Welcome to the Human Canvas Project

A Modern Day Venus

2008-07-14T15:41:00.002-05:00

Here is an example based on the theme of the Greek goddess Aphrodite, also known as Venus. In this image, the model has struck a pose that is very reminiscent of Botticelli's "Birth of Venus". The overlay image is a photograph of the terrain of the planet Venus taken by the Magellan space probe several years ago--a fitting way to "clothe" a nude model who possesses all of the physical qualities of Venus, the goddess who represented beauty in ancient mythology.

I am grateful to Kim ("vampyriccadencestock") for sharing the image used to create this human canvas. Kim is a photographer, model, actor, and musician, and she brings a natural and graceful beauty to her poses. Be sure to check out Kim's stock gallery to view her great portfolio:

Floral Designs

2008-06-08T11:53:00.002-05:00

As we have seen in many of the "body-as-canvas" images posted on this site, the human body makes a beautiful medium on which to display almost any pattern or photo imaginable. Sometimes, though, the concept is most effective when a simple overlay design is used since it does less to mask the contours of the body to which it is applied. In this example, a floral fabric swatch was scanned and used with a photograph of a model posing in an open shower stall with skin still glistening with bath oil.

The model who posed for this photograph is Mandie. You may see more of her poses by clicking this link to view a photo gallery of her work. Thanks for sharing, Mandie, and for being a part of the Human Canvas Project.

Rainbow Colors

2008-06-01T09:04:00.005-05:00

Common everyday objects can take on entirely different looks when used as projected images or overlays on the human body. The colorful pattern used to create this image is, in fact, simply a closeup picture of a bowl of multi-colored jelly beans. The individual shapes of the pieces of candy seem to dissolve into interesting patterns of color when the photo is applied as an overlay to the original photo of an artist's model in a classical pose.

Once again, Iza is the beautiful model who posed for this photo, and you can see more of the work that she and Mackenzie, her photographer, have created by clicking this link to view their gallery. Thanks again for posing and sharing your work with us!

Candy Swirls

2008-05-31T10:28:00.004-05:00

Colorful patterns on two-dimensional stock are interesting, but they can take on a very different look when applied to a human figure. In this example, a simple candy-colored swirl design has been used as an overlay on a photograph of seated nude model and positioned in such a way as to allow the swirling patterns to conform to the contours of the figure.

The original photograph comes courtesy of the stock gallery maintained by RCook13. You can click here to visit their gallery and view other examples of their creative work. Thanks for participating in the Human Canvas Project!

The Magic of Water

2008-05-30T08:53:00.002-05:00

Water seems to have a magical effect on the look and texture of human skin, and many sensual fine art photographs have successfully captured that alluring look of water droplets clinging to the skin of models as they step from a shower or a lake after a nude swim. Here, a close-up photo of water droplets has been applied as an overlay to create a more stylized variation to that "wet look" type of pose.

Iza is the beautiful model who posed for this photo, and you can see more of the work that she and Mackenzie, her photographer, have created by clicking this link to view their gallery. Thanks for posing and sharing your work with us!

Mystical

2008-05-26T07:43:00.002-05:00

This Human Canvas image represents a great example of the many ways that the "body as canvas" theme can be presented. In this case, the model/photographer is a beautiful woman named Chi, and the overlay pattern is a stock photograph that she created for other artists to use in their work. Thus, the artist has literally become the medium on which her art is displayed.

Thanks to Chi for sharing her photographs for this project. You can see more of her wonderful work by clicking this link to visit her gallery.

The 60's Revisited

2008-05-24T06:15:00.003-05:00

After a short hiatus, it is time to post some new images on this site. This new Human Canvas is a variation of a project based on a popular Peter Max poster that was posted a few months ago. The bright colors that dominated pop culture in the Sixties coupled with the themes of free expression and acceptance of casual nudity make this iconic poster a perfect overlay for the human canvas experience.

