Hello May!

Long time between posts. I have been crazy busy. Brisbane and Sydneys 'Body Art for Makeup Excellence' classes have happened and Melbourne is in 1 week... each class has been amazing and transformational!

There have been some great news on the work front and I look forward to sharing more.

Tonight's Saturday night post is, however, very extra special.

Whilst wandering between lesson plans for a body art class next week at a Sydney Makeup School and finalising some briefs... 

I googled 'Cat Photo Bombs' and wanted to share my highlights.

Tears have run down my face and my poor flatmate cant hear the 'Voice' repeat on TV from my giggling.

For those whom have my sense of humour... enjoy.

SALON MELBOURNE - Makeup Super Panel - THE TOPICS ARE IN!

We have basically had to chase and pin down Makeup Artists to find out what we as a collective REALLY want discussed at the Makeup Super Panel. BUT WE DID IT!

Today I finalised the topics for discussion between myself, Rhiane Schroder, Merton Muaremi and Rachael Parnell at next Mondays Makeup Super Panel at Salon Melbourne.

Dont forget you can still get tickets... and if you mention me you get 15% off!

CLICK HERE FOR DISCOUNT DETAILS

Thanks to Heart Beauty Magazine for my fancy pic in their DEBUT edition! Pick up your copy of this delicious mag at your local news agency! If you want to discuss anything outside of the panel... find me at their stand on SUNDAY! Also on the LAUNCHPAD stage at 12-12.15 if you want to know more about the Green Brush Project!

Like Heart Beauty Mag on Facebook! 

http://www.facebook.com/heartbeautymagazine?group_id=0

So with no further delay... here is a summary of the topics you said you wanted discussed!

The way it will work is as a panel we will chat about each of our own views... then open the floor for questions.

No question is a 'dumb' question... its a relaxed and open atmosphere!

Overwhelmingly one of the biggest concerns about this industry was your own doubt and worry.

We will discuss how important your own ‘mind set’ about who you are as an artist to being a success in this industry.

How do panel self motivate?

How do the panel deal with social media/bullying?

A lot of concerns that we heard in collecting our topics were actually based on ‘perceptions’ not fact.

We decided to address some MYTHS.

“You have to beg, claw or steal your way to the top… it’s each to their own!”

There is a secret society of success and I am the only one not invited.

Everyone else knows what to do but me.

Working in editorial will make me rich.

How to Charge.

Testing.

When to say yes and when to say no.

Building and maintaining working relationships. What is the panels advise?

This is where we open the floor for additional questions!

We do have some up our sleeve... however this is our chance to ask something that would make a difference to YOU and breaking through YOUR OWN glass ceiling. I guarantee someone else in the room was thinking it... be the one to stand up and ask.

CLICK HERE for my previous article on the SUPER PANEL.

See You There!

I comitted bloggery on BLACKLOG

Last Thursday I was one of those lucky buggers who got to go to Val Garlands Master Class in Sydney. Black Magazines Australian Editor, Thom Kerr asked me to blog about it for BLACKLOG.... considering I wouldn't shut up about it... it was my pleasure.

Click on the link below to read the article!

http://blacklognz.blogspot.com.au/2013/04/val-garland-mac-cosmetics-masterclass.html#more

VAL GARLAND MASTERCLASS: PHOTO: SONNY VANDEVELDE click on image to be linked to more of Sonny's pictures from the night....

Let's all be dandilions...

One thing that my Card Reader said to me recently... is being like a Dandelion is a great thing.

I don't normally associate being like a dandelion a 'powerful' thought... however the way she explained it to me was enlightening.

"Dandelions spread their seeds everywhere and there is no place a Dandelion can't grow. You even see them sprout up through cracked cement. They survive almost every condition"

As creatives... I suppose we could all learn a lot from the humble Dandelion.

Ironically I fake tattooed dandelions behind the ears of every model in Miss Unkons MBSFW show last year.

Let's all be dandelions...

( and happy Fashion Week to all my Sydney Fashionistas!)

Melbourne Lovers Listen Up!

New Melbourne 'Body Art for Makeup Excellence' course MAY 19 and 26th 2013. Brisbane stays the same APRIL 28 and MAY 5

Yesterday I had to make a call and change my Melbourne Dates for the 'Body Art for Makeup Excellence' course.

I had way too many people want to enroll but unavailable due to.. oh.. a little thing like Sydney Fashion Week. I clearly didn't put that into consideration when deciding on dates. Ha. So instead of forging ahead and having people miss out... I have simply moved the dates.

So all currently enrolled people have been notified.... and the NEW MELBOURNE DATES ARE

MAY 19 and 26

I am holding the course at the delicious LIGHTDROP STUDIOS

Click on the image to be linked to LIGHTDROP STUDIOS WEBSITE

Level 2, 10 Elizabeth Street, Kensington, Victoria 3031

Enrollments are still open for my BRISBANE dates

APRIL 28 and MAY 5th

Being held at the amazing MAKEUP AND GLOW training rooms.

