color media

[festz]

Hi!

First post - I really hope that I posted it in the right forum

So .. I am planning an art project/performance where I need to paint on canvas with my whole body, so I need a paint that is safe for skin and washes off easily, still remainign as much oil characteristics as possible.
What would be Your comments on choosing the right medium? Maybe water soluble oil colors?



Thank You very much!


Toms Meijers

[sidbledsoe]

Here is a case where I would not use lead white, cadmiums, cobalts, or thin with turpentine. I would not be comfortable doing this with any type of oil colors. In reality now that I think about it, I would not be comfortable doing this with any media at all. But if I were you I would use acrylics.
This isn't really a color forum question but then again, I can't think of an appropriate forum other than the creativity forum. Good luck with your work and be sure and take pics and post them for us to see!

[festz]

Thank You very much for Your reply. Yes - forum choise was a bit of struggle for this question I think I will cross-post a question about water oils in it's forum.
As to acrylics - I have problems getting it off my hands sometimes when it is dried - can't imagine what would be if I had to get it off from my back
What about some self-made emulsions?

[sidbledsoe]

You are right, I would add a drying retarder if using acrylics. Now that I think about it, if I were using oil, yes I would go with the water miscibles and use only AP listed colors, no CL's. There are several non toxic pigments, mars black, titanium white, etc. I would research it and only use those. The water miscible paint will wash off a lot easier don't even think about regular oils with them available. I don't know about making your own, I guess you mean like egg tempera or something by emulsions.

[sidbledsoe]

No on third thought I would look for some childrens finger painting material or face paint and ditch the artists media idea. I have seen plenty of painted people like these models that have bikinis painted on them or zebra or leopard skins and such so there must be some kind of paint that is acceptable but not the stuff we use.

[McKeeJane]

Any body or face paint that you buy will just be acrylics for the most part.

[Nonno]

Food colouring should be safe, being edible, but you would probably never get it off! I would check out local bodypainters. There is the kids face painting level and the adult bodypainters.
This is the website of my local bodypainters. http://www.bodyfx.co.nz/

Perhaps when you have done your project you could post it in the figure forum as a sort of figure painting in reverse!


Jonathan.

[billday]

Somewhere someone has researched this. You really need to drill down and get it right before you subject your body's biggest organ to a full chemical assault. Its not so much "what is safe for your skin" as "what will not absorb into the skin". I suspect the stuff to use will be a liquid latex paint with nontoxic pigments. I think the film industry use this for special effect make up.

[festz]

Thank Your very much for all Your answers! It's very helpful!
For now, I will get some body paints to test how they perform and do a research about other colors mentioned here.
Of course, I will let You know about the results!