So the trailers are out for the
Syfy Channel's hit show Face Off. The show follows FX makeup artists as the compete to win the ultimate face off in special effects. Since the shoes inception last year when I am out working people ask oh do you know that show, or you should be on.... Well yes I know and love this show and no I should not be on Face Off. While I am well versed in the basics of FX makeup and can hold my own, and even teach classes on how to create basic effects and on prodcuts use, I am not up to pare with many a talented FX Makeup Artist. But some of my dear friends are!
The second season of Face Off airs January 11th and boasts 13 talents, artists with skills in make-up, and according to Syfy it will include a wide range of skill sets including prosthetics, 3-D design, sculpting, eye enhancers, casting and molding. Each episode involves incredible reveals of the competitors' finished work, and the drama (ahhh the drama, ya know you wath for the drama as well as the cool FX outcomes). And of course of one contestant each show is sent home by the panel of expert and celebrity judges.
Frankly, if you can handle the drama the judges alone make being a participant worth it.Syfy has three-time Academy Award winner Ve Neill (
Pirates of the Caribbean,
Edward Scissorhands) and Hollywood veterans Glenn Hetrick (
Heroes,
Buffy the Vampire Slayer,
The X-Files) and Patrick Tatopoulos (
Underworld,
Independence Day,
Resident Evil: Extinction) as
Face Off's judges. And that no small potatoes folks!
So who did handle the heat. Two friends, body artists Nix Herrea and Athena Zhe. Both are young talented artists, both are full of character and neither is too hard on the eyes. It's true these two are just too darn attractive!
Go to the Syfy channel and read their bios. I will tell you about Nix and then blog about Athena in a day or two.
The first time I met Nix I was co-prodcuing the US Body Painting Festival and He was heading to Japan. I wanted in to make a stop at our event. I had at midnight let a well known, highly talented, face painter, who after having tipped a few, paint my face. I can not name her here as she and I both know any photos I am saving to blackmail her with and then retire on those funds! Just our little joke. I had on face paint that looked like I was a drunken, drag queen involved in a hit and run. I was talking about with Nix and he is there just as sweet as he really is and a real pro - staightfaced. Suddenly I realize! Oh my face I not and Nix just bust out laughing. We have been friends ever since. I tryuely love this man. I have loved seeing him grow and cultivate his skills to produce some of the most stunning body painting images on the planet.
Here are a few of his older works I really love.
This was the first thing I ever saw of Nix work live and in person. He called me in to the photography studio at
Face And Body Art International Convention where we first met, He had painted, with the amazing Kurt Drake of
Wolfe FX, in UV makeup, And here Nix had these 3-D glasses. So here we are a large handful of us in this not so big hotel meeting space standing in the darkened room, UV lights glowing and we are all ahhhhhhhing over what we saw. Trust me when I say the picture here, while very fine, was nothing like seeing this artwork in that room. Even more awe (and for me) inspiring it Nix's noting this was his first UV body art.
Body Art By Nix, assisted by
Kurt Drake and Brian Wolfe (master painters by there own rights) Photography by Rich Johnson and model here is Kelly White .
The first time I saw this -wow, I was so taken. Still am.
Body Art by Nix, Face Paint by Jillian H,
Model by Defenz Mechanizm and Photography by
Warren Products / Warren Bradford Whitmore.
OK one more I really love. Saw this as I too was dabbling in gold. Lovely.
This was painted at another Face And Body Art Convention.
Body Art by Nix, Photography by Shay, I do not know the model, but I check on this,
Wow right! See more of Nix work at
http://www.modelmayhem.com/701794.
Nix Body Art is for hire.
Nix seen here on Syfy also has a signature airbrush makeup and stencil line, See those at
The Painted Navel Extreme Makeup FX.Ok next post is about Athena Zhe.
This year, the festival attracted over 24,000 visitors. Professional makeup artists from 42 countries competed for the World Championship. Apart from body painting, the WBF brings art, music and different shows together making this a magical experience.
The 2012 is going to be the 15th anniversary of the World Bodypainting Festival and it will be held in Pörtschach. Austria. The event week is scheduled for July 2-8, 2012. It is highly recommended to register early especially for the WBF academy as there are limited seats available for each workshop in 2012.
The history of makeup and beauty enhancement dates back to the Greeks and Romans who used eye shadow, eye liner and lip stain. Many would agree that Indian and African tribes who painted their faces and bodies to prepare for hunting, war and marriage were using primitive makeup.
Several Middle Eastern countries have traditions relating to decorating the face and body in some form or another. I particularly love the Hindu application of Mehndi, the delicate designs that are applied to the hands and feet of a Hindu bride. Lawsonia Inermis is the plant that is used to make the henna mixture, sometimes people refer to the beautiful patterns and symbols as Henna. The paste made from the henna plant is not permanent but it can last up to 3 weeks.
To get the dye, the leaves are taken and dried and then ground into powder. Usually this powder is turned into paste and then applied to the skin. At first, the color of the stain it leaves is orange in color. However, within 24 hours that stain will turn a reddish-brown.
Henna transfer tattoos look great around the ankle, along the thigh, around the wrist or arm or along the neck. They go with virtually any look and generally will last 3-5 days. Easy, inexpensive and fashionable: these traits make the henna transfer tattoo an excellent fashion accessory
The activity of applying henna is popular across the globe, and in some parts of the world henna is also known as mehndi, nevertheless the popularity of this art remains high almost everywhere it goes. Henna designs come in many different shapes and designs, though the most popular three mehndi styles in existence today are the Indian mehndi designs, the Pakistan mehndi designs and the Arabic mehndi designs.