Many thanks to T & L ("Torino-stock") for sharing the stock image used to create this human canvas. Here is the link to Torino-stock's great and diversified stock gallery:

Eden Revisited

2008-03-30T11:55:00.003-05:00

Here are two human canvas images based on the same photograph--a female model trying to cover her body in a manner that suggests the shame and humiliation that Eve is supposed to have suffered after giving in to temptation in the Biblical story of the Garden of Eden. The different overlays have been used to create simple allegorical statements. In one image, the overlay is a lush summer garden suggestive of the garden itself, while in the other, a photograph of apples completes the symbolic statement.

Thanks to Michelle-Louise, a model and photographer from the United Kingdom, for sharing the original photograph used for this project. You can click this link to see more photographs from her stock gallery.

Rep-tiled

2008-03-27T09:37:00.003-05:00

When visitors first arrive at Park Guell in Barcelona, they are greeted with a marvelous and colorful mosaic representation of a reptile that has been commonly described as a dragon or a lizard. The work is one of many by Antoni Gaudi, the famed artist and architect who created the Sagrada Familia and many other landmarks around Barcelona. Here, a photograph of the intricate mosaic tiles that cover the sculpture is used as the overlay for this human canvas.

Thanks once again to "Watchstock" for sharing the original photograph of the nude male model used in this project. You can see other figure studies for artists that Watchstock has generously shared in his stock gallery.

Four Seasons

2008-03-25T09:53:00.008-05:00

This post presents a slightly different twist since it includes four human canvas images based on the same original photograph. Natural landscape photographs are used as overlays in each example, and the intent is to portray the four seasons of the year. The images include tulips in the Spring, a sunny Summer garden, colorful Autumn leaves, and snow-packed evergreens in Winter. It seems very fitting to use the unadorned body of a female model as Mother Nature celebrating the beauty of the seasons in all of her natural glory.

Once again, thanks go to Sophie who is both photographer and model for the original pictures used to create these images. Using the nickname "Lockstock," she maintains a wonderful gallery of stock photographs for use by artists and designers. Here is a link to her collection of stock photographs.

Work of Art, Part 2

2008-03-19T09:59:00.003-05:00

This human canvas image is a companion piece to the original "Work of Art" image posted on February 19. Again, Marcus Ranum is the photographer who took the original photograph of a nude model holding an empty frame, but in this take, we see a different woman who now faces the camera. It seems appropriate that the overlay is a photograph of a portion of one of Michelangelo's paintings in the Sistine Chapel.

Thanks again to Marcus Ranum for generously sharing this original photograph for the project. Please be sure to visit his main web galleries to view more of his creative and masterful photography.

Another Abstract Concept

2008-03-18T04:56:00.002-05:00

Here is another human canvas image based on a photograph submitted by a reader who wanted to participate in this project. Mike has considerable experience as a figure model for art classes, and he provided the picture of this classic studio pose. Given this art background, it seems fitting that the overlay is a photo of a segment of an abstract painting. Thanks, Mike, for participating in the Human Canvas Project.

Van Gogh's Irises

2008-03-15T05:24:00.002-05:00

For generations, painters like Vincent Van Gogh have relied on traditional canvases stretched over wooden frames as the foundation for their masterpieces. As shown in many examples on this site, however, the texture of human skin and the natural contours of the body also serve well as a way to display art. In this case, a photograph of a kneeling woman is paired with a close-up photo of a portion of one of Van Gogh’s best known paintings, Irises, that was completed in Saint-Rémy, France in 1889.

Thanks to Torino and Lee for sharing the original stock photograph that was used to create this human canvas. You can click here to see more of their creative work.

Computer Art

2008-03-10T09:48:00.003-05:00

This example provides a literal expression of the merger between human beings and the computer. The original picture is a stock photo of a male torso and the overlay is a close-up photograph of the motherboard of a personal computer. The resulting human canvas recalls visions of cyborgs or robotic creations we have seen in so many sci-fi thrillers.

