body paint

Interview with Edmonton’s Aurora Artistry

by Monika Blichar

I have loved make up like most girls since being introduced to it in my teenage years. When we were in high school, we experimented with lots of different kinds of make up and I remember that when Halloween rolled around, it was the time of year where everyone got into make up! Since my teenage years, I have had the pleasure of witnessing some of the most talented make up artists in the country via Art World’s body painting competition. Today, I caught up with Aurora Artistry to learn more about her company! Looking so forward to seeing her entry into the first annual Art World Expo Edmonton Body Painting Competition!

1-What is Aurora Make Up Artistry?

Aurora Artistry is a Hair, Makeup and Body Art business ran by myself, Deonna Fetzko. The name stems from the Aurora Borealis, I grew up in a very small Northern Alberta town underneath the inspiring glow and that’s how I want to make people feel. Aurora aims to let your true colors dance. I provide mobile services as well as services out of my home. My goal is to make anyone who receives our services feel like a complex piece of art. No matter if it’s a glamorous editorial, a wild costume or a natural day look I hope to make every person really “feel” their look. Everyone has unique qualities and I love to accent and play those up!

2-When did you know you wanted to pursue a career in the make up industry?

I always have wanted to be a mother. When asked as a kid what I wanted to be it was always “A mom and -” So when I finally found myself ready to search for a career I knew I wanted something I could do from home, on my schedule. I was always involved in theatre and performing, would paint large dragons and vines on my face and shoulder in high school just for fun and wear it to school. One day my mom sent me a link to a makeup school and it just flew from there. I moved to Calgary 9 hours from home and got an International Certification in Makeup Artistry and my love for the beauty industry and the art scene has just developed from there.

3-What kinds of jobs or projects are your favourite?

Avante Garde, Body Paint and Runway work has to be my favourite. Though I’m very new to Body Paint. Being able to really stretch my creative muscles and put together a large project gives me a wonderful sense of satisfaction. I love to test if i can bring my hands to do what my brain is creating and playing with textiles and texture.

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4-What could you tell make up artists who are emerging in the field about business and art?

Get the schooling. Youtube and instagram are great but there are so many things as far as the science behind makeup goes that you are missing that could potentially put your clients at risk if you don’t get proper training. Also don’t sell yourself short! In my experience undercharging and giving away your work does nothing for your career besides empty your wallet. Trade for portfolio work is good, while you need to build your portfolio, don’t overdue it.

5-Can you give us any hints about your “Lady Luck” body painting entry for Art World Expo Edmonton at the Muttart on March 16?

You wont be able to keep your “eye” off of her.

6-If you could paint any historical or current person, who would it be and why?

Bob Ross. It would just be so much fun and I would love to pick his brain for paint techniques!

To learn more about Aurora Artistry visit their Facebook Page and be sure to cheer her on in the body painting competition happening on March 16 at the Muttart Conservatory in Edmonton, Alberta! We are running low on tickets, so be sure to grab yours today before we are sold out!

Monika Blichar is an Entrepreneur and Artist. She is owner of Monika’s Art Boutique-Studio & Gallery in North Vancouver and producer of Art World Expo and Painting Dreams International Art Tours. She is always pushing boundaries as an artist and creative entrepreneur. Her love of the arts has been a part of her life since childhood.

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Interview with Angie Balbon-Body Painting Artist and Competitor

by Monika Blichar

Our friend, volunteer and long time supporter David Torok had his face painted last year for our event by a lady named Angie Balbon. After some convincing, Angie decided that she would indeed participate after David encouraged her. We are very lucky that we have people like David in the community to support artists and make sure they are encouraged and go for their dreams.

We caught up to Angie for an interview. Be like Angie and Dave. Believe in your dreams and go for it!

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1-Why are you intrigued by body painting?

Body painting is a beautiful and unique art form unlike any other. The artist has the opportunity to get very intimate with a living breathing canvas. Working with the natural curves of the body creates a breathtaking masterpiece far from two dimensional.

2-When did you know you wanted to work in the creative arts industry?

I have been enamored with the arts since I was a child. Art class was one of my favourite classes throughout my school life as a youth. When I was a young teen I discovered makeup and the beauty of it’s trans formative qualities. MANY years later I decided to combine the two loves and attend the well reputed Blanche MacDonald Centre in 2012 for Professional Makeup Artistry, a perfect fit. Since then I have dabbled in the makeup career as a Freelance Artist.

