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Pressespiegel

Gabi von der Linnepe - Colourful Canvases and Beautiful Bodies

INTERVIEW

By Sarah McHattie

"I have to paint" were the words repeating themselves in German painter Gabi von der Linnepe's head, when she made the monumental decision to give up her job and become a full-time artist. With the help and support of her parents and her husband Stefano she started painting on canvas in her studio and "learned to live with Less money". Her first exhibition was a great success; she "even sold some of her paintings" and this made her confident she had made the right decision.

In 2003, whilst holidaying in Austria, she stumbled across the World Bodypainting Festival. She takes up the story: "Immediately I booked a workshop, bought six colours and afterwards went home to study the Latest video. I contacted my brother, Marc, and sister, Anne, and much to their surprise, told them: ,Next year we will participate in the World Bodypainting Festival'. I showed them the video and everyone was keen to give it a go."

The team Gabi put together is a real family affair. Marc and Anne are the models; her husband, Stefano Martino, is the second painter; her brother-in-law, Markus, is photographer and video man; and her parents Monika and Lutz come along for support.

She continues: "In preparation I used my experience of painting on canvas to familiarise myself with body painting. The colours were so different from acrylic colour I was used to and the body itself is not flat. A good body paint must really fit the parts of the body - it is so unlike painting on a flat canvas.

"We did our very first body painting in 2004 - The Hydra with Seven Heads. It was exciting! And it was unbelievable to be awarded the audience prize and be placed fifth overall.

"Stefano and Marc looked at each other and immediately decided we would compete again the following year to try for a better placing. In 2005 and 2006 we achieved second place in brush and sponge, and again won the audience prize an both occasions. It was fantastic!"

So this is the story of how Gabi first entered the world of body painting and why Illusion approached her to design this issue's fabulous cover. We always like to dig a little deeper into the realities of our feature artists' lives. This is what we found out:

It is a nice balance to be able to earn money as a canvas artist and then to compete together with friends at events such as Seeboden. Which do you prefer? Would you ever consider body painting commercially?

First of all I must say that unfortunately I cannot live on my art sales alone. I still have a mini-job to secure a mini income, and Stefano earns our money with his engineering Job.

Still, I love my artistic freedom and whatever I do, this is the really important base for me. The optimal way for me is to create my canvas work, display it at an exhibition where I can present my canvas images to interested people, who may then buy a picture. Sometimes I do body paint commercially for events, pregnant women, advertising, companies or art events - but to earn a tot of money with it is really difficult.

It must be quite a contrast to return from a major event or festival to the peace and quiet of your studio?

I need the time in solitude to prepare for body painting and I really need it for my canvas work. The World Bodypainting Festival is a big event and a great platform to show my art. Many more people take notice of the body artwork than my canvas paintings because of the competitions, which is really unusual for art.

To get really good feedback, and so many compliments for the work, even e-mails afterwards from so many different countries, makes me really happy. It gives me confirmation that I made the right decision to quit my office Job in order to be able to paint.

You appear to use more male than female models. Do you prefer the male form?

I really prefer to paint male models because I see body painting as real art and nothing else. I use men so that I can be sure that photographers take pictures because of the painting and not because of the beautiful naked female model.

During festivals we often see photographers taking pictures of the girls although the painting has only just started - they never do this when we work on a male model. But they are really interested in the completed painting on the male body.

Another reason is that I love to paint big images (also on canvas). As the male body has more space, I can choose really big motifs and make sure that everything can be seen from a distance.

Your husband helps you body paint. How does this partnership work?

Stefano does almost half of the painting. Normally I develop the painting, choose the colour and motifs, try lt. and then finally we decide who paints which parts. He really paints - not only foundation or black lines.

He is not a full-time artist as somebody needs to earn our money! But he is also very talented and we love to paint together as we are a really good team.

From viewing your website your canvas art displays the wonderful colours and organic farms seen in your body art. Has your canvas art changed since you started using the human form as a canvas?

I think no. For me both art forms are totally different. I need the experience and exercise that I get from the daily canvas painting to do a good and clear body painting within a short time.

While canvas is flat, the body has very different parts that should be considered. The body must be painted all round and should work from all sides and every point of view.

I never simply paint on the body, but use the body. As the model moves, It must be good looking from every side, the colours must be harmonious and the complete painting must be done within six hours. This Is very different from painting a canvas Image when I can paint as many details as I like and take as much time as I need. While I can change everything in a canvas painting and develop It during my paintingwork, I need very good preparation for the body painting, as It is difficult or impossible to change the colours and motifs subsequently.

You use creative painted backdrops and imaginative props/hairpieces to complete your body paints. Do you like to place your model within a wider design concept?

I like to paint a backdrop so that the model becomes part of a complete work of art. It 15 really exciting to create a very big canvas painting (although It takes a long time) and then complete a body paint and put both parts together. I really look forward to uniting the painted model with the backdrop. You can also add backdrops digitally to a photo but to paint the backdrop and harmonize It with the body painting is really exciting and unique.

Which products do you like to paint with?

I generally use the colour that I win in competitions and that is a wide range. I mostly prefer hard colour (wet make up/chromacake) but sometimes I use liquids. It is very important for me that the co[our 15 bright and clear and It has to come oft easily.

Can you tell us about your caver design. Haw did you came up with the idea far Us? How long did it take you to paint and photograph?

My idea was to create a real illusion. I found this commission very different from a total body paint, which has to work when a model moves. For your cover I chose a part of the body, made some sketches (how the complete page should look), tried It on my very new male window-doll and thought that It would work on the back of Tobias. I wanted It to be difficult to make out the body and felt It should be a light and brilliant painting.

I made the background black as well as parts of the body to make the outline invisible. I also added a natural bough to increase the confusion and make It more difficult to Identify the body.

It took me six hours to paint, and Thomas, the photographer, took about one and a half hours to take the pictures. This was the first time I had worked with both men and I think we did a great job as I am really satisfied with the end result. I hope Illusion's readers like it too.

And finally, are you ready far Seeboden this year?

This year will be very different as I will not have my usual team. At the moment I am looking for a nice male model and photographer. I hope once I have my team complete, we will all have as much fun as in previous years. I really look forward to meeting the body painting family and having a creative, happy and sunny time with great festival weather, without any storms, like the ones we had last year!

Illusion - The Magazine for Today's Face and Body Artist, Summer 2008, Issue 6

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