My very first time being painted by the NOW 5 time world champions of body paint…the amazing Living Brush. It was actually as a dare to myself that I even did this. My extreme ADHD kept me in my head and I couldn’t focus or stay still to save my life back then. I had a psycho boyfriend and a wrecked sense of self. I hated my body,my face….everything.

I put being body painted on my Bucket List after seeing the girls at The Playboy Mansion having their costumes painted on. I felt like that must be the most freeing,amazing feeling. They looked so happy! I knew I needed this in my life. Luckily for me I have friends in great places and it happened.

The day I was to be painted I had a sinus infection and what appeared to be a nasty stomach virus. The latter hit maybe an hour into the painting. I also realized that I lock my knees…a lot and I nearly passed out. This painting was a test run for the first world competition. It was scheduled to last right at 6 hours but with my frequent bathroom breaks needed I believe it was more like 8 that day. Bless Scott and Madelyn ,they are amazing patient artists

They had asked me many times if I needed to quit but each time I went to the restroom I passed a mirror in Bonnie Stanley’s house,where I was being painted, and I saw myself. I saw a work of art. No way I was stopping…no way I would ever stop AT ALL. I shoved kleenex up my nose and soldiered on.

It changed something in me. As and the layers of paint went on…I swear they covered me in more than just THAT. They painted my self-esteem back into me/onto me.

“I’m beautiful. I’m powerful. I’m worth more than this.”

The painting pictured is of the goddess Kali. She is called the Goddess of Time, Change, Power, Creation, Preservation, and Destruction. Fitting eh?

The photograph is taken by Bonnie Stanley and it’s a one of a kind capture as only she can. All of my sickness,sadness,self loathing….painted away…photographed away. Here I am. I am destruction and creation. I am rebirth. I am CHANGE.

And to continue the story ,here is the backside.

Not only is Kali the goddess of destruction but she is also known as the benevolent mother goddess. Two different sides of my body painted to show two different sides of one being.

When I post these on social media sites,Facebook especially,they are reported because of nudity. It pains me to see people so narrow-minded that they would equate this art with porn. But I am eternally thankful for friends in my life who understand art in all its various forms. And to those who make me a living,breathing canvas.

In paint…

~Moonkitty