BASE Orlando – Masquerade Body Paint Art Show

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The Masquerade Body Paint Art Show run by Mandi Ilene Schiff, was at DRIP (8747 International Drive Suite 102 (Behind Denny’s and Senor Frogs), Orlando, Florida.) Unfortunately DRIP on has closed down. It used to be a spot to see some of Orlando’s most edgy art.

BASE Body Art Showcase and Exhibit is one of the few places in world where guests can witness a body painting event of this magnitude. Each body art showcase is centered on a theme and features over a dozen professional body painter’s masterpieces. Artists and models come together to create a truly one-of-a-kind piece of art that only exists for the fleeting moments for that one evening.

 I focused my attention on Nix Herrera who is an amazingly talented body painter that I have sketched at work before. Once all the models were painted, there was a runway show to showcase all the creations. Nix’s mom was curious about my work in progress. Clearly she is supportive of her son’s colorful career.

Afterwards, the only remember the creation is in the photography taken, that can never fully bring back view of the 360 degree, living, breathing canvas. My sketch is just another hint at the art created that night.

BASE Orlando: Beach Bash Body Paint Art Show Reggae

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The BASE Orlando: Beach Bash Body Paint Art Show was held at DRIP (8747 International Drive Orlando FL). The black walls were great for allowing the painted model’s colors to shine.  After all the models were painted, there was a runway show of the creations. There was a jellyfish wig and plenty of aquatic themes. One woman had beach umbrellas painted on each butt cheek and a shark swam its way up another leg. Clam shells cupped breasts and along with octopi and starfish. Seaweed and scales adorned skin in faux patterns.

The runway show was too much of a challenge since each creation was on stage for less than a minute. I focused my attention on the reggae band instead. They played a lively set which did blend well with the beach theme. Body painting is such an ephemeral art form existing for just one night. All that remains after the evening’s festivities are the photos, videos and a few sketches.

BASE Orlando: Beach Bash Body Paint Art Show

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BASE Orlando founder, Mandi Ilene Schiff celebrated her birthday at the10th BASE show, at DRIP (8747 International Dr Suite 102, Orlando, Florida.) Painting for over a decade, BASE brings together the talents of renowned
Face and Body Painter Mandi and Photographer Robert Johnston.

From humble beginnings of face painting at princess parties, Mandi was
inspired to see the entire body as a canvas and potential work of art.
Since then, she has won multiple face and body painting awards, painted
across the state, on cruise ships and in the Bahamas and currently does
face and body painting in Orlando. Mandi and her dynamic team now bring
their work together at BASE Orlando for an imaginative experience unlike
anything else. After her community of body painters spent years
gathering in bars or homes to practice and exhibit their art, Mandi
founded BASE in an effort to reach out to a wider audience and produce a
complete art show. After many wildly successful events, Mandi and her
team continue to offer visitors a remarkable experience through their
one-of-a-kind collection of local artists and performers.

Over a dozen body paint
artists came together to showcase their unique work and channel
their inspiration for the Beach Bash Body Paint Art Show. BASE guests
experienced live body painting while watching talented artists transform
models into living works of art right before their eyes while getting
the unique opportunity to glimpse behind the scenes of professional body
painting.

BASE attendees get up close and personal with live
body art like nowhere else in Florida. While awaiting the final reveal
of the body paint masterpieces, they can browse artist vending tables,
enjoy food and bar specials and live entertainment from the area’s top
burlesque acts, dancers and more. For me, it is always a great sketch opportunity. I have been sketching BASE events for years and the final creations always amaze and inspire.

Base around the World Body Paint Art Showcase.

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The Base Around the World Body Paint Showcase was held at
DRIP (8747 International Drive
Suite 102, Orlando, FL.) This showcase is one of the few places
in the world where guests can witness a body painting event of this magnitude.
Pam Schwartz and I arrived early so I could sketch the amazing models when they were
just beginning to be painted. It is fun to sketch as they
turn into creative living canvases. Each body paint show is centered around a
theme. Each model this evening became a different country or exotic port of
call.

Over a dozen body paint artists’ works could only be seen for several fleeting moments of artistic
completion at the end of the evening. Music was provided by
Dub Masters. Besides the body painters, artists also had tables to sell their
wares.                                                                       

I focused on the models in front of a paint splattered rainbow
of color that had the saying, “What Color Are Your?”  One model was being painted all the golden
colors of the Savannah with a large lion face being painted on her butt.  The other model was being painted with green
flames and a Chinese dragon wrapped around her torso.  

The Orlando
community of body painters spent years gathering in bars or homes to practice
and exhibit their art. Mandi Ilene Schiff founded BASE Orlando in an effort to reach
out to a wider audience and produce events
as a complete art show.  Now three years
later the showcases keep getting better. It is always a sketch opportunity like
none other.

