Is a person born to be an Artist or does life create them into an Artist? In the case of tonight's Featured Artist, Mark Reid, Master Body Painter, it seems to be a combination of both. Mark Reid has either pursued Art for his entire life, or it has pursued him. Beginning as early as five years old, Mark Reid had a desire to create Art. At age 10 Mark was taking formal lessons using charcoals and paints. Coming from the wide open spaces of New Mexico, Mark's imagination had plenty of room to roam. The journey from canvas artist to Body Painting Artist might at first blush seem unusual, it is not unusual at all. Like most Body Painting Makeup Artists who took their Artistic abilities displayed on the woven fabric and transferred their visions to the human body, Mark Reid took a similar route.
In Dallas, Texas Mark Reid encountered Judy Kubik, who along with Melanie Seidsma were conducting a class in Face Painting "This was the turning point in my career.", Mark recently told the Mehron Blog. Turning his Artistic Talents to Face Painting with Makeup, Mark quickly mastered the use of Makeup to create living Art. 2004 was a pivotal year in the transition from Mark Reid, Artist, to Mark Reid, Master Body Painting Makeup Artist. Marcela Murad asked Mark Reid, Artist to do some paintings for her Magazine, adding that she would also like a Body Painting. The Artist in Mr. Reid could not turn down this opportunity even though he had not yet done a Body Painting with Makeup. Mark recently recalled this time in an interview for the Mehron Blog., "She also asked me to do a body painting. I had no idea how to go about asking a woman to take her clothes off to do this and my girlfriend refused to let me do it. I wanted to be in this magazine so bad, I had to sneak around and did the body painting on a friend. It was the greatest experience. I fell in love with it and my girlfriend left me.......".
With a talented, challenge seeking artistic soul, Mark Reid was enthusiastically absorbing the Art of Body Painting, turning out inspirational living art. Although Body Painting is an Artistic endeavor, like all Artists, the Body Painting Makeup Artist must find a way to make a living at it if they are to continue to have the freedom to pursue and perfect their Art. Mr. Reid often took on commercial Body Painting jobs and was asked to work for a Production Company in Dallas, Texas who were responsible for an event called, "Body Art Ball" Tour. Mark accepted the challenge but was startled by a phone call before the event from one of the Producers who told Mark that they would like him to paint, "jeans" on models at the Ball. Not wanting to turn the job away, Mr. Reid told the Producer that painting jeans would not be a problem. Mark tells it as, "I accepted and a week later they called and asked if I had ever painted jeans. I lied and said "Of course, I can paint great jeans." I immediately called a friend and had her come over. I painted her twice until I got it down and since then I have painted over 200 pair of jeans." Mark Reid has become a specialist in Body Painting Jeans with Paradise Makeup AQ.
Attending the 2004 Face and Body A International Convention in Orlando, FL, Mark met the President of Mehron Makeup, Martin Melik. During their conversation Mr. Melik complimented Mark's work and and offered him some Paradise Makeup AQ to try. Mark recalls this meeting, "Mr. Melik gave me some Paradise Make Up AQ to work with and I really liked it. I have been using it ever since and have promoted it all over the world." Mark has remained a friend, and an independent Mehron Makeup Artist representing Mehron Face Painting and Body Painting Makeup at Seminars, Conventions and Competitions around the world, along with using Mehron Makeup in his personal work and as an Instructor. As a Body Painting Instructor, Mark believes that Paradise Makeup AQ is the Professional Body Painting Makeup that students in his classes need to become familiar with in their quest to perfecting their Body Painting skills. "Being an Instructor, I find that it is easier to teach with Paradise Makeup AQ as it is easy for my students to use. As an Artist and competitor, they have a great selection of colors that allow me to be as creative as I want. The consistency of this make-up is perfect. Not too creamy, it blends perfectly with a sponge or brush and I get great lines using it."
Along the road to becoming a Master Body Painting Makeup Artist, Instructor and continuing to be an Artist that works on canvas, Mark Reid sought the challenge of producing a World Class Annual Body Painting Makeup Convention and Competition in North America (NABPC). 2010 saw this dream fulfilled as Mark Reid put together the First Annual North America Body Painting Convention in Las Vegas, NV, USA. Drawing the attention of Body Painting Makeup Artists, Models, Photographer and Makeup Companies from around the world, the first ever NABPC was a great success. "I was very happy with the turnout as we had almost 90 people from all over the world competing.". As a Producer, Instructor, and Body Painting Makeup Artist, Mark has an affinity for Competitive Body Painting Events, not just because he can channel his internal inspiration and the world that he perceives but also because, "Getting to paint next to someone from another country and making friends is priceless. It is not about winning for me. Once we show up and make a new friend and get inspired by someone's style or learn a new technique makes us all a winner. In 2008 I placed first in the preliminaries in Seeboden. For 2 days I was number one in the World.........I can live with that!"
Live with it he does, Mark Reid continues to blaze new trails in the Art of Makeup Body Painting as an independent Body Painting Artist, who continues to do, "Corporate Promotional events and private body paintings. I can be contacted at markreidart@aol.com or 469-235-3936", while instructing in the art of Face and Body Painting, competing around the world in Competitions, and exhibiting paintings on canvas available for sale in Philadelphia at Musher-Lovelund Studios.
Mark feels that Body Painting Art will continue to develop and grow just as it has for centuries, although he enjoys the freedom to travel to events around the world in pursuit of the Art of Body Painting, he realizes that traveling and crossing time zones constantly begins to wear on the body, time and the freedom to create. He says that he will be involved for the rest of his life in this Art that he loves, but hopes to settle into a routine and establish a School for Body Painting Art where the students will come to him and he will spend less time in the air and more time with a Body Painting Makeup Brush. He plans on continuing to perfect NABPC and looks forward to its continued growth, hoping that each year it is held will affect the lives of Artists and guide them to love the Art of Body Painting with Makeup.
For the next few years at least, look for Mark Reid at Face Painting Makeup and Body Painting Makeup Conventions, Seminars and Competitions around the world as both a seasoned Master Body Painting Makeup Artist as a teacher of the craft.
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