7 minute read
The Art of Body Painting as a Makeup Artist
By Brooke Clarke
Following on from my article in the last issue of Mocha Beauty, I’m here to give you some insight into one of my favourite avenues of makeup artistry - body painting!! When most people think of makeup artistry, they imagine foundation, contouring, or the perfect winged liner. But for some artists, (it’s me, I am ‘some artists’) makeup doesn’t stop at the jawline—it becomes a full-body masterpiece.
Body painting is one of the most exciting, expressive, and theatrical sides of the industry, and for makeup artists looking to stretch their creativity, it opens up a world of opportunity.
From music videos and editorial shoots to Halloween events, live performances, advertising campaigns, cosplay conventions, and even body-positive art exhibitions, body painting is in high demand. Whether you’re turning someone into a glittering alien queen, a living marble statue, or a comic book character come to life, there’s always a reason to go full coverage with colour.
My journey into body painting happened totally by accident, but when I look back through my career, it was clearly where I wanted to be, even if I didn’t know it at the time. I started by doing creative makeup on myself in my apartment when I was living in London, not really for any other reason than I wanted to be better and wanted to practice my skills. I would post these looks on Instagram for my friends to see, and one day it all blew up.
Back in the early days of Instagram, everyone in the whole world had the same explore page, and if your image got on the explore page, it was HUGE! well, that’s what happened to me. I woke up one day with 20,000 new followers and after that, the creative jobs came rolling in. I started planning my looks a little better, using better quality products, and continuously working on my skillset so I could create new and exciting looks for my followers and clients.
When I moved back to Australia, I entered into the NYX Face awards, which at the time was the world’s biggest online makeup contest. This is when I truly fell in love with body painting, as it was the first time I pushed myself to create a look that was further than just the face and neck. I remember creating an underwater themed creature for this competition, using colours and textures all over the face, neck, chest and arms, and I was OBSESSED!
From there I started booking photoshoots with different models as I decided I wanted to pivot away from social media. I wanted to continue creating art, but I wanted to do it with other people. When I started doing these shoots, I found that my followers on Instagram didn’t respond as much, as it wasn’t my face they were seeing anymore, but I also found I started getting booked for way more creative body painting jobs as a result of showcasing these skills on other people. Flash forward a few years and I now do around 5/6 body paint jobs per month. These jobs consist of photoshoots, music videos, workshops and so on. I even once got hired to turn a model into a full cyborg (which everyone online thought was AI) - you just never know what’s out there waiting for you until you let the world know you can do it.
Why Body Painting is a Career Game-Changer
For makeup artists, body painting is not just a skill—it’s a statement. It allows you to showcase technical ability, bold creativity, and problemsolving under pressure. Body painting gigs often come with higher pay, long-lasting connections in the entertainment industry, and the kind of portfolio images that make casting agents and art directors stop scrolling. There is truly nothing more satisfying as an artist than pushing boundaries within your skillset - body painting certainly pushes you as an artist, physically and mentally. But the reward at the end, seeing something incredible that’s come from YOUR hands, your brain, is truly magical.
How to Paint a Body Like a Pro
Doing a full body paint isn’t quite as simple as picking up a brush and letting loose. It takes planning, precision, and a whole lot of patience. Here’s some hot tips I’ve learned along the way, so you don’t make the same mistakes I did.
1. Plan It Out First
Before the model steps foot in the chair (or more accurately, stands on the drop cloth), it’s essential to plan your design. My top tip for not getting lost within the paint, is to draw out your concept using a body chart. This allows you to play with placement, symmetry, and colour before committing to paint. It also helps to keep your clients in the loop as they can have a preview of your work prior to the day, so you don’t have to make any adjustments on the day of the job. This blueprint helps you stay on track, keep focused, and keep everyone involved on the same page.
2. Comfort Is Key
Body painting can be a vulnerable experience for the person under the paint, so ensuring the model’s comfort and dignity throughout the session is vital. Clear communication, setting expectations, and providing private changing areas or robes is a must. Use pasties and C-strings to discreetly cover sensitive areas while allowing for a clean and uninterrupted paint surface. Be aware of temperature, breaks, and hydration. You’re not just creating art—you’re working with a human canvas who needs to feel respected and supported.
3. Work Top to Bottom
Here’s a golden rule: Always paint from the top down. Once a model’s lower half is painted, they won’t be able to sit or bend without potentially smudging your masterpiece. Starting with the face, shoulders, chest, back, and arms allows them to stay relatively comfortable while you work your way down to the legs and feet.
4. Use the Right Products
There are different types of body paints, from alcoholbased to water-activated, airbrush, or cream formulas. Each has its own finish and durability. My favourite products to body paint with are Mehron and Global Colours water activated paints, and Pro-Aiir airbrush paints.
5. Learn by Doing
While there are plenty of tutorials and online courses available, the best way to learn body painting is by assisting. Shadow experienced artists on set, at festivals, or during competitions. You’ll pick up pro tips, learn how to manage time, and discover tricks you can’t get from a YouTube video.
Final Thoughts: It’s All About the Experience
Body painting is one of the most collaborative, immersive, and joyful parts of a makeup artist’s journey. It’s theatrical. It’s transformative. It challenges you creatively and professionally—and the payoff is spectacular. You get to turn skin into story. A living, breathing canvas that brings fantasy to life. If you’ve enjoyed learning about the world of body painting, don’t forget to tune into my ongoing deep dive into the world of makeup artistry in the next issue of Mocha Beauty.
I truly believe this industry can be so giving, and it’s such an honour to write about my one true love, makeup (hehe sorry husband). Feel free to reach out to me via my socials if you have any questions about my wonderful world.
Catch you all next time, Brooke xo
@jabbasmakeup