Click on image to be taken to the Makeup and Glow website

13/261 Given Tce, Paddington, QLD

Email me at becca@beccagilmartin.com for more details x

http://twosixandbrush.com/blog/2013/2/17/body-art-for-makeup-excellence-not-just-a-course-about-body-art

Press...

Found in the latest issue of Professional Beauty!

Makeup Super Panel - Break Through The Glass Ceiling is in 2 weeks! See article below for ticket discounts xx

Makeup Super Panel - Breaking Through The Glass Ceiling

Let's start with the delicious cherry on top.

The Green Brush Project is committed to making life a bit easier for makeup artists... so after a conversation today with the amazing Salon Melbourne ladies have agreed to offer...

If you mention you are 'Friends of The Super Panel' you will receive 15% off your ticket to 'Break Through Your Glass Ceiling'!!!!

For the upcoming Salon Melbourne Makeup Super Panel: Break Through Your Glass Ceiling event!!

All you need to do is mention you are a 'Friend of The Super Panel' when booking your ticket.

Please contact the organisers on 020 9422 2535

click on times to be linked to the Salon Melbourne Page

click on image to be linked to main Salon Melbourne website

Why come to the Super Panel?

Why?

Because it is not that often a bunch of Makeup Artists get together to discuss their own 'Glass Ceilings' and possible solutions or actions you can take to break through your own glass ceiling.

We all have our own Glass Ceiling - a goal we are working towards but aren't there yet... sometimes there is something in the way and we dont know what.

we all have our own version of a glass ceiling

What will be discussed?

We have spent some time gathering the industries concerns... and I tell you what... it's kind of like getting blood from a stone.

You guys can be tough nuts!

I think I know why...

Everyone loves coming to classes, learning, assisting, googling, you tubing and facebook stalking other artists.... but its hard for Makeup Artists to come out and talk about their concerns... because of myths and beliefs about themselves as an artist.

One of the biggest myths is:

Everyone else knows what they are doing except me.

Ring any bells?

There are a lot of makeup artists out there... and you could be one of them... who relate to the industry like there is some secret solution to success.. or one way of doing things... and it seems like everyone else knows what the secret it except us... and we act like we ALSO know the secret... to save face.... and avoid looking like we don't know.

Most of us get a lot of our insecurity because of this. We think it's true.

It causes unnecessary stress.

We think everyone else knows the one thing we dont know.

We then spend hours trying to find out what it is.

The big joke is there is no ONE industry success secret we dont know.

Sometimes the only think holding us back is our own imaginary constraints.

Careers are made from CREATING what we want to get up to. We want to discuss this in the Super Panel to give you access to what you can do to CREATE your career.

What we are going to discuss first up are Industry Myths like this... how the panel have dealt with their own myths... and ways we think you can get on with your career without holding onto your own myths like they are true! 

Once you can get freedom around myths... you are free to create what you want for your career.

Some of the panel will be up to you! We are opening the forum to questions as well... don't worry you wont have to get up on stage to ask... you can even pre-email your question, topics etc to me!

becca@beccagilmartin.com

We will discuss actions to take... actions NOT to take... and hopefully clear a path for you to get on with things in a more relaxed manner.

So grab your 15% discount and come and come and come to get some clarity and confidence for your career.

Priceless!

'Body Art For Makeup Excellence' Review

I had my tarot cards read the other day.

Every now and again I go and something like that done as like a 'check in' to my life. My reading was insanely amazing. It was accurate to whats going on for me right now and really answered concerns I have. I have a lot to look forward to.

My 'Body Art for Makeup Excellence' course came up. I dropped dead. So did the Green Brush Project - but that's another story.

One of the main points that came up is I will be changing the name of the course. That came as no surprise to me as some people have been hesitant to do the course because they think its a body art course... It's actually got nothing to do with body art.

My intentions for the course is that artists leave with a new confidence about themselves as an artist and now have access to exercises that will train the eye to see things differently - transfer that over to makeup application and VIOLA! We have a new confidence and ability to be creative and accurate.

Last weekend I ran the first ever course in Sydney.

On the first day I take you through a range of exercises that you complete on yourself... its all about training your eye as well as knowing yourself as someone who CAN paint anything.

I had the usual concerns before the course... 'What if they dont like it?'... 'What if they dont want to do some 'inner' work?'... yada yada. We all have that voice in our head which can drive us crazy. By the end of the course... I could clearly see that I had concerns for no reason. They all got it. They all walked in with one way of thinking about themselves as artists... and left with a brand shiny and new way of thinking about themselves as an artist.

SUCCESS!

One of the first things I do in the course is an exercise. The exercise has you really have a look at what you say to yourself about yourself as a makeup artist... and then flip it on it's head. It's my favourite part of the course... and the foundation of it too. I do it for myself all the time and it causes me to be bold and do things that scare the crap out of me. 

I invited Nicola Harry along to my class to review it. Something that I thought could go either one of two ways... really positive... or really badly HA!

Her review of the course had me celebrate and rejoice in the fact that it was received the way I intended it to.

