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

Posted on by Thor

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.

4 x 4 Fringe Pub Crawl

Posted on by Thor

The 4 x 4 Fringe Pub Crawl on May 13th was in the Mills 50 District and in Ivanhoe Village. There were drink specials at Wally’s, Will’s Pub, BART and The Peacock Room in Mills 50 and The Matador, Hideaway, Hammered Lamb and Savoy in Ivanhoe Village. O-Cartz (included with the $10 wristband) transported patrons between bars.  There was a rumor that Andy Matchett would pay $20 to anyone who literally crawled from BART to the Peacock Room a block or two further up Mills Avenue.

I decided to go to BART, an arcade and bar on Mills Avenue that I have never been to before. Chan Sterling was checking his portable microphone and speaker. It was tinny but would have to do. Lead by Ruby Darling, Skill Focus Burlesque Dancers arrived and sat in the cushy lounge seating.  The entire cast of Jet Backpack and the Battle at the End of the Universe arrived all at once. They were all in their intergalactic costumes. There were photo opportunities of Jett and his crew playing video games.

Earth Girls are Easy was on the wide screen TV but music drowned the sound track. Paintings by Parker Sketch had just been hung earlier in the day. Parker arrived with a few friends and he let me know that several of the smaller pieces had already sold. A woman asked me if I was the Painter, Sketcher who was on the poster. I didn’t know what she meant at first, but finally realized she was referring to Parker Sketch.

Suddenly a gaggle of screaming women entered the bar. Two of them climbed onto the bar, dancing and making out. One girl had a long pink penis shaped water pistol filled with vodka and she was offering shots to all the men. I couldn’t bring myself to purse my lips in front of the phallic dispenser. One woman had penis shaped antenna and she was the one to go up to the mic to promote the Bachelorette show. I was given a business card with a tiny plastic bag of white powder stapled to the back, I did a detective wet finger taste test. It wasn’t cocaine but powdered sugar, then again, I have no idea what cocaine tastes like. The Bachelorettes vanished as suddenly as the arrived, probably off to the next bar. Suddenly the bar was relatively quiet again.

John Bateman took to the microphone and sang David Bowie‘s “Space Oddity” with lyrics that had been altered to the Jett Backpack theme. Kevin Sigman as the sinister Doctor Saurian also stepped up to the mic.  Matt McGrath shouldered up to the bar with model Sierra Missed. She had an angular futuristic hair style that made her appear like an exotic futuristic replicant from Blade Runner. I had sketched her just last month at the RAW event at the Abbey. I didn’t recognize her at first since she was all green when I sketched her, but she recognized me. Matt pointed out that I’m probably the only person in town who can get away with scrutinizing someone for several hours without appearing creepy. With my sketch done, I contemplated wandering off to another bar on the crawl, but decided one sketch was enough for the night.

I’m curious about that Bachelorette show now.

Remaining Show Times are:

5/18 at 7PM

5/19 at 4:20PM

5/22 at 9:30PM

5/24 at 11:15PM

5/25 at 9:15PM

Where: Gold Venue at Theater Downtown, Princeton and Orange

Tickets: $10 plus a Fringe Button

RAW Artists Orlando Presents…Marvel

Posted on by Thor

On April 4th, I went to The Abbey (100 South Eola Drive, Orlando, Fl) to check out the talent at RAW Artists Orlando presents…Marvel. There was a line to get in that snaked around the corner into a parking garage.

A recording of Britt Daley‘s “One and Only” was pulsing through the room. “Awesome!” I thought. “They really are showcasing the best local talent.” However, Britt wasn’t on stage that night. Musical acts included Live Hart, Cure for Caska, and Judy Tribune. One performer who sang while I was sketching was so far off key that I cringed.

The artist that caught my eye was this body painter named Nix Herrera. He used stencils and an airbrush to create intricate lettering and designs.  It was really stunning work. The model, Sierra Missed, had a proud and regal expression the whole time. She was enjoying the attention.

Artist, Jean-Claude Rasch introduced himself.  I had met him before at one of Parker Sketch’s art critiques. I remember Jean worked on Plexiglas and the paintings would have different coloring if lit from behind. He was set up in the same spot where Parker Sketch had been set up the month before. Jean’s work had more than a passing resemblance to Parker’s work incorporating splashes and pop culture imagery.

Last time I went to a RAW event I was dressed a bit grungy, walking in with a baseball cap the bouncer reminded me to take off. This time, knowing cocktail attire was required, I wore a suit and tie. I just had to keep the tie from flopping down onto the palette. You have to be over 21 to get in and tickets were $10 in advance or $15 at the door.