Living Art America 2016 – North American Bodypainting Championships

Living Art America 2016 - Bodypaint by Breanna CookeOn September 24th, I was one of many U.S. and international body painters who converged on Greensboro, NC for Living Art America’s 2016 North American Bodypainting Championships. This was my first time in the professional category and there were some phenomenal competitors. We had 6.5 hours to complete our pieces and many artists worked with an assistant (I’ll be looking for an assistant next time!). The theme for the event was “Face of Change” and my piece is about changing the face of climate change.

I care deeply about the environment and my initial research and design was focused on so many of the negative images of climate change. I was being dragged down into despair each time I worked on the piece. However, a week before Living Art America, I attended the National Drive Electric Week event in Dallas and my spirits were lifted. I met so many inspiring people who are passionate and vocal about renewable energy and promoting change. After attending that event, I revamped my design with only a few days left before heading to Living Art America. I turned the focus from the negative and focused on the positive scientific discoveries and renewable options that already exist. A friend shared a research study from the University of Illinois at Chicago about artificial leaves that can turn CO2 into fuel and I made that story the main focus of the design (Read the full article here). Keep in mind, my design is just my artistic interpretation of their research, it’s not what the artificial leaves look like.

Presentation to Judges

Below is the description that I presented to the judges of Living Art America:

Living Art America 2016 - Breanna Cooke

“Carbon dioxide, the invisible yet leading factor in global warming, has caused some of the most sensitive organisms on our planet to become the face of climate change. Events such as widespread coral bleaching from warming oceans (seen on her shoulders), have become the saddening images we associate with climate change. On her forearms and lower legs, we have bioluminescent plankton, that light up when they’re disturbed. Her hands and feet are covered in them to represent our human impact and disturbance of nature.

“However, in order to slow the prevalence of these images and events, scientific discovery will be, and must be, the new face of climate change. In July this year, engineers created a new kind of artificial leaf (shown on her stomach) that efficiently converts atmospheric CO2 into a burnable fuel, and it only uses sunlight for energy (shown on her chest).  It is essentially doing photosynthesis, like plants. So instead of producing energy in an unsustainable one-way route from fossil fuels to greenhouse gas, we must reverse the process, remove excess CO2 and find ways to fuel greener, more sustainable cities (seen on her thighs).

Living Art America 2016 - Bodypaint by Breanna Cooke“But until we can implement new discoveries like this on a wide scale, we must actively cut our carbon emissions. This means embracing the renewable energy sources that already exist, such as energy from wind and solar (seen on her back and sides).

Our world has already changed with rising temperatures and sea levels (shown in the waves encroaching on our cities), but with science, we can go forward.”

Stage Presentation

After judging, the models have an opportunity to present the work on stage. I chose the song “Save Our Planet Earth” by Jimmy Cliff since it has a powerful yet upbeat message about protecting our planet.

Awards Gala

At the Living Art America Awards Gala, I received a Special Judges’ Award from judge Robin Slonina (Skin Wars’ Judge, Owner of Skin City Bodypaint), in recognition of the message and design I had chosen. I was absolutely thrilled by the award and left feeling inspired to keep sharing the message to #saveourplanet.

 

For more photos, connect with me on Facebook, Instagram, Tumblr, and Twitter.

UPDATED: 10/19/2016 – Correction to “University of Illinois at Chicago,” instead of “University of Chicago”.

Headdress Workshop with Breanna Cooke on March 5th

Headdress Workshop with Breanna Cooke in Dallas, Texas

Come create with me! Join me on March 5th for a headdress workshop and learn how to build a lightweight headdress base. You’ll get hands-on experience with a variety of materials, such as EVA foam. Contact Anja Yamaji to register (see the image for contact details) or use the PayPal button below to pay.

Cutting Mats

We will be sharing some of the tools, like cutting mats, in this workshop. If you already have a cutting mat, feel free to bring it to class.  If you want to buy a cutting mat, you can find them at Michael’s (don’t forget your 40% off coupon) or try this Fiskars 18×24 Cutting Mat on Amazon (it’s what I have).

Register Online via PayPal

To register for the class, click “Pay Now” to complete your transaction with PayPal.





Mystic Costume from the Dark Crystal

Mystic Costume by Breanna Cooke

I finally made a Mystic costume from the Dark Crystal! It’s been on my costume wish-list for a long time. There are still a lot of improvements to be made, but I got the costume to a wearable point just in time for the May Dallas Comic Con in 2015. Keep scrolling down to see my process photos.

Mystic Head

1 – Cut foam shapes from Poly Foam;
2 – Sculpted with razors and engraved lines with a soldering iron;
3 – Covered with tissue paper and spray glue;
4 – Brushed on liquid latex from BITY Mold Supply;
5 – Painted with airbrush and various acrylics. Glued on wig and hair segments.
6 – Done! Photo by Alan Tijerina Photography.