Read THE BEAUTY PAGEs review here...

http://thebeautypage.com.au/becca-gilmartins-body-art-for-makeup-excellence/

click on image to be taken to The Beauty Page... and save the blog to your favourites!

So.. if you are someone who has been considering doing the course... here is what you can expect:

On the first day I do some work with you around who you think you are as an artist. This is the gold and sets the tone for the rest of the week.

We then spend the day learning some exercises around accuracy and 'light and shade'. You don't need to know how to body paint and you don't even need to think you are good at it... that's my job to teach you all there is to know..

The exercises aren't exactly pretty... but neither are any exercise you do in boot camp.

You then have a week to prep and plan for your body art project a week later. By the end of the first Saturday... you will have the inspiration and confidence to tackle this.

At the end of the day... the project isn't about the body art... it's about going for it as an artist with confidence... as well as taking actions that train your hand and eye for better makeup skills.

The week in between you have me as a coach. The girls from Sydney had me coaching via texts, phonecalls and skype dates. It was a blast!

Three girls started the course thinking they couldn't do body art... and this is what they got up to. I am so proud of them!

Prac Day! It's all about conquering thought habits that haven't helped you in the past... and having a bunch of fun. I am there every step of the way to ensure you have a successful day...

Anastasia was the recipient of the Green Brush Projects scholarship for the Sydney course. She has gone on the become a painting machine! Can you believe this is her first ever body paint? All it took was someone giving her permission to believe she could. And the floodgates opened. Amazing!

Beq aced her edges... spending all day painting white edges against black will almost certainly improve her ability to nail a sharp lip line... this was just the beginning...

Trish created an absolutely BEAUTIFUL 3d lace leotard for her 'Ballerina'... I cant show you the finished piece as the model wants to keep her final piece private... but take a look at Trish at work here. Not bad for someone who didn't think they could. ha ha ha Bollocks Trish... of course you can and you did!

Beq completing final touches...

Photoshoot time with Nellypro!

Each artist receives a electronic and printed version of their work... nice work Beq... The funny thing about body art is you can spend hours painting and the actual shoot time is only a few minutes. It always seems strange to then go wash it off soon after. Something I may never get used to.

Anastasia's Final Shot. A painted gown with pearls... an awesome use of the 3d technique I taught on the first day and a brilliant first body paint. My first body paint was amateur compared to Anastasia's effort!

Beq's Final Shot! I love everything 'Day of the Dead' and can really appreciate how hard it is to keep your lines clean between two contrasting colours... especially black and white. Amazing Beq! You can never say you are not creative EVER AGAIN!....

My third artist Trish wishes to keep her work private. With much respect to her model of course I will do so. Her final piece was stunning. I am so happy for everyone and what they created... and also what they overcame internally so they had the freedom to paint.

I would love to share the heartfelt thank you I received from Trish... This was such an affirmation to me that this course DOES make an impact and difference. It's not a course to come and get a Body Art image for your folio... it's a new way to think. The body art  is a bi-product and bonus.

Trish Lee
For Becca – Thank You

On Sunday I completed the 2 day course: “Body Art For Makeup Excellence” by Becca Gilmartin.

I am a Makeup Artist, but had never attempted Body Painting.

I signed up for the course as I had seen Becca presenting at IMATS in 2012 and thought that she was one of the most talented and inspirational presenters I had ever seen. To say that her presentation at IMATS was mesmerizing would be an understatement. So when Becca promoted her course, I had to go. 

What I got out of the course is hard to describe in detail, I went into the course believing that I was too old, too tired and that it was too late to further my career in the industry, but it would be fun to body paint. What I came away with, was that I am a truly talented, energetic, creative person and that most importantly; I create the environment, the calmness, the opportunities and the ability to achieve everything that I dream of and so I did.

It was not all plain sailing, the preconditioning in me crept in at times from nowhere, the overwhelming, “I cant do this”, "what am I doing here", battle reared its ugly head early on the second day. After removing myself and having a mental fight of huge proportions where the flight was more overwhelming then the fight, I convinced myself that “yes I was talented, unique and could do this”. 

So what did I learn, what has been holding me back? Well its not my age, its not my talent, its not my creativity, its me, only I truly believed I wasn’t good enough and now I know I am.

If you are a makeup artist, if you believe you are good but not good enough , then book in, and go to one of Becca’s Courses. You will learn body art techniques, but the most important thing you will learn is about believing in you.

Thanks Becca, you are amazing and have probably changed my life forever.

Trish

Thankyou Trish... my pleasure.. you did all the work x

CLICK HERE

for BRISBANE AND MELBOURNE dates and info! Only 1 week to go for Melbourne!

Come and play x

The Green Brush Project Scholarship

When I first sat down to put my ideas for the Green Brush Project onto paper in 2010... one of the ideas was to create scholarships for talented artists to be able to attend courses that would be a contribution to their growth as makeup artists.

Being an artist myself who was also soon to go through a (happy, loving) divorce (yes it's possible) and about to relocate cities... those plans seemed so far away. My single lady freelance funds weren't going to create much at all.

