NSW body paint competition held at Rose Bay

Article from: The Daily Telegraph

IS it painting or sculpture? Primal or contemporary? One thing's for sure - Tim Gratton's brand of art leaves no room for modesty.

Gratton is a body painter and is the driving force behind the first NSW body painting competition to be held at Rose Bay RSL Club tomorrow night.

In Europe, body painting has a devoted following and a regular calendar of championship competitions.

"I'm gauging to see if we can tie in with them and have an Australian one in a year's time," Gratton said yesterday.

Tomorrow's competition starts at 7pm, and is free for people to come and watch. There will even be a people's choice award, as well as $1000 in prize money.

Gratton expects upwards of 15 entrants who will prepare their models from 3pm.

The job of the models is to show off the artists' paintwork to best advantage.

Gratton has been contacted by one artist who plans to paint graffiti on the skin of her male model.

Gratton is not entering tomorrow's competition.

Instead, he has planned a surprise to conclude the show. It involves two performers, including 22-year-old Emily Philippou.

In less than an hour yesterday Gratton painted Philippou so she blended in with the sandstone at Nielsen Park in Vaucluse.