Process

In my Zoomorphics series, I am painter, performer, and photographer.

 

Before painting on myself, I make preparatory sketches in a variety of media, including paint on paper and digital drawing.

Then, to transform myself, I apply professional-grade face and body paint, cosmetic glitter, and hair color spray. I paint in front of two mirrors, a tabletop mirror (for detail work) and a full-body mirror. Once painting is complete, I have become a new creature, and assume the poses and expressions of that creature for the camera. I shoot most of my photographs in my studio, in front of solid-color cloth backdrops. My camera, an Olympus mirrorless 4/3, is mounted on a tripod, and controlled wireless by my iPhone.

 

Because I only have one afternoon or evening to get the shot before I have to wash the painting off, I often take hundreds of photographs, to ensure I got the right one. This process of painting on myself, performing, and photographing can take up to eight hours.

 

It’s an exciting moment when I view the photographs on the computer for the first time and find the one that just works. It usually provokes a visceral reaction, moving me to smile, laugh, or stare. And in that moment, I see for the first time exactly what this creature is that I have created, how all the different parts of my process brought it to life.

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