This Sunday is my debut 'Body Art for Makeup Excellence' class in Sydney. 

It seemed like a natural thing to do.... open up a place in each class for a scholarship.

Reading through all the entries for the Sydney Scholarship... I was looking for who I could make the biggest difference to.... it was so hard!!!

I ended up throwing my arms in the air and declaring a tie.

CONGRATULATIONS to

Donna Sillett

and

Anastasia Jade

Hurray for Scholarships!

Congratulations to you both and thank you for being a part of a dream of mine! Here's to more Green Brush Project Scholarships being available in the future!

MELBOURNE and BRISBANE

Scholarships still open (they close one week before dates)

CLICK HERE for more details.

my inspiration for the day...

If I had images like this in my book... I could die and go to heaven with a smile on my face. Pretty sure that's going to happen anyway but you get the sentiment...

Found on Pinterest. follow me on Pinterest! http://pinterest.com/bexattwosix/

Let me clarify... this isn't just a body art course.

In just over 2 weeks I am running my 'Body Art for Makeup Excellence Course in Sydney... then Melbourne and Brisbane to follow.

After a few conversations with people... I feel the need to clarify exactly what this course is about!

It concerns me alot think it's a body art course and are missing the gold of the REAL intention of this course.

No... this isn't just a course to learn to be a body artist.

This is the course for those people who get nervous when asked for any makeup that that aren't 100% confident with applying.

This course gives you access to being a calm and creative makeup artist in any circumstance.

I teach you how to use body art to build your confidence and natural abilities. It works!

People ask me how I can just stay calm and do any kind of makeup regardless of the time restrictions and notice... this is how. I wrote this course for all those who kept asking. It's no secret.

This is the course for those people who want to train their eye and hand to confidently apply any makeup brief. No hesitation.

We use body art as the training method.

This is a course for those people who want to explore being more creative with makeup and satisfy their inner artist who just wants to be creative.

You don't need to want to be a body artist to do this course. You need to be the kind of makeup artist who wants to elevate their makeup skills and confidence.

It isn't so hard you wont be able to do it.

YES! If you want to become a body artist this is a fantastic beginners course as well.

Some people have said things like... 'it looks hard'. How do you know until you try it? LOL I teach you what to do it will be fine. I am nice. I am also patient and supportive and have a commitment you leave uplifted with what you can now do.

Some people have also said " I can't do body art". Thats why this course is here... to blow apart that idea. If you can do makeup... you can do body art. If you say you can't I am here to say 'bollocks'. It's the same skill set and the whole basis around the idea that training in body art will improve your makeup skills.

I will show you exercises to do with body art that you can even do on yourself... that will train you in a way that when you go back to makeup... you will notice a new confidence and ability to be more refined, accurate and versatile. 

any more questions please ask!

More details are found here:

http://twosixandbrush.com/blog/2013/2/17/body-art-for-makeup-excellence-not-just-a-course-about-body-art

Becca

Re - visit - Danny Quirk

In the changeover of layouts for my blog... I lost a few posts to republish. One was a recent post about Danny Quirk... an american illustrator who found overnight fame after he illustrated on his girlfriend for Halloween. An instant body art success for someone who never intended to be.

Today he posted on Facebook a video that shows him at work.

I really enjoyed watching him work and he validated for me that you can be a body artist and not paint head to toe paint every time and make an impact. ( I think I have painted a full body twice...)

Can't wait to get my Danny Quirk print on my wall at home.

my inspiration for the day...

Its been a really strange start to the year for alot of fellow MUAs including myself... like a car chugging to get momentum. Things are happening, then cancelling, then double booking, then going ahead... we are yet to reach the ease and grace momentum like riding in a new car on a smooth road.

Does that really exist anyway? Are alot of our frustrations a result of desiring an imaginary set of circumstances? Do we think everyone else has those circumstances and we are the only ones having a strange time? I am no so sure. 

What's that saying...

Because of this I choose to spend less time in Facebook these days. I also choose to share the mediocre reality of being me... I don't want to contribute to just talking about highlights... but it's kind of natural to want to.

The past few weeks have been more of a roller coaster than I have had in a while... the past couple of years have definatley been like a roller coaster (changing cities, ending a marriage) but I think I just hit the grand whammy. Maybe this is an indication that the ride is almost over. I certainly dont want a perfect smooth ride of boredom... but forwards momentum would be nice. Up and down in the same spot is making me nauseous ha!

The one silver lining of all this craziness has been it has cemented for me what i want to do with my life .. and certainly what I don't. I have dropped some 'goals' of mine that I realised were there as 'that's what people like me want to do' in their careers and life etc. I have had a chance to really look inside what inspires me and am now working towards making that a reality. It's crazy as its what I always wanted.... but I started listening to people around me and made me think I should be following a different direction.

So here's to roads less traveled, prosperity from doing what you love, and courage to go for it day after day.

These are some pics that have been inspiring me for an upcoming project .. flowers make me so happy and are my go to when feeling like a creative and courage pick up.

