Body Paint Bikinis

The Art of Body Paint Bikinis

Body paint goes back centuries, even millennia, in human history. It was used in tribal cultures as part of rituals and was the basis for what eventually became theatrical makeup and cosmetics. In India and parts of the Middle East, semi-permanent henna designs are still used for important rituals, especially for brides just before their weddings.

Body paint swimsuits have been popular for a few years now, and they have been highlighted several times in Sports Illustrated magazine’s famous swimsuit edition. Painting these fantasy swimsuits is an intriguing way for artists to explore possibilities in looks and styles and create a unique and peculiar sort of realism. A body paint bikini, when it’s done well, can look as real, and often looks more modest, than the real thing.

Depending on the detail involved and the look that is being created, it can take anywhere from an hour and half to thirteen hours or more to paint a bikini on a model. Artists strive to create a comfortable and fun environment to alleviate the inherent stress of sitting or standing still for hours while the paint is applied. When it’s done right, you achieve a photo that feels like a day at the beach, only more artistic.

The Painter From Down Under

One of the most important body paint artists is New Zealand-born Joanne Gair, whose body paint bikinis and other art have appeared in every swimsuit edition of Sports Illustrated from 1999 to 2008. While some readers feel that the novelty has long worn off, they can’t argue that Gair’s work is always striking and exciting.

Gair describes herself as an image-maker and illusionist. She enjoys playing with perception. The tie-dyed, 1940s-style bikini she painted on super model Heidi Klum made the cover of Germany’s edition of Sports Illustrated, and she has since painted Klum eight other times. This is a testament to the quality of her work and the sort of atmosphere she creates for models; the average sitting time for her models is eight hours, and some sessions take twice that long!

For those who are interested in seeing Gair’s swimsuit paintings and don’t have back issues of SI on hand, the 2007 book Sports Illustrated: In the Paint is a retrospective of her work for the magazine from 1999-2007.

Amateur Body Paint Sessions

A painted bikini can be a real work of art.

Not all body paint swimsuits take so much effort to create. Many artists and photographers use a specially designed spray-paint as a base and then add a few touches by hand, so that a bikini can be created in about an hour and a half. If it’s something you’re interested in having done, you want to scout artists and photographers carefully because they need to know what they’re doing.

Once the bikini is “on,” there is only about an hour in which to shoot before it will begin to crack (and of course, you want to be sure it’s a safe and comfortable environment). You can at least rest assured that getting a bikini painted on will not be physically uncomfortable. At worst, it will be a little cold, and it might tickle. You do need to remain very still and will have to forego eating and drinking during the session. Bathroom breaks have to be arranged before the bikini bottom is painted. However, the good news is that your suit will come off easily in the shower, no laundering required, and you’ll have an interesting and subtly erotic picture of yourself in an absolutely unique swimsuit.