Thanks to "Watchstock" for generously sharing the stock photograph used to create this image. Click here to see more of the great stock photographs that he has provided for use by people in the artistic community.

Finnish Beauty

2008-03-07T11:50:00.003-06:00

This post features two human canvas images based on photographs taken by a young woman named Iida who lives in Finland. Iida is also the model for the two pictures. In each case, a scanned swatch of fabric with a floral theme was used as an overlay, and the colors were chosen to coordinate with the fabric scarf that the model wears around her waist.

Thanks, Iida, for sharing your beautiful pictures with us. For more information about the photographer and her gallery of stock images, click here to see the collection.

A View From Down Under

2008-03-06T09:46:00.000-06:00

We continue our virtual trek around the globe with two new human canvas images based on a picture taken by a photographer from Australia. Her name is Rachel and she established a very quiet and contemplative mood with this study of a nude woman in a kneeling pose with her head in her hands. In one example above, a variation of an abstract painting has been used as an overlay, while in the other, a close-up photo of a piece of textured fabric was used to create the final image.

If you are interested in looking at more of the beautiful pictures that Rachel has posted in her stock collection for artists and photographers to use, click here to view her galleries.

Vines and Flowers

2008-03-04T12:34:00.000-06:00

The original digital picture that was used to create this human canvas image comes courtesy of a photographer in Germany named Almudena. The photo of a nude woman posing in a classic sitting position has been paired with a close-up picture of a piece of colorful fabric to create a human canvas image that reminds us that Spring is close at hand. The pastel colors of the vines and flowers nicely complement the beautiful curves and texture of the model's body.

Thanks again to Almudena for sharing this picture. You can click here is you would like to see the beautiful gallery of stock pictures that she has generously shared with artists and photographers.

School Colors

2008-03-03T09:28:00.000-06:00

This post features some more images supplied by members of the Clothes Free International group. This couple requested that they be "painted" in their favorite school colors, so abstract versions of the school logos were created to use as overlays for these human canvas images. Anyone else out there interested in seeing what they would look like wearing only the colors of their favorite schools or teams?

Oh! Calcutta!

2008-02-27T09:24:00.000-06:00

As shown in an earlier post titled the "Body of the Message," the skin of a nude human body can be an effective medium for advertising a particular event or presentation. The photograph used here is a stock image that Lockstock has graciously offered up to the community of artists to use for creative projects. The overlay is a scanned image of an old page from the entertainment section of a newspaper advertising shows such as Oh! Calcutta, Chloe in the Afternoon, and Everything You Wanted to Know About Sex (But Were Afraid to Ask). Oh! Calcutta created controversy when it was first staged due to the extensive use of nudity, so it would seem natural to use a nude figure to advertise the performance.

Here is the link to Lockstock's gallery of stock images if you would like to view the photographs in the stock collection.

Flower Girl

2008-02-21T07:37:00.000-06:00

Michelle-Louise is a stock photographer from the United Kingdom and she shot the stock image that was used to create this human canvas. Here is a link to her wonderful stock gallery. The overlay is a close-up photograph of a piece of fabric that helps to create the illusion of a colorful full body paint treatment. Thanks again to Michelle-Louise for making her fine work available to photographers and artists.

Work of Art

2008-02-19T08:21:00.000-06:00

The basis for this human canvas image is a stock photograph taken by a marvelous photographer named Marcus Ranum. He has generously offered up hundreds of stock images for artists to use in their own creations. In this image, Ranum posed a nude model with a large ornate frame. The overlay is a segment of the famous Sandro Botticelli painting titled The Birth of Venus.

Thanks to Marcus Ranum for supplying the stock photograph for this example. If you would like to see more of his beautiful photography, be sure to visit his site. He offers many different galleries and several informative studio photography tutorials.

