Base Orlando Pin Ups Pose with Hot Rods.

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

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.

BASE Orlando “British Invasion” Body Painting Show is to feature plenty of talent.

I went to the Majestic Event Center, 801 North John Young Parkway, Orlando, FL to watch body painting artists get their models ready for a BASE Orlando Body Painting Event. The artists start early in the afternoon so that their creations are ready by the time the doors open at 8pm. I sketched the line up as artists set up. I’ve sketched Nix Herrera before and I love his work. Ironically Sierra Missed was his model at the previous RAW Orlando event so I wanted to be sure they were in the foreground. Sierra was energetic when she arrived, dancing her way into the venue. But when it came time to get to work, she became a marble statue.

Nix’s first order of business was to get Sierra in a tight skull cap and to be sure pasties covered her nipples. He is a consummate pro and offered to help other artists glue down any rough edges on pasties. Models wore bikini bottoms but other than that they were a nude blank canvas to start. There is plenty of playful conversation to start but once brush touches flesh things get serious. There has to be an amazing amount of trust between models and artists. Sierra was quickly painted white from head to feet. Grey detailing was added at her joints that made her look like a mechanical android. One of the dancers from Corsets and Cuties was transformed into a green reptilian goddess. The theme for the evening was “Out of This World” and the results were just that.

Mark Your Calendars! On Wednesday, May 6 at 8:00pm at the Majestic Event Center, 801 N John Young Pkwy, Orlando, Fl, some of Orlando’s top entertainers will also be performing on stage throughout the evening for the British Invasion. Enjoy the bar specials and browse the artists vending tables.
Entry is $10 presale or $15 at the door.
Get your tickets.

Body Paint Artists:

Mandi Ilene
Sierra Rose
Lori Jessup
Nix Herrera
Ajay Schweiger
Della Morte
Melanie Cochrane
Jeff and Caity Simon
Chris Davis and Lauren-Rae Chismar
Tabitha Sclafani
Justin Davis
Emma Kenemer
Tifinie Boutot
Juan Pantoja 

Photographers:
Robert Six-Round
Chuck Davis 

Entertainment:
BalaChandra Belly Dance
Corsets and Cuties, a Burlesque Cabaret
Rock Hard Revue
Team Rush

Is there an age requirement?
Yes, since the event features artwork on nude models, guests over 18 are welcome.
Can I bring my camera?
We ask that you leave your cameras at home since we will have some incredible photographers on hand. Taking photos with your phone is fine, but leave the heavy duty photography to our professionals! You can see the photographers’ work after on our website baseorlando.com and on our Facebook page.