Mark Greenawalt is a body artist
that lives in the Ahwatukee area in Phoenix, Arizona. His work consists of
painting images or patterns on beautiful models and then recording the effort
through carefully planned photography sessions. The August 2001 issue of
Airbrush Action magazine includes a two-page centerfold of his body paintings
and an adjoining article by the editor of the magazine. Greenawalt's
official website is found at www.futureclassx.com
and it includes an on-line portfolio of his body paintings as well as displays of
his other passions such as photography, drawing and painting, and even singing
and songwriting. His work has been featured on Good Morning Arizona on
Channel 3 and several valley publications including The Rep, Java, and Night
Moves. Besides television and print exposure, he has also performed live
body painting demonstrations at the Alwun House's 2001:An Exotic Odyssey
(opening night and at the Climax closing night) Alfadon's Fetish &
Masquerade Ball in Tempe, and The Culture of Our Underground in Mesa. The
transcript of the Airbrush Action article is included below. Additional
information or interviews may be obtained by writing to mark@futureclassx.com
or by calling him at 480-496-0266.
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Bodies for the Mainstreamby Kate Priest |
| You could call Mark Greenawalt a man for all
seasons. During the day, he's vice-president of Sullivan Designs,
an electrical engineering company; at night, he moonlights as a
musician. Not one to merely dabble, Greenawalt is a
round-the-clock success. This past September, he scored a number
one country hit on www.mp3.com with a
tune titled "Simple Life." And now, Greenawalt has found
another arena to conquer: body art. Despite his recent
entrée into the world of skin painting, Greenawalt is no stranger to
the art world. He first began taking art classes at his mother's
beckoning when he was 9 years old. Boris Vallejo quickly became a
favorite as the young Greenawalt developed an affinity for fantasy
art. He bought his first airbrush from a local hobby shop when he
was 14 years old.
Greenawalt, 33, was born and raised in Chambersburg, Pennsylvania, but now lives with his wife and two children in Phoenix. "When you think of black and white photography, you think of Ansel Adams; fantasy art, Boris Vallejo, and so on. I'd like to be that guy or role model that transcends body painting," he says. "Right now, Joanne Gair may be the highest profile body artist, but I'd like to take it to the next level." For all its recent popularity, body art still retains a certain counterculture cool as it staggers on the brink of mass appeal. "The underground grunge scene, like the tattoo culture, is accepting body art more widely, but I'd like to promote it more to the mainstream society," he says. "With the help of Sports Illustrated, Vanity Fair, and GQ, this could well become the next hottest art form. In fact, I'm seeing body painting featured more pervasively in magazine editorial and ads these days. I recently picked up a Las Vegas magazine featuring a beautifully painted model on the cover, and some painted models for the ad on the back cover." Greenawalt points out that several posh spas in New York City and other areas have recently added body painting to their pampering repertoire, spraying anything from small temporary tattoos to full-body paintings on customers for four-figure fees. "Since I live in a mecca of high-end resorts in Phoenix and Scottsdale, I'd be a fool not to test the market and see if there is an interest in getting painted instead of getting a massage or a steam bath. The stories that I have heard would blow your mind about people with no concept of money. Princes from the Far East stay for a week, buy a top-of-the-line Harley-Davidson and then give it to the bellhop as a tip. "I would have to say that my direction is more focused on producing an image of my body painting that is marketable. I have to admit that doing five or six paintings a week at $2,500 a pop sounds pretty intriguing." AIR TECH FILE
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This page has been designed and maintained by FUTURE-CLASS X PUBLISHING.
Photography and Artwork by Mark Greenawalt c2000
Please send comments to: mark@futureclassx.com