Brittney Pelloquin is an accomplished world body painter and fine artist. She was a tv contestant on Skin Wars Season 3 and was ranked 10th in the World Professional Brush and Sponge Category at the 2016 World Bodypainting Festival in Austria. In December 2016, Brittney became an artist-in-residence at Basin Arts where she has her visual artist studio. We recently chatted with Brittney to learn more about her creative process and to share some of her magic with you!

1. Who are you? What do you do?
I was born and raised in Louisiana and I am a visual artist who paints on any surface that comes my way. I have a degree in Visual Arts from University of Louisiana at Lafayette and I now take my art to the next level by painting live art on the human body, known as “body painting”. Living art is the most exciting and fulfilling work because it gives a new meaning to the artistic beauty of the nude human figure in all its natural shapes and sizes.

2.What are you working on now?
I am currently introducing my work into the community through the local traditions and celebrations of Mardi Gras; integrating my art form into costuming to add yet another visual aspect for the viewers to connect with. When I am not working out in the public eye, I am working diligently in my studio to better my artistry skills through multiple mediums such as oil painting and drawing. A new series of work in body painting and in oils is currently under way that has yet to be released to the public.

3. Why Basin Arts?
Imagine a place where you are welcomed at all times of the day. Where your opinions can be vocalized without scrutinizing remarks. It is a safe haven for me and my work where we are nurtured by those who reside there, allowing my creativity to constantly blossom and morph, constantly challenging my thoughts and actions not only as an artist, but as a human being.

The instructors and the artists there all have a deep rooted passion for what they do. Surrounding myself with like minded individuals pushes me be the best in my career through life practice and training. The studio is constantly bringing in new people who have a desire to be better in their practices and in their lives, which allows me to connect with many others not only through my work but through every day living.

4.What feeds your creative practice?
Making personal connections through my art is what feeds my creative practice. I feel as technology improves and expands, human socializing decreases on a personal level. My work forces me and my canvas/subject to communicate while in a slightly more uncomfortable state of mind. This pushes me to be more patient and accepting of the many personality characteristics others may possess that do not always match my own. I am constantly challenging myself and my artwork to reach and connect to my viewers.

5. When do you feel most in your element?
I feel I am most in my element when I am collaborating with others to develop my work. This allows the work to open up and the creative responsibility is not weighed down on one person.

I am able to help others break past barriers they never thought capable of because they have allowed fear to control their actions. Fear of judgement, fear off acceptance and fear of being themselves…once all of the material labels are removed and they are left in only their skin. It then becomes about the process and how we work together to discover the end result. My artwork cannot exist without the canvas and vice versa.

6. Where can we find you next?
I will be providing one of the main headliners of the Krewe of the Unicorn with a detailed bodypainted costume on February 4th. From there I continue my travels to New Orleans and Texas for more bodypainting needs for the Mardi Gras season. Making my way back to Lafayette just in time to paint many of faces for the Krewe of Rio and Bonaparte parades.