WIN a Scholarship to 'Body Art for Makeup Excellence'

You may or may not have heard about my upcoming course 'Body Art for Makeup Excellence'.

This is a course that could be described as a boot camp for makeup artistry.... with body art as the training method. I am really excited about it. These skills certainly made a massive difference to me and still continue to.

I wish something like this existed when I started out. It's a unique course that is guaranteed to add value to the way you see things as an artist.

Visit HERE for course details.

You will learn exercises that will improve your eye... for contouring, liquid liner and much more... especially your own confidence. It will also feed your inner creative and you may even take the skills and add body art to your skill set! Or not. It's all up to you.

When I started the Green Brush Project... I always had dreams of creating a scholarship for Emerging Artists to be able attend valuable makeup courses for their career.

Starting out ( or even just STAYING) in this industry can be tough... so a scholarship could be the difference between keeping someone talented 'active and inspired' rather than any other alternative.

    //This course is part of me doing what makes me happy\\

CONDITIONS OF ENTRY

1. Winners of the scholarship are required to pay a $150 course deposit. All other course fees are covered by The Green Brush Project.
2. All other costs e.g. travel to and from the course are the scholarship winners responsibility.
3. Please include in your entry your city of choice.
4. Scholarship is transferable to another artist should you become unavailable for unforeseen circumstances. This is only available for the allocated course and cannot be transferred to a future course or alternative city.
5. If you enroll for 'Body Art for Makeup Excellence' AS WELL as enter for the scholarship and are awarded the scholarship... you will be refunded the difference as part of your scholarship.
6. You need to be a makeup artist to enter.
7. Visit HERE for course details.
8. If you are awarded the GBP Scholarship... you will be emailed a registration form as per regular enrollement along with an invoice for deposit. The Green Brush Project takes care of the rest.
9. Please email becca@beccagilmartin.com for any questions you might have.

DATES OF COURSES (check before you enter! )

SYDNEY - Sun 17 March + Sun 24 March

MELBOURNE - Sun 7 April + Sat 13 April

BRISBANE - Sun 28 April + Sun 5 May

'Body Art for Makeup Excellence' - like bootcamp for makeup with body art as the training method.

The hardest thing about this course is explaining it's not really a body art course. 

Well.. it is... and it isn't.

It's unique and I love it. I don't know any artist who wouldn't get something awesome out of it for themselves.

 Let me explain...

Last year I was invited by Makeup Artist Magazine to speak at IMATS.

As part of The Green Brush Project... there is an exercise where you list what things you would love to happen in your career... a 'wish list' you might say. Speaking at IMATS was on my 'in a few years' category... little did I know when I created my list it would happen in a few short months.

Thank you again to my model Olga and my assistant Michelle Dube... couldn't have done it without you!

Makeup Artist Magazine asked me what it was that I would present if I were to talk at IMATS. I had one of those moments of 'oh shit'... however it didn't take long for me to work it out.

Years ago I was working backstage at RAFW doing makeup on an Alex Perry show. It was in that last chaos half hour where models were arriving late from other shows and hair and makeup had to be done at the same time to have the models ready. There was myself and one other makeup artist who were dedicated to eyes as per the Key MUAs direction.  

I found myself on my hands and knees applying an involved makeup look to  models who had her head to the floor as hairdressers were gluing in hair pieces. There was no such thing as a still model... or even a face to work on that was facing forwards. I was working from the floor looking up to my models faces.

It was an impossible situation.

A thought flashed though my head... I was silently amazed how calm I was and how accurate I was under those circumstances. We busted out those makeups so fast and amazingly balanced. I didn't waste any time worrying about if I was going to stuff it up... just got in there with no hesitations and got it done. 

It wasn't that long before that fashion week that my confidence had me insanely nervous before any job.. during... and even after worrying if they liked it or if I had done the right thing. Was I good enough? I thought it was normal to be like that... and in saying that hadn't noticed it all slowly changing.

I had on a couple of occasions (before that RAFW) been surprised by the improvement in my contouring and I seemed to have finally become comfortable with every kind of liquid liner.

That night after the Alex Perry show... I had a moment to relax and it all came to me... I had begun playing with body art on a more regular basis at the time I started to see results in my makeup application and confidence. I was experimenting with highlight and shade... different line work... experimenting with patterns and designs that were challenging (but a great challenge!). I can't say it all looked amazing... but the mere action of 'play' was having an unexpected benefit.

I worked out that all that fun I had been having... was actually training my eye to naturally see where highlights and lowlights should go. Body art was training my hands to be more precise with the brush. Body art was a playground that was actually teaching me to be a better makeup artist!

It was one of those AH-HA moments!

No wonder I felt more confident when applying lips, liquid liners, contouring.... pretty much across board my skills were becoming polished. I was also alot faster with better quality. Win win!

The more I thought about this concept the more it made sense.

