Whether for show-sopping events or incredible on-screen effects, body painting is one of the must-have make-up techniques of the moment. Jo Caruana meets world champion body painter Carolyn Roper ahead of her seminar in Malta.

Carolyn Roper working on a model in her studio.

You may have spotted photos of body art. Perhaps a man disguised as a fruit and veg stand, a woman disappearing in front of a taxi, or that well-known image of a model covered in jigsaw puzzle pieces? Either way, it would be the sort of image to make you stop and stare, wondering if your eyes were deceiving you.

If you have seen pictures such as these, then you may well have seen the work of world-renowned UK-based body painter Carolyn Roper. Roper will be in Malta later this month for an industry-oriented seminar that is being organised by Maltese make-up artist Tamara Burr.

“I was completely drawn to Carolyn’s work when I saw it,” explains Burr. “She’s a very ambitious woman who’s found incredible success through her art. In fact, she’s worked with top clients such as the BBC, X Factor, Warner Brothers and 20th Century Fox, and you’ll also have to keep your eyes peeled to spot her magic touch in upcoming blockbuster Dumb and Dumber To, which is due for release later this year.

“With all of that in mind, I knew how eager many local make-up artists would be to learn from her art, so it made sense to arrange for her to come over to give a seminar.”

Roper is equally excited to be visiting, and she’s keen to see the world of body art develop in Malta having already given demonstrations in New York, Orlando, Las Vegas, Austria Holland and Belgium, to name a few.

“Body painting is a great way to draw attention to a subject and, as a result, it is becoming more and more popular within the business world and in the media,” she explains, offering insight to other make-up artists who may be keen to try their hand at the medium.

“As a professional body painter you can expect to get jobs working on promotional events. Plus, the music industry frequently uses body painting in music videos and on album covers. ”

As a high-profile body painter, Roper has won numerous awards, including the 2007 Brush and Sponge World Body Painting Championship and the 2009 SFX World Body Painting Championship. This made her the first artist in the festival’s 12-year history to win awards in two different categories.

“Becoming a double world champion in 2009 was such a key moment and it propelled my career forward,” she says. “It helped to secure a lot of press attention and has since given me the opportunity to travel all over the world, painting and teaching.

Many artists are finding that painting on a body instead of a canvas gives them a dynamic new way of expressing themselves

“Working on a major movie was also an obvious highlight. Being able to watch my body painting on the trailer for Dumb and Dumber To feels so thrilling and I can’t wait until the film is released.”

Now Roper is eager to pass her know-ledge on in the form of a workshop aimed at make-up artists and other industry professionals. The course, which is limited to eight people per session, will cover all the essentials of body painting such as colour choice, body washes, blending and clothing techniques, double loading and layering for complex designs. It will also include a mix of practical advice, demonstrations and hands-on sessions.

“This introduction will shed light on everything you need to start your body painting journey and it will be great fun. I am so looking forward to meeting Malta’s make-up artists and making some magic together,” Roper says.

“Plus, I’ve heard so much about the island and how beautiful it is, so who knows? Malta may even provide the information for my next set of work,” she adds smiling.

Carolyn Roper’s Body Painting Seminar takes place on Saturday and next Sunday. For more information send an e-mail to bodypaintingseminar@gmail.com or call on 7982 9472.