Mystic Costume by Breanna Cooke

Mystic Feet

1 – Pool noodles and pipe insulation carved with razors and utility knife;
2 – Covered with spray glue and white tissue paper;
3 – Brushed on liquid latex from BITY Mold Supply;
4 – Painted with airbrush and various acrylics.

Mystic by Breanna Cooke

Mystic Hands

1 – Poly foam and pipe insulation carved with razors and utility knife (hat tip to Courtney and Scotty at Zod Fabrication for sharing their raptor hand photos!);
2 – Covered with spray glue and white tissue paper;
3 – Brushed on liquid latex from BITY Mold Supply;
4 – Painted with airbrush and various acrylics.
5 – Attached to costume. My real hands are in the front hands. Photo by Alan Tijerina Photography.

Mystic Costume by Breanna Cooke

Mystic Body

1 – Poly foam pieces glued with Barge Cement. (I made paper templates before cutting each piece of foam);
2 – More poly foam (looks like an armadillo!). Tail made with a white bedsheet and stuffed with poly filling;
3 – Arms made with pool noodles;
4 – Arms covered with poly foam;
5 – Shirt made from two bedsheets and hand-sewn to fit;
6 – Final costume worn at #DallasFanExpo

Mystic Costume by Breanna Cooke

Mystic Armor

1 – EVA foam (anti-fatigue mat) for armor pieces. Shaped with heat gun. (I made paper templates before cutting each piece of foam);
2 – Traced each piece of armor in fabric;
3 – Glued fabric to EVA foam with spray glue;
4 – Glued pieces of tan fabric for details, painted with airbrush and various acrylics;
5 – Closeup of bracer;
6 – Final costume worn at #DallasFanExpo

Mystic Costume by Breanna Cooke




 

Demon Horn Tutorial for Make Magazine

Make Magazine Horn Tutorial

Need horns? Check out my demon horn tutorial for Make: Magazine! These horns are easy to modify to fit the shape and size of your costume character. Plus they’re flexible and lightweight!

Need a printable horn template? Check out my Maleficent Horn Printable Template digital download in my shop. You can print at home on 8.5x11in. paper, then cut it out.

Share photos of your horns with me on Facebook, Instagram, Tumblr, and Twitter.

 

How-to make a 1920s Flapper Headband for Late Night at the DMA

 

DIY 1920s Flapper headband by Breanna Cooke

This Friday, the Dallas Museum of Art is traveling through the decades at their Late Night event. Costumes are encouraged and they invited me to write a guest blog post. I’ve put together a DIY 1920s Flapper headband tutorial, along with some ideas for the rest of the outfit. Check it out over on their blog, Uncrated: https://uncrated.wordpress.com/2015/08/19/speakeasy-star/

Screenshot of DMA blog

#EveryoneColors Coloring Book Event at Makers Connect in Dallas – August 1

Everyone Colors Coloring Book Event at Makers Connect

Zipper pouches iwth sea creatures by Breanna CookeSee you at the Makers Connect store on Saturday, August 1st from 12pm-2pm!  We’re celebrating National Coloring Book Day (Aug. 2nd) by having a coloring book party.

There will be copies of my coloring book, “Everyone Colors: Amazing Sea Life,” available for purchase, as well as my sea creature zipper pouches, greeting cards, and hand-etched glassware. The event will be at the Makers Connect store in Dallas, located on 10242 E. Northwest Highway. The store has lots of beautiful hand-crafted jewelry, pottery, and art by local Texas artists.

RSVP to the Facebook event here:

https://www.facebook.com/events/428737250642904/

About the Coloring Book:

Everyone Colors: Amazing Sea Life” is a coloring book for all ages and contains 11 sea creature illustrations. Each page is blank on the back, so it is easy to display your work when you are finished. This coloring book is perfect for adults and children because…Everyone Colors!

Be sure to share pics of your coloring under #EveryoneColors so I can see your amazing work.

Can’t make it to the event? Order your book here:

CreateSpace: https://www.createspace.com/5495232

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Everyone-Colors-Amazing-Life-coloring/dp/1512177709

Connect with me on Facebook, Instagram, Tumblr, and Twitter.

 

NYC Bodypainting Day 2015

19849851172_107a615619_o
Photo by Leif Atman

Bodypainting Day 2015 was a spectacular celebration of art! What better way to bring art to life than to paint it on a human body.

We started out the day at Daj Hammerskjold Plaza at noon.

