Tuesday, January 10, 2012

Body Artists Compete on Syfy's Face Off

So the trailers are out for the Syfy Channel's hit show Face Off. The show follows FX makeup artists as the compete to win the ultimate face off in special effects.  Since the shoes inception last year when I am out working people ask oh do you know that show, or you should be on.... Well yes I know and love this show and no I should not be on Face Off. While I am well versed in the basics of FX makeup and can hold my own, and even teach classes on how to create basic effects and on prodcuts use, I am not up to pare with many a talented FX Makeup Artist. But some of my dear friends are!

The second season of Face Off airs January 11th and boasts 13 talents, artists with skills in make-up, and according to Syfy it will include a wide range of skill sets including prosthetics, 3-D design, sculpting, eye enhancers, casting and molding. Each episode involves incredible reveals of the competitors' finished work, and the drama (ahhh the drama, ya know you wath for the drama as well as the cool FX outcomes). And of course of one contestant each show is sent home by the panel of expert and celebrity judges.

Frankly, if you can handle the drama the judges alone make being a participant worth it.Syfy has  three-time Academy Award winner Ve Neill (Pirates of the Caribbean, Edward Scissorhands) and Hollywood veterans Glenn Hetrick (Heroes, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, The X-Files) and Patrick Tatopoulos (Underworld, Independence Day, Resident Evil: Extinction) as Face Off's judges. And that no small potatoes folks!

So who did handle the heat. Two friends, body artists Nix Herrea and Athena Zhe. Both are young talented artists, both are full of character and neither is too hard on the eyes. It's true these two are just too darn attractive! Go to the Syfy channel and read their bios.

 I will tell you about Nix and then blog about Athena in a day or two.

The first time I met Nix I was co-prodcuing the US Body Painting Festival and He was heading to Japan. I wanted in to make a stop at our event. I had at midnight let a well known, highly talented, face painter, who after having tipped a few, paint my face. I can not name her here as she and I both know any photos I am saving to blackmail her with and then retire on those funds! Just our little joke. I had on face paint that looked like I was a drunken, drag queen involved in a hit and run. I was talking about with Nix and he is there just as sweet as he really is and a real pro - staightfaced.  Suddenly I realize! Oh my face I not and Nix just bust out laughing. We have been friends ever since. I tryuely love this man. I have loved seeing him grow and cultivate his skills to produce some of the most stunning body painting images on the planet.

Here are a few of his older works I really love.

This was the first thing I ever saw of Nix work live and in person. He called me in to the photography studio at Face And Body Art International Convention where we first met, He had painted, with the amazing Kurt Drake of Wolfe FX, in UV makeup, And here Nix had these 3-D glasses. So here we are a large handful of us in this not so big hotel meeting space standing in the darkened room, UV lights glowing and we are all ahhhhhhhing over what we saw. Trust me when I say the picture here, while very fine, was nothing like seeing this artwork in that room. Even more awe (and for me) inspiring it Nix's noting this was his first UV body art.

Body Art By Nix, assisted by Kurt Drake and Brian Wolfe (master painters by there own rights) Photography by Rich Johnson and model here is Kelly White .



The first time I saw this -wow, I was so taken. Still am.
Body Art by Nix, Face Paint by Jillian H, Model by Defenz Mechanizm and Photography by Warren Products / Warren Bradford Whitmore.
 



OK one more I really love. Saw this as I too was dabbling in gold. Lovely.
This was painted at another Face And Body Art Convention.
Body Art by Nix, Photography by Shay, I do not know the model, but I check on this,



Wow right!  See more of Nix work at http://www.modelmayhem.com/701794.
Nix Body Art is for hire.

Nix seen here on Syfy also has a signature airbrush makeup and stencil line, See those at The Painted Navel Extreme Makeup FX.



Ok next post is about  Athena Zhe.