What is painting? Why do people paint or involve in any activity of art. Painting is basically an art which is used by artists to express their opinions or to show their solidarity with some policy, opinion or motive or to express their feelings.

Painting everywhere:

You would have observed many forms of paintings like paintings about nature, science, technology, social life and many other areas of life. You may have seen people painting on canvases, walls, mirrors, floors, tiles, utensils and anything possible to paint. Now painting is not only limited to non-living things, you can observe painting even on peoples’ body now.

Different from other body art:

This form of painting which is drawn on body is known as body painting. It is a temporary way of drawing things on body area. This is different from tattoo because it is drawn with a paint brush simply and on temporary basis, it may last for hours or for few days like henna painting.

Revival:

History of body painting is very old but it became more apparent in 1950 and 1960 era due to some movements. It has many types like temporary tattoo which is limited to few area of the body. Another type is face painting which is restricted to face area only.

This art was revived in western countries. So, this type of painting is more common in western countries. Even body painting festivals are organized all over the world. Western countries also organize body painting world championship in which artists from every corner of world shows their talent by painting an impeccable idea on bodies.

Indigenous body Painting:

In this form of body painting, body is painted with natural pigments like clay, Henna (mostly in Middle East and Asian countries), Genipa Americana juice, Annatto, Huito, sometimes charcoal and other natural color producing plants or flowers for painting their body parts.

Western body painting:

As mentioned above body painting revived in 1960’s due to two art movements of that time in western culture. This revival occurred due to liberalization of cultural values of that era. People were seen with their whole body painted in those days. It is now same as before, you will see people in western festivals with their half or full body painted.

In Asian culture you will see people in festivals or different occasions with their hands, face or feet painted.

Group art:

In body painting festivals and competitions, you will observe such art that it would be difficult for you to recognize the difference between original thing and the painted representation of the body.

Some groups paint their body and laydown on floor to form a pattern in order to demonstrate that thing like five people represented a frog in a competition with body painting art.

Expression of opinions or necessity for festivals:

In a nutshell, like all other forms of art, body painting is widely used for expressing opinion/political views/striking views in a protest or in some ceremonies. In some culture, it’s necessary to paint body for participating in various festivals and occasions.