A photo posted by breannacooke (@breannacooke) on

We spent the afternoon painting our models, meeting other artists, and answering questions from spectators. The theme of this year’s event was “What the world needs now…”. It was intentionally vague to give the artists lots of room for expression. My interpretation of the theme is: “What the world needs now is…clean water.”

A photo posted by breannacooke (@breannacooke) on

After painting, we paraded to the United Nations, boarded double-decker buses, and drove around New York City, sharing our art. We stopped at a few locations for group photos and had an incredible response from people on the street.

 

A photo posted by breannacooke (@breannacooke) on

 

For more photos, check out these articles and links:

Bodypainting Day website: http://bodypaintingday.org/

Photos by Leif Atman: https://flic.kr/s/aHskgzmBSD

Photos by Dez Santana: http://www.dezsantana.com/bpd

Gothamist – NSFW Photos: 100 Fully Naked People Get Bodies Painted, Then Head Over To The U.N.- http://gothamist.com/2015/07/19/nsfw_photos_100_fully_naked_people.php#photo-7

NY Observer – Naked in NY: Why more of us are taking it all off http://observer.com/2015/07/naked-in-new-york-why-more-of-us-are-taking-it-all-off/

NY Post – See everyone who ‘hung out’ at national nude bodypainting day http://nypost.com/video/see-everyone-who-hung-out-at-national-nude-bodypainting-day/

Mashable – Bodypainting Day used naked people to expose New Yorkers to art http://mashable.com/2015/07/22/bodypainting-day-2015/

Newsweek – Get to Know the Naked Models of NYC Bodypainting Day

http://www.newsweek.com/get-know-naked-models-nyc-bodypainting-day-nsfw-355359

NY Daily News – Naked models in New York City serve as the canvas for artists on National Bodypainting Day http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/naked-models-nyc-painted-national-bodypainting-day-article-1.2296858

TimeOut NY – See stunning photos from NYC Bodypainting Day http://www.timeout.com/newyork/things-to-do/see-stunning-photos-from-nyc-bodypainting-day

Village Voice – BODYPAINTING DAY TRANSFORMS NUDE FORMS INTO ART (NSFW) http://www.villagevoice.com/slideshow/bodypainting-day-transforms-nude-forms-into-art-nsfw-7393283?utm_content=buffer8e149

The Co-Ed Topless Pulp Fiction Appreciation Society blog – Painted Ladies (And Gentlemen) https://coedtoplesspulpfiction.wordpress.com/2015/07/19/painted-ladies-and-gentlemen/

Der Tagesspiegel (in German): http://video.tagesspiegel.de/nackte-kunst-body-painting-day-in-new-york.html

Meet the Artist at Half Price Books on June 28

Everyone Colors -- Amazing Sea Life by Breanna Cooke - event at Half Price Books

Come meet me at the Half Price Books flagship store on Sunday, June 28th from 1pm-4pm!  I’ll have copies of my coloring book, “Everyone Colors: Amazing Sea Life,” available for purchase. The event will be at the Half Price Books flagship location in Dallas, located on 5803 E. Northwest Hwy. The store has lots of great nooks for reading and coloring, so bring your colored pencils and find a coloring spot.

Everyone Colors: Amazing Sea Life” is a coloring book for all ages and contains 11 sea creature illustrations. Each page is blank on the back, so it is easy to display your work when you are finished. This coloring book is perfect for adults and children because…Everyone Colors!

Be sure to share pics of your coloring under #EveryoneColors so I can see your amazing work.

Can’t make it to the event? Order your book here:

CreateSpace: https://www.createspace.com/5495232

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Everyone-Colors-Amazing-Life-coloring/dp/1512177709

Connect with me on Facebook, Instagram, Tumblr, and Twitter.

Video from Good Morning Texas — Adult Coloring Books

BreannaCooke_GoodMorningTexas_screenshot

My coloring book, “Everyone Colors: Amazing Sea Life,” was featured on Good Morning Texas yesterday! In case you missed it, here’s the video to the full segment where Mike Castellucci and I talk about the growing trend of adult coloring books.

Breanna Cooke with Mike Castellucci on Good Morning TexasMy book started with a fish drawing on an airplane a few months ago. Coloring was on my mind after reading about the resurgence of coloring books and I wished I had something to color on my flight. So I drew something to color in!  As I drew more creatures and shared photos, my friends started asking me for a coloring book. So here it is! Order yours today on CreateSpace or Amazon.

Be sure to share pics of your coloring under #EveryoneColors so I can see your amazing work.

Watch the video on the  WFAA Good Morning Texas website or on my Facebook page, Breanna Cooke Art.

Order your book:

CreateSpace: https://www.createspace.com/5495232

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Everyone-Colors-Amazing-Life-coloring/dp/1512177709