Body Painting Art - Nude Female and Male Body Painting

In fact we are fond of painting our bodies since prehistoric times. In past we were used to paint our bodies with materials like natural dyes, paints and pigments. In some cases we used ash, and clay, too.

The markings that the people make on their bodies are thought to have magical powers with which one could ward off evil spirits or the tribal enemies. Such was the thinking in past. The painting of bodies was also coined with celebrating of auspicious occasions like New Year or a dance party. Same practice can still observed in the indigenous populations of the countries like New Zealand, Australia, the Pacific Islands, and certain parts of Africa.

In India the women and men are fond of using Henna. It is a colour extracted from a plant of Henna; it is also known as Mehandi. This type of body painting with Henna has been a fashion in India and the Middle East since many years. People paint their hands and legs and other parts of body with Henna during auspicious ceremonies like weddings. The use of henna or Mehandi has become popular in the Western countries, too, since last two decades.

The art of body painting is not a new phenomenon in the countries of South America, too. People here have been using indigenous materials to paint their body and body parts. They use wet charcoal and other materials available in the local surrounding. In some parts of America, a material known as Huito is used to paint the bodies and faces. Huito is a black dye, and it takes weeks to fade away.

Amber Chia In Tiger Stripes

Malaysian Supermodel Amber Chia earned her stripes for wildlife conservation Saturday by sitting still as her famous body was painted to look like a tiger.

She told reporters after the photo shoot at Mutiara Damansara that it took three hours but she did not mind as it was for a good cause.

The shoot was for PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) Asia Pacific.

Amber is the latest in the line of celebrities featured in a new anti-captivity advertisement for PETA.

Besides a jungle setting as the backdrop, she will also be photographed in a steel cage measuring 70cm x 70cm x 90cm.

The photographs will appear on posters and newspapers across the globe early next year in a campaign against zoos.

Next year, being the Year of the Tiger was among the reasons Amber was chosen to be a part of the campaign.

"She was chosen because she has a compassion for animals," senior PETA campaigner Ashley Fruno said.

Amber is the first Malaysian celebrity PETA had roped in to help their cause to urge people to boycott zoos.

"Wild animals belong in the wild. An animal that lives a long and healthy life but dies in the wild is not worse off than animals which spend all their lives pacing in enclosures," Fruno said.