe der Abschluss erfolgt bald), auch die Kunst des Goldschmiedens; dann das Familienleben allein- zu zweit- zu dritt, die Welt der Kinder, die Komplikationen in und um uns, all die Knoten, die Träume, die Geheimnisse....die vielen Eindrücke, die Ausdrucksarten, die Formen, Farben..... Was ich am Leben am meisten schätze, ist vielleicht jenes Gefühl wenn ich mich lebendig fühle, stark und voller Energie, wenn ich etwas schaffe, auf der Suche<>

(Work by Helene Delazer "Gegruevèa" the long green/ yellow woman - Photograph (C) by Robert )

Question 2: how have you discovered bodypainting? Describe the circumstances. How did you start doing bodypainting yourself? Have you done a lot or a few? Have you participed in events, competition? Which ones?

Answer:

Il campo del bodypainting è nuovo per me. Faccio gioielli da più di dieci anni oramai, dipingo da ... ecco da bambina, sì, va beh, ma il bodypainting è proprio un esperienza nuova per me. Un certo signor Tinkhauser un bel giorno di un mezz'anno fa mi ha chiesto se non avessi voglia di dipingere una modella ed io spontaneamente ho detto di sì. Il tema era "terra"; il signor Tinkhauser conosceva sicuramente le mie opere di pittura murale (assolutamente non appariscenti), ma chissà cosa ha pensato quando mi ha visto "ingessare" la modella! "Gea" era la mia prima opera; poi ho partecipato al concorso europeo in Austria e in seguito ho creato delle "donne provenienti dallo spazio" al festival del teatro di strada a Brunico. Adesso vedremo dove mi porta il vento.

Bodypainting is absolutely new for me. I have a lot of experience in making jewellery and I paint since I was a little child, well o.k. but.... bodypainting I am doing since a few months only. A certain Mr. Tinkhauser one beautiful morning half a year ago asked me if I would like to paint a model, this man knew my wall-paintings and they are not inconspicuous at all, but when he saw me plaster the model....I do not know what he was thinking. "gea" was my first work, then I was in Austria at the European bodypainting Festival and after that, Ihave participated in the street-theatre-festival in Brunico, creating "womans from the space"......now I will see where the wind will bring me.

Bodypainting ist neu für mich. Ich mache Schmuck seit nunmehr über zehn Jahren , ich male seit meiner Kindheit , nun gut, aber dennoch..... Bodypainting ist total neu für mich. Eines schönen Tages vor einem halben Jahr hat mich ein gewisser Herr Tinkhauser gefragt, ob ich nicht Lust hätte ein Model zum Thema "Erde" zu bemalen. Und ich hab einfach zugesagt. Herr Tinkhauser kannte meine Wandmalereien, das schon und diese sind alles andere als unauffällig, aber ich weiß nicht was er sich gedacht hat als er sah, dass ich mein Model zunächst einmal eingegipst habe. "gea" ist also mein erstes Werk, dann nahm ich am Europäischen Bodypainting-Wettbewerb in Österreich teil und dann ließ ich "Space-Damen" beim Brunecker Straßentheaterfestival landen .....ja und jetzt werde ich sehen wie es weiter geht.

(Work by Helene Delazer : "Witch on the pile" - Photograph (C) by Robert )

Question 3: What do you like most in bodypainting? What do you find most difficult? What products do you use (paints and accessories for special effects)? What is your inspiration? How do you find ideas for new bodypaintings?

Answer:

Mi piace elaborare un tema, qualsiasi esso sia. Devo sapere chi dipingo, poi cerco di realizzare qualcosa di speciale che sottolinea esattamente quel corpo. Mi piace lavorare al limite delle mie possibilità. Faccio subito degli schizzi, l'immagine del tema elaborato nella mia fantasia mi è subito chiarissima, ma non sono calma e soddisfatta fino a quando non l'ho realizzata. Inizio con la costruzione delle parti extra come "allungamenti" per piedi, mani, testa, ecc. Non parto da modelli "prefabbricati" e cerco di non copiare. Più difficile è trovare la tecnica adatta per collegare le parti con il corpo umano. Con i colori poi gioco, cercando di rendere viva l'immagine che ho creato; non uso colori già pronti, li preparo nel momento in cui mi servono.

