Every day many people ask us what it feels like to be body painted, and we completely understand why. Being nude is one of the most vulnerable states many of us can be in. While everyone should feel completely comfortable in their own skin, often, many women and men do not.  Additionally, with the over-sexualization of the female body, many people are not open to the idea of nude body painting. To get a better idea of the body painting process, we want you to hear directly from our models. The body painting process is a comfortable and freeing process that can help one feel empowered and accepting of everything their body is and its abilities. Read our model’s testimonials on the body painting process and how it has affected them.

Emma Rosche-Ritchie
“For me, being bodypainted is almost meditative- it forces you to sit (or stand) still, to focus on your body, your breath and letting go of any tension you’re holding in your muscles. It’s transformative- you literally feel like a work of art when the piece is completed- a living, breathing piece of art.”

Jin N Tonic

“Getting body painted is like a very elevated level handshake. You get to know somebody very well very quick when they’re painting your naked body. It’s intimate, fun, challenging, and often quite collaborative. The brushes themselves are quite soft albeit the paint is often a little chilly. Kind of like a brisk sponge bath. Once dry though the paint feels amazing on your skin, like a shimmering, airy bodysuit and super soft!”

Natasha Markwick

“It was a challenge, just for myself, that I really wanted to get into, you know, being comfortable with being technically naked in front a whole lot of strangers; and then on top of it, being painted. So, it was a personal challenge, but I luckily surprised myself on how comfortable I felt in the space. Mostly because you make it into a safe space, and you make sure that everyone feels comfortable, and they’re okay. And you ask obviously all the time if you know if you want to go in live or if you want to be photographed in between the scenes. You make sure that everyone feels safe and comfortable.... but you know it’s cold, that’s how it feels. It’s cold.”

Dara Swisher

“I think being body painted is a very calming experience, and can be meditative (depending on the pose of course!) The brushes are soft and although the paint is COLD it dries very quickly into a kind of second skin. Something that I didn’t know when I came into body paint was something about the paints themselves. And I think a lot of people think this as well, that they’re like liquid paints and they’re actually not. All of the colors come in these solid cake pots and they have to be activated with water in order to make them into something that you can paint on the skin and then it goes back to that solid-state on your skin. So it feels almost like you’re wearing, not clothes, but like it feels you have something on. It doesn’t feel like the same as when you’re standing there naked or mostly naked before you get painted. It feels like something is on you which I think is pretty neat.

Roberto Aguilar

Getting body painted is kind of like a maze: you know where to start and you know what it’s supposed to look like at the end. But it’s the uncertain journey in between that’s the truly exciting part from the model’s perspective.”

Zachary Koval

“It’s Like getting licked by a litter/kindle of kittens all at once all over your body.”

Kerstin Tuning

“It’s exciting, can be a bit chilly, but always fulfilling at the end.  The kabuki brush strokes are usually strong, but the details work tends to be very light.  My ears and back are always ticklish for me!  And I do have to mentally stabilize myself when my face is airbrushed.  I also love when the base coat is done because not only do I not even feel naked anymore, but I can see the pieced coming together and already feel like someone or something other than myself.”

Alexandra Peter

“Getting body painted is exhilarating, cold, and intense all at the same time. Collaborating with the artists and the other models to create something that cannot be recreated is what I love most. “

Gwendolyn Jane

“The painting process is grounding, liberating, and often healing. The sensation and focus compel a presence of mind akin to meditative mindfulness. The inherent intimacy lowers boundaries and creates a closeness between painter and canvas. More often than not, body paint pushes some physical or mental limits, and whenever an edge is met, personal capacity is expanded. After the brushwork is done, your outward appearance is drastically altered causing a sociological shift in your interactions and sense of identity among others. There is a full, immersive exploration between the first pose prep and the final shower, which often imparts a bit of inward insight and a mighty fine story.”

We hope that the stories of these two models have inspired you and created a positive impact on your perspective of nude body painting and the body painting process. Trina Merry does an incredible job of fostering a caring and non-judgmental atmosphere for her models. Head on over to our Instagram for more projects and testimonials, and tell us what inspires you most about nude body painting and what projects you would like to see next.