The repetition of brush strokes, shadow work and working with textures really transferred over to my makeup skills. The face is only a certain size... . Body art obviously is a much larger canvas and allows such freedom to be creative and you are forced to use everything you know as a makeup artist but in a different context. By doing that... I think I was also taking the personal pressure off myself as a makeup artist which gave me the freedom to just go for it with body art with no censorship. 

After all.. I had never had a body art lesson and I was doing body art with the skills I learnt from face painting and makeup.

So for the next few years... that was in the back of my mind. As I played more with body art... my makeups were accelerating in how confident I was about applying makeup. It was really remarkable.  

I also felt creatively satisfied... so when I was going through one of those periods of being asked for 'natural' or 'smokey eye and a nude lip' cluster... I didn't feel unfulfilled.

I also touched on this idea when speaking here at Salon Melbourne in 2012... I focused more on the art of being a body artist and only lightly spoke about this 'body art to train your makeup skills' concept

So back to IMATS... and I let makeup artist magazine know I wanted to talk about this very concept.... I called the one hour demo "Unlocking Creativity and Skills with Body Art"

It was a full crowd and so many people came up to me after and said how it all made so much sense and they couldn't wait to try what I had shown them. I was also asked if I was going to teach a course on it. "well I could!" was my response and here we are!

I have changed the name as this ISN'T a course just to become a body artist. Of course, if that interests you... you are definatley going to get what you need to get you on your way to being a body artist.

This a like a makeup artist boot camp where the training method is body art.

My goal is to have everyone leave feeling inspired and empowered in a whole new way to practice your craft as a makeup artist. We may even see some future body artists be born... to their makeup artists surprise. Ha! I know first hand that the skills of body art has made me more employable as a makeup artist in numerous situations... it might be a surprise addition to your skill tool belt!

If you think you aren't one of those 'creative' people - I go through with you step by step the techniques that will have you on your way to a confident hand. You do not need to think you are creative to get what you want out of this course.

The course leaves you with a professional image of your body art creation (sent at later date), a certificate of attendance and a whole new way to work on your craft. It will change the way you see things.

You have me on call for the week between workdays if you have any questions about your day 2 body paint design... or need advice.

I can't wait to run these classes!

Be some of the first Makeup Artists to learn this concept.

Details are below... see you there!

talk about re-invention...

Thor just posted this beauty up!

It's the second re-invention image from 'Transcience' I referred to in http://twosixandbrush.com/blog/2013/2/4/re-invention-of-twosixbrush

all the body paint images from this series were inspired by images from the hubble telescope.

step by step + behind the scenes - body painted clothing

IN 2010, I painted shoes on the back of a friends foot after seeing a similar idea done in a shoe campaign. I have always intended to do an entire series but got distracted with life... you know how it goes. I am now looking into how I can make a series a reality.

Recently there has been a resurgence of interest in the shoes especially on Facebook  My favourite part of this work is seeing peoples faces when I tell them there is ONLY PAINT... especially with the leopard skin shoe... most people think I stuck on a heel and painted around it. Nope. It's all paint. There are no secrets there and no Photoshop either... it's all using the power of light and shade. 

I am now looking into how I can make a series a reality.

I have never shown this before... here is a progress shot of the snake skin heel, the first shoe attempt which took 3 hours.

I had the model stand on a table and I marked out the outline of the shoe detail which you can see in purple pencil... then she relaxed on a matress for 3 hours whilst I painted with water based paints and eye shadow for shading. You can see the material on the left hand side I used as a stencil to start the texture then went over the shapes with a fine brush and paint for highlights and lowlights.

I think this was the beginning of my love for illusion. Same goes for my faux freckles beauty shoot... I love peoples screwed up noses when they wonder what I have done to 2 models with no makeup... and why are they favourites in my book. When I tell them they are all artificial freckles... the look on their face is my favourite thing!  

A few years ago... when I first started freelancing full time... I had the opportunity to place an ad in a bridal magazine. I didn't want to do the same as everyone else, however I also didn't want it to appear like i was trying to 'be different' for the sake of being different... we all know how that turns out ha! So i decided to body paint a wedding dress as well as do the hair and makeup. My partner at the time took the photo in our back yard and we then made a print ad out of it. Easy. this is the pic before we made it into an advertisement.... ( thanks to my model Lauren who was and still is awesome ) ( oh..ps... those ear rings are by www.kezani.com.au and Anita makes the yummiest bridal accesories )

The amount of people asking me where I got the dress from was hilarious... I can't see how you could think it was real... but there you go... I think it is a case of 'unexpected body paint'...who says you cant make body paint, some tulle and a pillow case look like a gown Ha! The following week the local paper ran a web pole - 'would you wear a body painted dress to get married in?'... I didn't see the response but they missed the point. It's art for art's sake.

People say they love when I show them my inspiration and reference pictures.. Here are some of the images I used as 'inspiration'. They were saved so long ago I can't link to the source.

These gowns inspired the shape of the bodice at the back as well as the look and feel of the dress.

I used this image to reference the pose I wanted for the shot... in body art it is crucial to work out your poses if you are attempting the appearance of 3D... you will know where to place shadows and sometimes it determines the entire design.

