Anastasia Durasova knew she wanted to be a makeup artist from a young age, creating her first body painting work at fifteen while she was still in art school. Since then she has cultivated an illustrious career, studying at the Makeup Atelier in Paris, producing editorial work for the top international publications, partnering with the greatest photographers, and working on the most celebrated faces and bodies in the world. She is the true definition of a Working Artist. Here, she shares some of the inspiration and techniques she used to create the chic body art with TEMPTU for an exclusive New York Fashion Week project with Monse Maison.
What was your inspiration for the Tattoo design? My client, Monse Maison requested circus-inspired tattoo look. I also had to incorporate the company's logo and name, provided by the client.
You work with transfer tattoos quite a lot – what do you love about incorporating them into your body art? I love tattoo transfers. They allow me create designs with sharp lines and fonts really quickly. You can't create extremely thin line or any other detail without the transfers.
What is the biggest challenge working with transfer tattoos? Big tattoos are tricky. You have to work fast, keeping the paper moist with alcohol and pulling it piece by piece. Alcohol dries fast, so you want to be really quick.
What was the biggest challenge on this assignment? Client requested large logos on models chests and backs that was the complicated part.
How do you plan the placement of the tattoos on a project like this? I start placing the largest parts of design first, then use smaller elements (medium sized) and the smallest details go last. If I feel there is still a lot of space between the elements, I add small patterns like dots, stars, lines to connect elements of design organically.
What was the reaction on the night to the finished look? People absolutely loved it! Guests took pictures and asked who did the body art. That is the most satisfying part for me. I love when people are amazed and entertained by my work. I like to spread good vibes and bring positive energy!
If an artist (who has never done it before) wants to incorporate transfer tattoos into their work – what would be your tip to help them get started? First try to use it on yourself or friends to get used to the application process. The amount of alcohol you put onto the bare skin before the application can't be described, you need to feel it. Once you try you'll get it. This rule works for any technique you've never tried before - practice before you want to use it for actual job.