3-You attended Blanche MacDonald in 2012. What is the most interesting thing you learned in their make up program?

That the possibilities are ENDLESS, and the world is your oyster! Always maintain professionalism, a positive upbeat attitude, network and keep learning. Knowledge is power!

4-In 2013, you competed and won 2nd place at the IMATS. What inspired your character design for that competition?

The theme that year was Oz, in honor of the movie being released that year. I chose to do my own version of a Winkie Guard (Wicked Witch’s soldiers), but updated with a backstory. He is the offspring of a Winkie Guard and a Munchkin post the Wicked Witch’s demise, choosing to continue to serve for the Emerald Castle. I also have an affinity for green people, ha ha.

My model, Scott, was the perfect candidate for the role.

Below are links to the article written by Blanche for my win as well as Youtube links to the video of the competition:

https://www.blanchemacdonald.com/news/makeup/2013/top-makeup-school-imats-vancouver-2013/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pqf3e0OQmPQ
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DPh4M5BX8zs

5-Where do you see yourself in 5 years?

Creating music (fronting/vocals for a touring festival music project) and making body art masterpieces Freelance while I instruct at my own yoga studio. Shoot for the stars!!!

6-Can you give us any hints regarding your body painting work for the 2017 Art World Expo Body Painting Competition?

As life and the universe connects us all and the wonders of the world, so does my beautiful expecting muse.

Thank you TORONTO!

We had an excellent event in Toronto and are so pleased with all who participated and attended! Here is a sampling of what happened, thank you to POPNSHOP EVENTS for covering the event!

A full list with the respective winners of the 2015 Art World Expo TORONTO Body Painting Competition will be posted shortly!

Enjoy!

Testing the Limits: An Interview with M.U.A. Mark Boyer

Artist Spotlight Mark Boyer

by Alyssa Laube

Mark Boyer of 3BArtistry is a creative renaissance man. Under his company name, he works in set design, makeup artistry, body painting, and sculpting. It’s hard to imagine how someone could juggle so many professions without having a specialty, but that’s exactly what Boyer claims to be. In other words, he’s a jack of all trades in the art world. Although he’ll be partaking in the body painting competition at the Art World Expo, he doesn’t seem to limit himself to any one field. Instead, he views his combined talents as a single area of expertise.

“My specialty is actually blending all of [my skills],” he illuminated. “Whether I’m sculpting flesh wounds in silicone or clay, body painting someone green, or creating a wearable piece of art like a monster suit, it’s all a form of makeup to me. When it’s most powerful, the different elements all come together to make someone look beautiful, or different, or scary.”

All three of those adjectives perfectly describe 3Bartistry’s portfolio. His work with face and body paint focuses on changing the whole person to be something surreal and illusory. Almost every piece looks like something you’d find in a circus or haunted festival, though there are still times when a simple eyeliner-and-lipstick looks is also needed. The diverse talent coming out of 3BArtistry has also led Mark in another direction: working on film sets. This makes sense when attention is drawn to his latest goals.

“I’ve progressed towards special effects geared to the film industry, and one of my current projects is as a SPFX technician for film. When I’m not on set, I take gigs in everything else for variety and to keep my skills sharp. Plus,” he added, “I like to stay busy!”

Maybe that’s why he practices so many art forms in so many environments. Ten years ago, Boyer worked as a face painter and “wanted to gain a better sense of what [he] could do with makeup as a medium.” To satisfy this desire, he attended Complextions International (CMU College) and was excited by all of the opportunity he discovered. That excitement led him to Bodyssey, where he partook in his first body painting competition and met his now-girlfriend, Red Herring. After that, Boyer spent two years sculpting mascots and, finally, returned to freelancing with other forms of makeup.

Herring and Boyer collaborate on many of the looks produced by 3BArtistry. “We’ve been painting together for over 7 years. She knows my style and what I can do,” he added. “She likes to test my limits.” The back-and-forth between the two artists must contribute to what makes their art so unique. The audience is guaranteed to get something creative out of 3BArtistry at the body painting competition, as foretold by Boyer’s plans for the event.

“I’m thinking about a darker feel in the fairy world since my thoughts are moving closer to Halloween. Trolls, giants, and evil kings interest me so, unsurprisingly, I’m a huge fan of Tolkien, Brian Froud, and H.R. Giger. To start, I’ll pick out a character and a few ideas. Then i’ll dig through my house full of props and sketch out a body template design, but nothing specific. Sometimes I make significant changes once I get on-site. At these competitions, I see a lot of great competitors out there and I like to challenge myself to create something unique. It will also come down to my models ability to live within my work; I have a few people in mind who are exceptional at acting and posing,” he contemplated. “Ideally, everything will work in harmony and I’ll be able to craft something that really wows the audience.”