So following are images of the dress's progress in pictures. I wasn't taking them for the intention for step by step pics... they were to show Lauren the progress... some steps are missing but I will explain as we go.

This cake was the superstar reference for the body paint. I thought I would find my lace reference in a lace image... however this cake was amazing to reference off. You will see it in the design. I love this reference as it is clear as well as clearly showing where highlights and low lights will be.

I always like to ensure the model has a movie or TV to watch whilst I am painting. #1 because I can't hold a conversation when I am painting and #2 it helps amuse the model and keeps energy higher than if we were just listening to music. Sometimes I play a movie or two with a similar theme to the body paint. Comedies, however, are a rubbish idea as a laughing model means wobbly lines.

STEP 1 -  I penciled out the shape of the dress lightly with a white pencil and filled in a base colour using a white water based paint with a sponge. I thought the texture of the white paint would make it interesting and also allowed me to create the appearance of a sheer material. It would be near impossible to create a sheer opacity that is flawlessly even in coverage applying by hand... I would need to airbrush for that. 

I also had complete hair and makeup before I started painting. I find this important as if you are painting for hours... the last thing you want to do once you have finished painting is complete a hair and makeup. Anyway... it's easier to touch up makeup than touch up body paint.

I applied some good 'ol Napoleon Perdis Whipped Dream Tan Enhancer to Lauren's skin after painting the base. Don't be tempted to apply skin products underneath your paint job... I have never seen that go so well especially if the body product has an oily texture or a pigment in it. The pigment and/oil will blend with you paint and often results in a muddy finish. You will get cranky pants.

I painted the buttons and added a slight shadow underneath using an eye shadow brush and my matte black eye shadow. Apply your shadows lightly at first then build up... much easier to build a shadow than take away an ugly black splodge.

You can use art brushes from an art store for body art. I love synthetic brushes when working with paints... and I use my regular eye shadow brushes for body art with powders.

STEP 2 - well... not really a step 2 but a closer look at step #1. Here you can see the slight shadows under the buttons and I have used a fine synthetic brush to begin a lace edge on the dress. 

Close up of lace edge in the beginning stages.

STEP 3 - making it up as I go... I started with the loops... then added the three little lines to the peak of the circle... I remembered that detail from doilies my Mum had in the house when I was growing up. On a whim I decided a floating dot would look good inside the loop. If I didn't like the dot... I could have removed them with makeup remover on a cotton tip. 

STEP 4 - The lace edge is complete! I continued the loops all the way around the edge of the dress... then with the same fine but short bristled brush...I applied tiny dots the entire way around the inner side of the edge as well as the outer edge nearer the arms to finish that off too.  

STEP 5 - using a thicker synthetic brush... from memory it was similar to a regular lip brush... I free handed some detail in using the cake image as inspiration. I also used a thin synthetic brush to add the thin line detail. 

The risk here is it's bloody hard to erase mistakes as I would have to apply the sheer base again... so at the time I was thanking my idea of a white wash look that wasn't perfect as if any mistakes I made... the inconsistent base would be easy to repair.

You can see in this pic I have also painted some roses and 'circular' details and they are starting to look like holes in the lace. All I did here was paint the design, and with a cotton tip with makeup remover (non oily) just clean the paint away on the inside of the hole.

In this side pic you can see the roses clearer... you can also see that I have continued the dress onto her breasts as I am not sure how much will be seen in the final picture. Better to paint a little more than needed than not enough.

I once painted the front of a model with a slight wrap around the shoulders and sides... and on the shoot (it was a hair shoot) the Photographer got inspired and had the model pose on the side. You could see clearly the paint had ended and I was horrified. To make matters worse the hairdresser loved that shot and so that one went to print. Luckily it just looked creative and not out of place... but a piece of my died inside. If I knew they would bust out a side shot... I would have painted the full torso. I now ask if there is ANY possibility of breaking the set angle (with a hair shot you can usually tell as the hairdresser styles for either a front or side shot)

STEP 6 - I spent some time adding the final detail for the roses... added some more 'holes'. You can't see it in the picture... but there are also stitches painted over the top of the roses to make them look like embroidery roses like my Mum does so fabulously. www.immyandme.com

I carefully added shadows under the details to give the appearance they are sitting up on the dress.

That's about it! Essentially I used three products... White Body Paint, Black Matte Eye shadow and Napoleon Whipped Dream Tan Enhancer.

final pose check and ready to shoot!

All up I think it took about 4 hours to paint not including hair and makeup.

I am not allowed to publish it yet... but wait until you see what I created with just Black Body paint, a non toxic pen and some silver leafing for Italian Vogue online!

I posted this on instagram late last year... The waiting for a shoot to come out is the worst part!

Body art doesn't have to be a career change... as makeup artists, body art can (and is brilliant) to use as an exercise to build your confidence and precision as a makeup artist. I spoke about this concept at the last Sydney IMATS and had a huge response. Alot of 'AH -HA moments apparently.

