Mother Nature

project cover
project cover
project cover

Bodypainting: Michelle Meola
Makeup & Hair: Michelle Meola
Costume & Props: Michelle Meola
Photo: Reflex Studio & Michelle Meola
Model: Valentina Guariglia

"Mother Nature" themed bodypainting. For this project I wanted to bring to life the motherly and protective image of Gaia, the great goddess worshipped by the ancient Greeks. Gaia was the oldest goddess of all the Olympians and the creator of the Universe. His hands with a knotty pattern then envelop the earth in a symbolic embrace that has lasted for million of years. Mirror branches envelop the figure starting from the collarbones as if to indicate the oneness between nature and Mother Nature. On the back instead I chose to represent an aquatic landscape, a waterfall surrounded by green that finds continuity in the tail of the costume and reaches the ground.

project cover
project cover
project cover

The belt and all the accessories were created by me and applied on site. The belt is made from pieces of polyurethane foam carved to look like bark, I then later sculpted mushrooms and applied real moss and ivy. The fabric of the tail was sewn onto the belt and everything was made to measure for the model. The whole bodypainting was done with an airbrush while some details were done with a brush+sponge. Even the beauty make-up was done with an airbrush. Finally I also took care of the hairstyle and created a clip with ivy and butterflies.

project cover
project cover
project cover