Mark your Calendar. The next BASE showcase is going to be a black light extravaganza held November 30th starting at 8 PM at DRIP (8747 International Drive, Orlando, Fl). I am excited to see the glowing colors in the dark. 

The Human Rainbow

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On June 11th, one year after the horrific hate crime that took 49 lives at the Pulse Nightclub in Orlando, body painters gatherer at the Other Bar (18 Wall St, Orlando, Florida 32801) in Downtown Orlando to paint 49 models each a different color of the rainbow. The models each represented the lives lost last year during the Pulse Tragedy. The bar was packed and I had to sketch fast since, I had to get to the Shakespeare theater to see O-Town in which monologues based on interviews showed how local residents raised themselves up after the tragedy. 

Mandi Ilene Schiff of Base Orlando organized the event which was similar to a body painting event held last year. Each body painter was assigned a color and once a model was painted, another would quickly take their place. There was no time to waste when there were 49 bodies that needed to be covered in pigments. It was a triage of rainbow colors. After models were painted, they move to the other side of the bar where an impromptu rainbow dance party broke out. A body painter’s shirt read, “We Are One.”

Nix Herrera was painting blue people, and I focused my attention on the body painter in an American flag t-shirt that was painting her model orange. The body painter’s husband watched me work and he was in charge of making sure models were lined up ready to be painted. With so much color and sensuality it was at times easy to forget the somber reason for the artistic effort. Outside the bar the 49 gathered and posed in line for the full effect of the 49 person rainbow as it illuminated the grey afternoon.

The Orlando Strong Group Body Paint at The Other Bar.

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Mandi Ilene Schiff of BASE Orlando organized this amazing evening where 49 models were each painted a separate color of the rainbow. Of course the 49 models represent the 49 who fell at the Pulse Terrorist Attack. Six survivors are still in critical condition. The Other Bar (18 Wall St, Orlando, FL) is located right next to the Orlando History Center. Outside the bar was a huge wooden chair with each of it’s wooden slats painted a different color of the rainbow.

When I entered, models were already being painted. Robert Johnston , Ilene’s fiancee offered me a seat at the bar, and I got right to work. The model closest to me was being painted purple. She must have locked her knees because she suddenly felt faint and had to sit down. People rushed to get her water and juice. She gradually recovered. I have had this happen with a model before and it can be quite terrifying for the model, and the artist. There were far more women being painted than men. I admired James Brendlinger‎, a producer and director who was being painted blue. Perhaps in the future if male models are needed. I will volunteer. It would be nice to get a bit more fit first. Some of the women were extremely fit. Model Monica Edwards created special Pulse Tribute Dolls that sell for just $25 each. This tragedy hits incredibly close to home for Monica and these dolls are
intended as a fundraiser for the victim’s recovery and for the families
of those we lost. All proceeds will be going to the Pulse Victims Fund, gofundme. 

 Outside the bar was a surreal scene in which dozens of beautiful brightly colored people milled around the bar and socialized. Every model got a wrist bracelet with brightly colored beads. It was funny to find that clicks formed over time with the reds sticking together at the bar. One purple woman exited the bar and shouted out for a short purple man. ” Did anyone see a short purple man?” A purple woman hugged a yellow woman as they posed for pictures. A beautiful lesbian couple kissed in front of models that represented every color of the rainbow. There was so much love everywhere I looked. All the bright colors swirled around me.  Then all 49 models were encouraged to go to the park in front of the Orlando History Center for photos. I stayed and watched, soaking in the joy and lore for those still trying to recover. Mandi created an amazing event that celebrated life while honoring those lost.

Base Orlando Pin Ups Pose with Hot Rods.

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After sketching all the body painters and models inside the Majestic Event Center (801 North John Young Parkway, Orlando, FL) I walked outside and ordered a hot dog from the food truck and settled in to sketch the hot rods on display. I was then rewarded as the models came outside to pose next to the cars. Rosie the riveter was the first, and she showed off her biceps. Her  tattoo on her muscular arm read, “We Can Do It!” The model with the heart shaped glasses had a yellow bikini painted on. She feigned surprise as she pursed her lips as if to say oooh!

Mandi Ilene Schiff the Base Orlando organizer has volunteered to be part of the Blue Box Initiative next Monday. She will setup a body painting station in one of the side walk boxes and work for several hours. Her blue box is near the Bob Carr Theater. That entire block is under construction, so there is little foot traffic except for UCF Center of Emerging Media Students. Body Painting on the streets of downtown Orlando should push the limits of what is considered to expression in the City Beautiful. To date, I haven’t seen a single police cruiser while doing a blue box sketch. Perhaps this will finally be a case that catches an officer’s attention.