I am shortly going to publish details on the course on this very topic I am teaching in Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne. 

I don't know ANY artist who wouldn't get complete value out of doing this course. You don't have to want to do any kind of body art in your makeup career... but the training is invaluable... and it will take a couple of days for me to show you how and why.

Info coming over the next couple of days.

** NEW EDIT! **

Look what I found! I found the behind the scenes pic of the second heel as well as the newspaper article about the dress.

proof the heel isn't stuck on.

The RE-invention of TWOSIX&BRUSH

Transcience

Photographer Thor Elias

It seems the theme of 2013 has been 're-invention'.

Getting rid of the old and in with the new. Not from a space of the 'old' was wrong... more like a spring clean to feel enlivened. In my case... to be honest... out with the old, not because I choose to... but because I kind of feel 'pulled' to (could that be a nice way of saying 'forced') .

My old blog has been issues since the start thanks to time wasting hackers and I have had enough. I had to let go of the money I put into the site, all the hours of work put into building it up... and start a fresh. Luckily I can't say start from scratch. It's just a makeover. When I can let go of what I have done up until now and just create from a new clean space... I know it is for the best. I love the clean slick appearance of my new blog. It's going to be great for what I am up to this year.

The old format was starting to look too chunky for me... so I have stripped back. It feels great. Image size is bigger. I loooooove that. Navigation should be simpler. I have dropped the community area for now. It was only really creating a gateway for spam from my end. So much spam it was insane. It will all be rebuilt in a more useful and powerful way. Same with the resources page. 

This phenomenon of 'reinvention' is happening in pretty much ALL areas of my life.

Relationships ( I am happily separated and single right now )

My home ( I am new to Sydney and just moved into a new apartment )

My car ( it died last week so this year I have to work out how to get a new one).

I have been working with all new clients this year.... 

I am even transforming my look. I have done away with the blonde hair (to my mothers soon to be horror) and embracing my natural colour for a while... growing it longer than its been in years. And I love it. Also due to being quiet at the moment... the extra gym sessions I have been occupying my time with... I am pretty sure my voluptuous ass is getting transformed too.

Change can be stressful and I can assure you it has been. What I have had to deal with for months is unbelievable... if you told me a couple of years ago what I was to encounter for 2012 and the start of 2013... I would have told you you were a pessimist and to get stuffed. What could go wrong has gone wrong to the extreme. If I bored you with the details it would take hours... and I now resort to laughing about it as it seriously feels like the universe is fucking with me. It hasn't been all bad... there have been some highlights. From all this I know I am well trained in making lemonade from lemons ... and I always remind myself that I have my health and sanity (some would beg to differ)... and in the face of all this chaos I still get to be the kind of person that makes things happen even though it feels like the world is falling apart around me.

AND I am not in the asylum. Bonus.

AND I know I am not the only one so we are all in this together.

Someone posted this on instagram recently which made a big difference to me...

I really have the feeling that if I stay focused on my goals... and let me assure you this isn't an easy task for someone who has been at this game for 12 years and feels like they are only scraping the surface... if I stay focused and keep going even though there are so many barriers I feel like I am a contestant on 'Wipeout'... one day what imagine will be my reality.

I studied makeup 12 years ago and have been doing body art for longer... One thing I remember clearly from my course was Peter saying to us... NEVER GIVE UP.

So if I am in a phase of complete life reinvention... I have to relate to it like an opportunity not like anything is wrong don't I? If I never give up... who knows when what i want is just around the corner?

Kind of exciting really.

And so that is what I will do... I am working to fill this blank canvas of a future with all the delicious goodies I want for my life... and all the obstacles mean they are just things that are in the way of THAT DELICIOUS LIFE WE ARE CREATING FOR OURSELVES... not as obstacles that mean I am doing the wrong thing. The alternative way of thinking just doesn't work for me... even though it creeps in whilst I am sleeping. Sneaky Bastard.

Thor Elias whom I worked on Transcience with is doing a re-invention with our old shots (opening image). Alot of people around me are doing reinvention of their entire career. I know I am not alone in this trend. Forced trend or chosen trend that doesn't matter.

I love this project and want to continue building it. I have such a big image of how I want it to look and I never envisaged it would incorporate my own blog... but there you go. I had too much feedback its what people wanted to see... my thoughts, opinions and work ...so I got over myself and am getting on with it. I hope you love my blog the same as I love creating it. 

Reinvention can be really scary... and it can also have an amazing silver lining.

 I now have a blank canvas to fill with whatever I want. Over the next few weeks I will re-blog my favourite past blog entries so they can be found on here...

Hurray for the new!

Visit the 'follow' section for new ways to follow me 

Becca x

Photographer Lacey for Vogue Japan March 2013

Photographer LACEY plays with the inspiration of  Roy Lichtenstien's pop art  and shoots model Maryna Linchuk for Vogue Japan March 2013.

I have seen many attempt this play on art... and this is my favourite yet!

I cannot find details on who the makeup artist was... but bravo. Beautiful and creative.

//click here to link to LACEYs work\\