Already a successful makeup artist, artist Michael Michelle never intended to excel in the medium of bodypainting — all he wanted was an arresting image to add to his portfolio. Michelle initially asked a friend if he could paint his face and photograph it. However, that face painting turned into a chest painting, and by the time the day was done, Michelle had painted his friend’s entire body.

Everyone loved the results.

With the help of collaborator Jonathan Baize, who does the photo retouching and digital compositing on all of Michelle’s bodypainting photos, the artist began exhibiting the images he produced. After receiving repeated requests for some sort of collection of his bodypainting images, Michelle decided to put together a calendar. The results will be unveiled Aug. 17, when the calendar is officially released for sale (one of Michelle’s images appears on the cover of this week’s Gay and Lesbian Times).

There will be a release party at The Flame Sunday, Aug. 17, from 8:00 p.m. to close, with a free buffet, model/artist signings, live body and face painting music from DJ Brian Anderson, a live performance by Lydia Lee and more. All this entertainment will cost you $15 at the door. For more information, call (619) 295-4163.