Come see what 3BArtistry creates at the Toronto Art World Expo’s body painting competition!

Last Day to Submit at the Early Bird Rate-Vancouver!

Are you an artist who needs some exposure for your art? Do you create something that is unique and out of the box?

We are looking for YOU! Be sure to take advantage of the early bird rates as an Art World Expo TM exhibitor and join one of the most interesting shows in Vancouver, and now Toronto!

Application forms for Vancouver artists and more information can be found: HERE

ART WORLD EXPO-WIN A TRIP TO EUROPE!

We are thrilled to announce that our sponsors at Twin Peaks Construction have offered to support a contest that will allow one lucky winner to travel to the World Body Painting Festival in Europe summer 2016!

This contest will open mid winter after our Art World Expo Toronto show at Hard Rock Cafe! As a general guideline, all participants in the 2013, 2014 and 2015 Art World Expo Body Painting Competition will have a chance to win a flight to the World Body Painting Competition in Europe. Full contest details will be announced in the Fall!

Good luck to all of our competitiors and big thank you to our generous sponsors at Twin Peaks Construction! Building the Future is their motto and we are very grateful that they are helping us build the future for artists around the world!

www.twinpeaksconstruction.com

Call for Submissions!

We are looking for amazing artists, designers, and body painters to join our 2015/2016 roster of talent!

Are you an artist who works outside the box?

Do you design insane fashion or accessories?

Is your canvas a human body? WE WANT YOU!

Applications are now being accepted for the 2015/2016 Toronto and Vancouver Art World Expo! Visit: https://theartworldexpo.com/exhibitor-information/ for more inforamtion!

Finding Passion Through Peril – An Interview with Makeup Artist Neetu Sahota

About: Vancouver is home to the makeup industry’s modern-day Renaissance woman, Neetu Sahota. Not only does Neetu work as a makeup artist, teacher, and journalist (along with her position as an image specialist) but she also has an inspirational story to share about how she got there. After recovering from a stroke and graduating Blanche Macdonald, Neetu set out to pursue her passion in makeup artistry and never looked back. She’ll be taking part in the body painting competition this year, and will be working with the Expo’s “fairytale” theme.

How would you describe your style as a makeup artist?

My style is really about enhancing beauty; everyone is beautiful and it’s my job to show them just how beautiful they can be. I know that I have done my job right when I have a client who is in awe of how amazing they look. I can truly see how such a small act transforms them, not just from the outside, but the inside too!

What made you want to pursue a career in makeup artistry?

I originally intended to be a lawyer and was studying criminology at SFU up until 2006, which is when my life changed. At the age of nineteen, I suffered a full stroke to my left side. It was caused by an arteriovenous malformation in my brain, a rare condition which occurs in only 1% of the population. Due to its rarity, the only treatment option is brain surgery. If left untreated, symptoms can worsen and lead to paralysis and/or death. After the surgery, I was told that I would never go back to work or school, but I wanted to be normal again more than anything. With age and determination on my side, I was able to fully recover from the physical defects of the stroke after one year. I slowly returned to work and tried to return to school but my cognitive abilities were no longer as strong as they had been. I emerged myself into work, taking on a position of store manager and assistant manager, but despite these successes I found myself lost and unsure of what I was trying to achieve. I eventually started to see a therapist who always admired my makeup, and one day, she asked me why I never considered being a makeup artist. I had never thought of it, and with that glimmer of hope, I went to apply at Blanche MacDonald for the makeup program. Two days later, one of the admission directors called me to tell me that I had been approved and could start class next week, and I agreed! I was always meant to have a career in makeup, I just had to take the long and hard road to get there.

What do you focus on most in your makeup?

Skin! I will spend 80% of my time with any client on their skin. I’ve always believed that beautiful skin creates beautiful makeup, and that when skin is immaculate, everything else will look beautiful and radiant. It’s one of the hardest things to master, and understanding how to make very dry skin look as smooth as a baby’s bum isn’t something that can be taught in a book. It has to be learned from experience. Because it is difficult to make skin look flawless, many people will turn to Photoshop, but my job as a makeup artist is to create a flawless canvas on its own. Essentially, a makeup artist’s job will become insignificant if photographers need to retouch entire images to correct skin.