I really like do bodypainting when there is a theme, whatever it is. It is important for me to know which body I am going to paint, so I try to find a way to underline exactly its forms. I like to work at the limit of what I can achieve. First Imake some sketches, I do have a really clear idea in my mind , but I do not feel quiet and satisfied until I have done the work. I start with the extra-parts like the lenghtenings for legs, hands and head ... I do not use finished articles and I try to not copy. The most difficult for me seems to be to find the perfect technique to put together the parts with the human body. With the colors I am playing, using them to realize my idea, I do prepare them by myself at the moment that I need them.

Am liebsten bemale ich Körper , wenn es ein Thema gibt, was auch immer dieses sein mag. Für mich ist es wichtig, dass ich weiß welchen Körper ich bemale, ich versuche dann nämlich seine Besonderheiten zu unterstreichen. Manchmal arbeite ich schon an der Grenze des für mich Machbaren. Zuallererst fertige ich Skizzen an, in meinem Kopf gibt es eine ganz klare Vorstellung von dem, was ich umsetzen will und bis zu jenem Moment, wo ich es dann umgesetzt habe, bin ich nicht ruhig und zufrieden. Ich starte mit den Extra-Teilen, z.B. Fuß-, Arm- und Kopfverlängerungen.... Ich verwende keine Fertigteile und versuche nicht zu kopieren. Als das Schwierigste würde ich es bezeichnen, die richtige Technik zu finden Bestandteile und Körper perfekt zu vebinden. Dann kommen die Farben ins Spiel und es ist wahrhaft ein Spiel, ich versuche einfach meine Vorstellung umzusetzen. Ich verwende keine vorgefertigten Farben, ich mische sie mir selber, genau wann und so wie ich sie brauche.

(Helene Delazer - Photograph (C) by Theo Stammer, Bonn, Germany)

Question 4: Do you have always the same model or so you have several models? How did you meet them? Describe your relationship with the model during the work. Have you painted people from your family? Do you work home, in a studio? Do you work sometimes outside, in the open? Have you been painted yourself? What was the feeling? Did you enjoy the experience?

Answer:

Lavoro soprattutto con mia sorella: é giovane, ha un bellissimo corpo, riesce a capire ed a immedesimarsi nelle mie idee ... e ha il coraggio ed il talento di rappresentare il ruolo che le è stato "dipinto sul corpo", oltre ad essere è molto fotogenica. Certamente lavoro e lavorerò anche con altri. Ho dipinto anche me stessa, é stata un'esperienza bellissima ed anche importante per capire il "punto di vista" del modello. Inoltre mi piace dipingere a contatto con la natura, cercando di includerla nell'opera.

For the moment I prefer to paint my sister. She is young, beautiful and able to understand and get into the spirit of my ideas...and she has the courage and the talent to take the rule of this person by which she is being painted and the cameras loves her. Of course I work and will work with other ones too. I did also paint myself, it was a fantastic and a very necessary experience to understand the models. I prefer to paint in the nature, trying to involve the surroundings in the work.

Derzeit bemale ich vorwiegend meine Schwester, sie ist jung, hat einen perfekten Körper und sie ist in der Lage sich in meine Ideen hineinzufühlen..... sie hat den Mut und das Talent jene Rolle, welche ich ihr sozusagen "aufmale" zu übernehmen und für eine Weile zu spielen. Natürlich bemale ich auch andere. Ich hab mich auch selbst bemalt, es war eine großartige Erfahrung, sie war auch notwendig um meine Modelle zu verstehen. Am liebsten male ich in der freien Natur, ich versuche sie dabei miteinzubeziehen.

(Work by Helene Delazer : "Gea" - Photograph (C) by Martin Tinkhauser, Brunico, Italy)

Question 5: Anything to say about you plans, wishes? Something you would like to do and you have not done yet? Anything that you would like to ask to people who will read this interview?

Answer:

Mi piacerebbe proprio poter dare un occhiata alle maschere di scena di un grande teatro oppure di uno studio cinematografico; chissà ... magari a Parigi, Berlino, Hollywood.... ma poi mi piace anche essere dove sono, avere il mio sole, i miei colori, la gente che amo ...

I would really like to have an experience into a mask-studio in a big theatre or in a film production, maybe in Paris, Berlin, Hollywood... but on the other hand I do like to be where I am, have my sun, my colors and the people that Ilove around me....

Ich würde zu gerne einen Blick in ein Maskenstudio in einem großen Theater oder in einer Filmproduktionsstätte werfen, vielleicht in Paris, in Berlin oder in Hollywood.... aber ich bin auch gerne wo ich bin, hab meine Sonne, meine Farben und die Menschen die ich liebe um mich....