IGNITE Magazine Cover
February 2007

Bodypainting - Mark Greenawalt
Photography - Don Crossland
Model - Leah Barton (The Agency AZ)
Hair - Jamie (Salon JO-EL)
Make-Up - Jo Roughhan
Stylist - Laurel Petriello

I'm not sure if this issue was ever released of Ignite Magazine, but this was the proposed cover for the February issue. I was most definitely released as a full page on the inside back cover of Contact Magazine's February/March 2007 issue (see below). Don Crossland and I had discussed this concept for about a year before the opportunity presented itself. The photoshoot took place at The Japanese Friendship Garden which is located above the I-10 tunnel in downtown Phoenix, AZ. I wasn't able to take part in the photoshoot since I was doing bodypainting for The Body Art Ball. In fact, I painted Leah at the Marquee Theater where the Body Art Ball was being held and then she drove to the Japanese Friendship Garden for the photoshoot.

The painting of Mount Fuji and the lake is in a style that I have not used before. I studied numerous ancient Japanese paintings to get a feel for the nearly cartoon look of the style. Many of these paintings include thick outlines of the objects and then watercolor washes of color. I tried to get the same look using airbrush and watercolor paints. Unfortunately I feel like I missed the mark and this is one project that I would love to have a second chance to improve the painting. At this point though it has been published in two magazines so I guess it is what it is.

Here are a few progress shots of the painting: