Self-Love
Here’s a reminder about how nice it is to Be our Own Valentine!
How many hearts can you find?
This collaboration came from hearing model Da’John talk about lessons on loving himself:
“When I started to accept
‘This is who I am,
This is what I like doing,
I love that I like doing this,
I’m not going to hide it,’
I noticed all these other doors started opening up.”
–Da’John Dewitt
One of the things I was playing with artistically was the dance between unpainted skin and pattern. I wanted him to still be recognizable, so didn’t want to cover his face entirely in paint. I like how the edges have variety, with some colors making shapes with unpainted skin all around like on his chest, some skin showing between big areas of paint like near his bellybutton, and some parts being completely covered with color and pattern.
I’ve recently been enjoying the work of artist Cbabi Bayoc, via instagram, and I kept this piece handy while I was painting. Can you see the influence?
As always, Devi brings SO much with her top-notch photography! Here’s a reel I made for Instagram that shows the shoot in action. (You can follow me @brendaleachart on Instagram, Facebook & maybe even TikTok)
Da’John and I were introduced by The 418 Project,* who had us create a fashion show and artists’ talk for their New Year’s Eve event. As soon as we started planning and talking, I felt a warm resonance and knew we’d collaborate on other creations too.
*A downtown Santa Cruz center that hosts all sorts of dance and arts events and is deeply dedicated to supporting artists, growing community, welcoming everyone.
Here’s what I think:
When I love myself enough to really notice what’s going on with me and make space for it, I have more peace, energy, authenticity. Then I can genuinely show up for others.
—Brenda
You can be art too, with whatever shape body you have!
Once in a while I paint professional models, using an aesthetic idea of my own, like this one. More often these days my bodypaint projects are on ‘’mere mortals 😉” and are inspired by their personal stories. Nudity is not a requirement, projects are designed to best support the people they are on!
If this calls you, let’s talk!
Also,
let me know if you want one of these images on your wall or in an editorial article or… ?