Today we’d like to introduce you to Anna Chapovalov
Hi Anna, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I always liked Art. It was my passion since middle school, but I ended up studying economics and accounting. A completely different path. As life passed by, I completely forgot about it and put my passion on a hidden drawer in my brain for a long time. Had a family, kids and a regular office job. When I had my first baby, I decided to leave my job to take care of him. When I decided to get back to work, I was still living in Italy and the economy crisis had just hit. It was impossible to find a job. While desperate to understand who I was and what to do with my life, I saw someone looking for a facepainter. In that moment I decided to give it a try. I started to learn it from 0, but I really loved it! After 1 year, I decided to try a facepaint competition in Italy and placed 5th. During this event I saw bodypainting for the first time. I fell in love! It was like something magic was happening. After that event I decided that I had to learn how to bodypaint. I didn’t know any models or anyone available to just try for fun. So I jumped straight into a bodypaint competition. After placing on the top half I felt that maybe I could do it. So I started studying, watching youtube tutorials and doing as many workshops as possible with many amazing artist. From that moment I never stopped. Fast forward, today, bodypainting is my full time job and I’m blessed to have achieved many amazing accomplishments that I’d never thought I would and it makes me really proud. The most important of these is definitely having placed 4th at The World Bodypaintig championship in Austria 2018. I didn’t expect it. There were around 50 really talented artists from all around the world. I also placed 5th at the Daegu International Bodypainting Ferstival in South Korea 2017 and first at the Texas Bodypaint Competition (BTC) in 2015.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
No, it definitely wasn’t a smooth road. Most of my body artist friends come from an artistic education. Life had a different path for me and I had to become a self thought artist very late in my life. So I felt like I wasn’t enough. But this definitely pushed me to learn and practice a lot. Also, choosing to become an artist wasn’t an easy choice, especially with a family. It takes a lot of effort and dedication to turn your passion for art into a profitable business, but definitely makes me a happier person.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I mainly specialize in bodypaint, makeup and creative makeup. I like transform a person. Either with just a makeup, to help empowering people or for a bodypaint, that can someone feel like a character for a day. I just feel happy helping people. I’m usually well known from the strong colors and quality of my work. People usually say that I am a perfectionist and all my work has an elegant touch. I think that the influence from the Italian art that I lived through all my life reflects in many aspects of how I work and how I see art.
So, before we go, how can our readers or others connect or collaborate with you? How can they support you?
The best way to get in touch to call or contact me directly through my social media, phone or email.
Contact Info:
- Email: annabodyart@gmail.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/anna.chapovalov
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/anna.chapovalov
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/channel/UCkFRcNFKYwCAFy1jDKDXXsg
Image Credits
All photos by FABIO PLIGER
Photo full bodypaint with butterfly headpiece by Davide Da Damos
Models:
Tenille Jones
Cristina Benedetti
McKenzie Moore
Christine Evans
Maia Del Mazo
Rachel Long
Dillion Lalor