In the Money

2008-02-17T13:44:00.000-06:00

With the President's Day holiday at hand in the United States, it seems appropriate to offer a human canvas using a close-up image of a dollar bill--one of the most familiar items featuring the likeness of George Washington. Actually, the overlay used for this image is the reverse side of the bill with detailed images of the Seal of the United States and the enigmatic symbolism of the pyramid.

Pink Socks

2008-02-15T13:33:00.000-06:00

The basis for this human canvas was a photograph of a young woman who was playing volleyball at a nude beach. The socks were not meant as a fashion statement, but rather as a means to deal with the blazing hot sand. Her casual pose as she bends between plays is natural and beautiful. The overlay for the final image is a colorful patch of fabric that resembles the tie-dye look of the Sixties.

Mardi Gras

2008-02-12T13:40:00.000-06:00

Mardi Gras, the French phrase for "Fat Tuesday," has become a popular annual celebration throughout the world. Here is an image that suggests the wild and decorative masks that many revelers wear during the Mardi Gras festivities. An embroidered fabric sample is used here as an overlay in conjunction with a photograph of a nude model wearing a mask in a classic studio pose.

The Birth of Venus

2008-02-10T10:58:00.001-06:00

William-Adolphe Bouguereau was a nineteenth century French painter who turned his back on the popular impressionist movement of the time to paint rich colorful paintings that depicted mythological themes in a more realistic style. One of his best known works, The Birth of Venus, is shown here as an overlay on a female model--the same model that was used for the "Season of Peace" example posted here in December. The contours of the model's nude body fit nicely with the mythological figures contained in the painting.

Sweethearts

2008-02-07T11:12:00.000-06:00

With Valentine's Day approaching, it seems appropriate to use a colorful hearts motif to decorate a beautiful model. The photograph was submitted by a member of Clothes Free International who wanted to see what his wife would look like as a human canvas. The original photo depicted his wife sitting on the floor in their home, but the background was stripped away to establish greater contrast with the subject. The overlay is a close-up photo of a fabric swatch that was then applied to the original model to create the tie-died hearts theme.

Gaudi in the Flesh

2008-02-03T13:30:00.000-06:00

Antoni Gaudi was one of the most accomplished and creative of the European architects who worked in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. He is best known for his still unfinished cathedral known as the Sagrada Familia, but visitors to Barcelona are also very familiar with the colorful and whimsical mosaics that adorn Park Guell. Here is a kneeling model who becomes a human canvas for one of Gaudi's mosaic motifs that appears throughout the park.

Pysanka

2008-02-01T12:24:00.000-06:00

Many people are familiar with pysanka, the beautiful and colorful Ukrainian Easter eggs that are hand decorated using a wax-resist batik method. Here is an image of the same model pictured in the previous post, but in this example, she is "painted" with some traditional pysanka designs instead of the paisley fabric overlay used to create that human canvas. The geometric patterns are more clearly defined in this image and the colors are warmer and more subtle.

Wild Paisley

2008-01-31T10:29:00.000-06:00

Bright and colorful patterns look especially striking when painted, projected, or applied to the human form. In this example, a rather abstract paisley fabric pattern has been applied to an image of a nude model holding a very simple and casual pose. The final product resembles the painstaking body painting efforts of 45 different Chilean artists that were beautifully portrayed in a book titled Painted Bodies by photographer Roberto Edwards.

Tesselations

2008-01-30T09:44:00.000-06:00

Images of art take on different perspectives when displayed on the nude human form. Here is a human canvas creation based on an image of Pam, one of the nudecasters at Clothes Free International. The original photo depicted Pam and two other CFI nudecasters in the communal showers at the Shangri La Ranch, a nudist resort in Arizona. Her image was selected and placed on a black background and then an overlay of a portion of an M.C. Escher print was applied to achieve the final effect. The repeating intertwined images of the Escher tesselation wrap around the model's form in an interesting way.