Mark your Calendars! The next Base Orlando event is Pop-Art themed and is tonight, on March 3, from 8pm to 11pm at the Majestic Event Center (801 North John Young Parkway, Orlando, FL). Tickets are $10 to $25.

Base Orlando: Hot Rods and Pin Ups

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I love sketching body painters at work. Majestic Event Center (801 North John Young Parkway, Orlando, FL) opens early to let the painters get a head start on their creations before the public arrives. B.A.S.E. stands for Body Art Showcase and Exhibit. This time around they were body painting Hot Rod and Pin Up themed models. More than a dozen body painted models got transformed into works of art. Local artists were selling their goods, hot rod cars were be on display for photos, burlesque dancers showcased their talents, a food truck was vending outside, the bar served specials all night.

Some models were transformed into pin-striped hot rods, while others became World War II pin ups. As the sun set, the venue filled up. Once the sketch was done, I went outside to get d hot dog, and check out the muscle cars.

Entertainment by:

Corsets and Cuties

Balachandra Belly Dance

Team Rush

Mark your Calendars! The next Base Orlando event is Pop-Art themed on March 3, from 8pm to 11pm at the Majestic Event Center (801 North John Young Parkway, Orlando, FL). Tickets are $10 to $25.

Golden Body Painting at Nude Nite.

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If you missed Nude Nite here in Orlando this Valentines Day, keep in mind that it will also be happening on March 3-5 in Tampa Florida. The sketch opportunities are clearly limitless. On my second night going to the venue, I decided to focus on Base Orlando body painters. I know Lori Babson Jessup, the body painter in the foreground from sketching dancers in town. Spiraling filigree were painted in Lori’s cleavage making it hard not to look there. Base Orlando is a group of Body painters who gather regularly and paint their models with a given theme. A recent Base Orlando event had a steampunk theme. It was clear the steampunk inspired Lori’s body painting on this Nude Nite. The model had golden chain mail on her shoulders and breasts and gears interconnected on her  legs.

Lori had an assistant to help with the work. Photographers would move in for their shots and the disperse like waves crashing against the shore. Some couples were concerned about the paint, perhaps because of the scene in Goldfinger in which a gorgeous woman died because she was painted head to toe in gold paint. Lori would reassure people that the paint water based theater paint that. completely non-toxic. Lori would at times stand on the platform with the model and other times she stood below on the floor. One time she was on the platform and so focused on her painting, that g almost tumbled off the platform. She laughed and then curtsied to the assembled crowd. “Thanks folks, I’ll be here all night.” As if the slip was all part of the act.

With my sketch done, to was tempted to try another, but I was exhausted. t had been teaching an Urban sketching Workshop all day with Kelly Medford at the Mennello Museum. We had 14 students and it was such a gorgeous day. Nudc Nite was the icing on the cake of a perfect day.

Base Orlando keeps pushing the boundries of themed Body Painting.

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I arrived at BASE Orlando “British Invasion” Body Painting Show at the Majestic Event Center, (801 North John Young Parkway, Orlando, FL) a bit early so I could watch the talented body painters transforming models into living works of art. I immediately decided to focus on Nix Herrera who was painting a group of model to camouflage them against a British flag. A camera was set up on a tripod and from the camera’ vantage point the models blended in perfectly with the flag. The artists had to consult the came often to be sure they were on track.

Some of Orlando’s top entertainers also be performed on stage throughout the evening. Entertainment included BalaChandra Belly Dance,
Corsets and Cuties, and
Rock Hard Revue
Team Rush.Vendors were also set up around the venue so there was plenty of art and fashion. For me, the event is always an exciting and challenging sketch opportunity, as I document the models who are transformed as I sketch.

BASE brings together the talents of renowned Face and Body
Painter Mandi Ilene who has been painting for over a
decade, and Photographer Robert Johnston. From humble
beginnings of face painting at princess parties, Mandi was inspired to
see the entire body as a canvas and potential work of art. Since then,
she has won multiple face and body painting awards, painted across the
state, on cruise ships and in the Bahamas and currently does face
painting in Orlando. Mandi and her dynamic team now bring their work
together at BASE Orlando for an imaginative experience unlike anything
else.

After her community of body painters spent years
gathering in bars or homes to practice and exhibit their art, Mandi
founded BASE in an effort to reach out to a wider audience and produce a
complete art show. After many wildly successful events, Mandi and her
team continue to offer visitors a remarkable experience through their
one-of-a-kind collection of local artists and performers.

Mark your calendars! On January 14th, Base Orlando will present the Steampunk Body Paint Art Show at the Majestic Event Center. Doors open at 8pm. Tickets are $11.54 to $27.37. I’m excited about the Steampunk Show. I can already imagine the women being transformed into exotic mechanized creatures. Since the event features artwork on nude models, all guests should be over 18.