Body Painting Practice torsos...good or bad investment?

I'm thinking hard about ordering a practice body for body painting, but I wanted to find out if anyone else has ever used one of these and if you have, which ones are the best to use. I don't want to buy something that will only sit in my closet because it doesn't jive well with my paints, kwim?

I have no idea about the bodies, but if they're anything like the heads, my closet would have another thing in it.... I hate the heads.

ablissfulaffair recently mentioned that she ordered a torso to practice on...maybe send her a PM and see how it's working out for her. The head that I posted as the stain free practice head is wonderful, she also ordered one of those and said she really likes it. I do know that some of the heads that are marketed as face painting practice heads are horrible...it's ridiculous to have to buy a head and replacement shells that fit over the head. I've never practiced on a torso personally.

I'm one of those people where body painting anywhere below the face, other than maybe the hand and arms doesn't interest me whatsoever. No legs, no backs, no boobs, no butts, no bellies and especially no feet! I know it's really cool and looks incredible though.

LOL! No feet!

Yes, I did purchase a torso (set of 2 actually...not pricey...so I bought to give it a try). I enjoy body painting (big canvas!!!)
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rt=nc&nma=true&item=120641956437&si=mAlJuw%252BaqEJa9AemscDq%252FOUCA6g%253D&viewitem=&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWNX%3AIT
It is just a hard shell, its light weight but sturdy (not cheapy), comes w/hook for easy hanging.
Have not had a chance to test it out yet though due to my daughter's cheerleading (competitions and new try outs for a different/additional team). Will try to get on that this week for sure. Depending on how late I get home tonight, I will pass some paint on it just to test if it will stain or not.
I'll get back to you

Oh wow! Thanks for the link. That's a great price!

Have you ever just asked people around you to model? You'd actually be surprised at the number of people who are willing to have the experience of being painted, just to live life outside of the box. Try it

Criss wrote:Have you ever just asked people around you to model? You'd actually be surprised at the number of people who are willing to have the experience of being painted, just to live life outside of the box. Try it

You are so right about asking people and finding willing bodies...did a few bodies that way and painted a couple of bodies being hired through a photographer;
although, finding the schedules to match especially with children is a little tough at times. So I got the torso so I can practice when I have quite down time, which is usually when most of people are at work at their 9-5 job, or late at night when my house is asleep....weekends I'm working gigs...etc. etc. I really want it for the convenience of being able to paint when "I" want.

Anyway, with that said I had a few minutes this evening to slap some paint on the torso just to test out the "stainablity" of it. Here's what I got.....I doodled a few colors on it; let it sit for about 10 minutes; then washed it up in the shower with soap and water...most of the paint came off, the red & black took a little elbow grease but for the most part it cleaned up pretty good. That was the torso's first time being painted though...I don't know what will happen after a few paintings.

Torso Paint Test:
[img][/img]

Torso Cleaned after being painted:
[img][/img]

Very little staining from red & black:
[img][/img]

hey ablissfulaffair,
What black did you use?...just curious

wolfe black (I know its hard to take off of anything..but it goes on so nice). Perhaps, I'll use snaz black when practicing on the torso.

Oh, let me introduce myself properly
My name is Gloria "Hi"

well you know, for Wolfe black, it looks pretty darn good!

Gloria, you should put your real name in your signature so we can remember it!

Did you try acetone?

Face book an announcement looking for willing models... if that doesn't work, go to modelmayhem.com. There's a lot of body painters with profiles there, you only need to post like 4 images to create a profile, and they aren't too picky when it comes to painters (I think the stipulation is no paintings on donkeys... I don't wanna know!)... then start looking for models in your area. You can tell by their portfolio what kind of model they want to be, IYKWIM. You can even post a casting call to look for models. Jump in, don't be shy... they've probably never been painted, so it's a parallel process. You learn together.

IamGinaW wrote:Gloria, you should put your real name in your signature so we can remember it!

Did you try acetone?

Oh, good idea.....did my signature..hope it works.

Yes, I tried acetone...didn't work as well as it did on the head. The torso is made of a different plastic; maybe next time I'll try bleach since the torso is very white to begin with. Anyway, no regrets in purchasing the torso (price wasn't crazy and I have access to it all the time).

Thanks for the test Gloria. So how did the paints flow on the form? You know how on some surfaces the cohesion is off so it doesn't adhere as nicely as it does on skin? How did that work. I want to be able to get very opaque coverage but I know it may only be possible with a human.

I would love to ask people to come and model for me but they would have to be adults and they would have to be able to come when the spirit to paint hits me (and the housework/schoolwork is done)....usually at 1:15am...I have 2 kids and I'm not up for having strangers in my home at that time.