Abstract Art

2008-01-29T11:17:00.001-06:00

Here is another example of a human canvas image that combines a color overlay with a grayscale background. In this example, a woman "wears" a virtual layer of paint that is actually a segment of a Jackson Pollock abstract painting. The grayscale setting helps to emphasize the colorful patterns of paint on this human canvas model.

Naked in America

2008-01-28T14:24:00.001-06:00

A while back, the crew at Clothes Free International filmed a segment on bodypainting for an episode titled Naked in America. The image above is a still photograph taken during the filming of the episode that was later transformed into a human canvas image with an embroidered fabric overlay. The two naturists shown here now sport virtual bodypaint that is quite different from the actual painted images they created during the original event. Be sure to check out the Clothes Free International website for information about the naturist DVDs that they offer for sale.

In the Cards

2008-01-27T10:32:00.000-06:00

After a short hiatus for the holidays and some travel, the Human Canvas Project returns with some new images for 2008. With the continued generous cooperation of the great people at Clothes Free International, here is another image of a CFI nudecaster 'painted" with a digital overlay that was created from a very common source--the scanned image of the back of an ordinary playing card. Sometimes pictures of objects that we see and use every day make interesting human canvas images. Thanks to Pete Guither and his innovative work on a similar site called "The Living Canvas" for the inspiration for this example. Pete creates striking photographs of nude models bathed in the light of projected images in a darkened room. Be sure to check out the galleries on his site.

A new initiative is planned in the coming months that will give CFI subscribers an opportunity to participate in the process of creating new and unique human canvas images. Watch this site and the discussion forums on the Clothes Free International site for more information.

Clothes Free International

2007-12-18T14:41:00.000-06:00

Here is an image of a model courtesy of Clothes Free International, an organization that does a great job of promoting positive naturist values and celebrating the grace and beauty of the nude human form. The overlay also comes from the CFI website and is an image of the cover of one of the many DVDs that they offer containing content from their "Nudes in the News" shows. Click this link for more information about Clothes Free International and the many resources that they offer.

A New Leaf

2007-12-17T15:30:00.000-06:00

The dark skin of this model provides a rich contrast to the glossy surface of an image of fern leaves that has been applied to create this canvas. Close-up photographs of everyday objects in nature--leaves, stones, soil, branches, flowers, or insects--make excellent overlays and sometimes take on an entirely different look when wrapped around a human figure.

Fanning the Flames

2007-12-15T16:23:00.000-06:00

One of the most interesting things about body painting, whether it is real or virtual, is observing the ways that the colors and patterns bend to conform to the contours of the body. The male figure shown here was not actually covered in yellow and orange and red paints, but instead was given a virtual paint job by applying an overlay of an image of a piece of fabric. It's like having your body painted without the mess.

Season of Peace

2007-12-14T13:39:00.000-06:00

Several years ago, an international action committee circulated a poster featuring 50 ways to help achieve peace and understanding among people. Here is an image of that poster applied to the soft curves of a nude figure. This living canvas is so much more effective than a piece of paper and it works quite well to bring out the human element in these important causes.

Autumn Branches

2007-12-13T14:08:00.000-06:00

With such a wide variety of colors, textures, and objects to use as overlays on the nude human form, two identical images of the same person can look quite different as Human Canvas models. In this case, the same female model who is illustrated with an picture of a Peter Max poster in an earlier post now takes on a much different look as an image of autumn branches and leaves paints her figure. The brown gradient backdrop was chosen here to blend with the colors of the overlay image.

Renaissance Man

2007-12-12T14:16:00.000-06:00

Here's another inanimate addition to the Human Canvas gallery. Michelangelo's David is generally considered to be one of the most perfect sculptures ever created, and his remarkable representation of the male form works well for this media. In this case, another of Michelangelo's masterpieces--the magnificent images on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel--are "painted" on the marble form. With one art form superimposed over another, David truly becomes a Renaissance Man.