What are your favourite techniques, colours, products, and trends?

Some of my must-have kit products at the moment are: Clarins Beauty Flash Balm, Face Atelier Pro Foundation, NARS Orgasm Blush (the most amazing blush colour for all lighter skin tones and NARS Super Orgasm for darker skin tones), and MAC Blacktrax Gel liner.

What’s your motto as a makeup artist?

Nothing is a mistake, everything is always intentional.

What’s your number one beauty tip?

Use SPF every day, regardless of if the sun is out or not. This is the best way to prevent dark spots, aging, wrinkles, and skin cancer. The number one request I have from clients is to give them advice for their dark spots and wrinkles once they have occurred, but prevention is always easier than protection.

You’re more than just an artist; you’re also a teacher! How has teaching make-up at Surrey College changed you as an artist?

While working at NARS, I would conduct monthly seminars and masterclasses, sharing backstage makeup techniques and tips with clients. I realized then that I had a passion for sharing my makeup knowledge with others. Teaching is such a fulfilling experience, and I didn’t want to hold back any information from my students, because they became a representation of me. I always tried to give my students a wide variety of knowledge which I had uncovered throughout my experiences in the industry, instead of limiting their learning solely to the curriculum.

How has your job with NARS impacted you, and what are your favourite NARS products?

Oh, there are so many NARS products I love! My makeup kit is full of lots of NARS but my absolute favourites have to be Nico, Sex Appeal, and Zen blush. I always make sure I have one of each on-hand at all times.

Francois Nars once said, “Why so serious? It is only makeup,” which I think is a perfect quote to explain makeup. It isn’t like cutting hair or performing a surgery; you can always correct it by wiping it off and starting again. I tell this to all of my students and myself: you cannot make mistakes in makeup. Think of it as a learning process, an opportunity to make a correction. If you realize that you aren’t pleased with something, you can wipe it away and make the necessary changes. Working at NARS gave me this perspective and developed my passion for skin and layering products.

As if you didn’t already have enough jobs, you write beauty articles for Jugni Style. What can readers expect from your articles, and what has that job done for you artistically?

I just got married a month ago, so I did have to take a break from my beauty articles, but readers can typically expect product reviews, makeup & hair trends, and how-to’s for celebrity makeup looks. We are hoping to have some how-to videos eventually which would aid readers in creating specific looks.

Finally, how has your work as an image specialist (with Studio Cloud 30) changed your artistry?

Working with Studio Cloud 30 has enabled me to take my artistry to the next level by working with some talented artists in the music industry. Warren Dean Flandez, owner and previous competitor in Cover Me Canada, saw the talent in me and brought me onto his team, which has allowed me to make further connections in the music and fashion industry.

Some of your inspirations include Alexander McQueen, Guy Bourdin, Francois Nars and Alex Box. What about these people inspires you? Are there any particular looks of theirs that you adore?

What I love about these artists is that all of them are creative savants or rule-breakers in their industry. They did not care what others may have thought of them or their work. They just did what inspired them. Each of them changed the industry in their own way regardless of being recognized for their talents. For example, Alexander McQueen introduced the world to theatrical fashion shows, and Guy Bourdin started provocative fashion photography. I have the books for each of these artists but my favourite by far is Francois Nars’ 15X15. It fills me with inspiration every time I go through it.

How does your preference in hair styles differ from your taste in makeup looks?

While taking my Global Artistry Diploma at Blanche MacDonald, I was able to learn hair styling, which is a great asset for my clients since they often prefer to book a makeup and hair artist in one. My hair style preferences are quite in line with my makeup style: polished and classic.

How did graduating from Blanche MacDonald improve you as an artist?

Attending Blanche MacDonald was amazing! I was able to let out tons of creative energy and really refine my artistry skills in a variety of areas. Prior to attending Blanche MacDonald, airbrushing, fashion, and special effect makeups were unknown to me. I was lucky to have some amazing teachers (Jon Hennessey, Ashley Forshaw, and Corey Roberts) who would pass on their knowledge and provide me with honest feedback on how to improve my skills.

What will you be showing the Art World Expo audience this year? How are you planning on testing/demonstrating your skills at this year’s event?

I’ll be creating a classic fairy in the style of the Grimm’s Brothers. I want to demonstrate a more realistic character rather than creating an abstract interpretation of a fairy tale, and will demonstrate my skill set by applying make-up that looks intricate and detailed both up close and from a distance.