Psychedelic Sixties

2007-12-11T16:58:00.000-06:00

Possibly no pop artist epitomizes the spirit of peace and love that existed in the Sixties better than Peter Max, so it seems altogether fitting to honor his work on a Human Canvas. The beauty of the human body was glorified in many posters and paintings from this era, and the vibrant colors and imagery of the Peter Max artwork sits comfortably on this nude female model.

Body of the Message

2007-12-10T08:25:00.000-06:00

Sometimes a nude torso is all that is needed to create an effective Human Canvas, particularly when the purpose is to promote a cause or to advertise an event. One example above is a variation of the effective ad campaign by PETA in which well known celebrities pose nude to proclaim to the world that they "would rather go naked than wear fur." In this image, the message is superimposed on the skin of a nude model, taking the intent of the message to a new level. The second example suggests the power of the Human Canvas to promote a theatrical production. Since the musical HaIR continues to make a media splash because productions often feature full nudity, it seems fitting that a nude figure be used to "wear" the advertising poster.

Greek Antiquities

2007-12-09T19:52:00.000-06:00

Ancient documents and maps printed on yellowed parchment also work well as overlays on Human Canvas projects. The color and texture of these old documents tend to contrast well with the smooth surface of the skin of the models in this Human Canvas collection. This example is a variation of the process used to create the other images on this site. An inanimate marble statue of a Greek woman becomes the canvas for another ancient piece of art--the tattered remnants of an ancient map that supposedly depicted the location of the lost city of Atlantis.

Kaleidoscope Illusions

2007-12-09T09:16:00.000-06:00

Here is a simple Human Canvas image that was created from a black and white photograph of two women in a close and friendly embrace. A circular kaleidoscope-type image was added and positioned so that the circular patterns seem to radiate outward from a central focal point between the two models. This symmetrical composition helps to unify the two figures so they they seem to exist as one.

Rethinking a Classical Pose

2007-12-08T17:28:00.000-06:00

Here is a variation on a classic studio pose. The original image was shot with black and white film on a studio set in which the model posed in front of a light gray backdrop while sitting on a reflective white panel. The virtual overlay is a second image--a digital color photograph of a bed of flowers. The model's face is somewhat obscured by the dense floral pattern, but her nude body becomes an elegant human canvas that glorifies the colorful patterns of the leaves and blossoms.

A Grayscale and Color Blend

2007-12-07T14:41:00.000-06:00

Unlike the first two examples on the Human Canvas Project site that featured models against a black background, here is a variation on the concept. In this case, an image of an ancient map of the constellations was used as the virtual overlay on the male model who is pictured standing near a pier under the stars. Instead of a black background for this human canvas representation, however, a grayscale version of the original photograph has been used for the setting. It seems to highlight the effects of the photo manipulation process.

Virtual Body Paint

2007-12-07T12:04:00.000-06:00

In this studio example, the two models are joined in a friendly embrace in a standard studio set-up against a black backdrop. Using a second image of an abstract painting with colorful drips of paint as an overlay in the software manipulation process, the women appear to be painted from head-to-toe. The same effect can be achieved with the use of projected images in a completely darkened room or studio.

Patriotic Theme

2007-12-06T16:35:00.000-06:00

Here is a look at the style of the Human Canvas Project. In this case, the model strikes a kneeling pose in a standard studio set-up, and then a virtual "overlay" provided by an image of a fabric swatch styled in a traditional red, white, and blue motif was added in the photo manipulation after the shoot. The image gives a new meaning to the notion of being proud to be an American.

The Human Canvas Project Begins

2007-12-06T15:26:00.000-06:00

Welcome to the Human Canvas Project blog site. This site is devoted to exploring the ways that creative photography techniques can be used to capture the grace and beauty of the nude human form. Some of the images posted here were created by projecting photographic images on nude models in a studio that was completely dark except for the projections. Others were created by transforming standard nude images using overlays created with photo editing software. The results are similar in appearance to body paint images even when the techniques used to create them are very different.