Body paint, pregnancy & positivity - a colourful chapter in our journey
She’d been following my posts about body positivity and reached out with an idea: would I ever consider being body painted?
At first, I’ll admit I blinked at the message and thought, me? Naked? Covered in paint? But the more I thought about it, the more it made sense. Body painting and body positivity share the same language, both celebrate the skin you’re in, flaws and all and both transform something ordinary into something extraordinary.
So, I did what I always do when approached by a stranger - a little research. I checked out her work on Instagram and Facebook and to my surprise, I’d already come across her before. Her name was Louise, and she was a fantastic artist. Her style was bold, creative, and beautifully unapologetic.
We started chatting and before long, we’d arranged a date for her to come to the house and paint me.h Then, as the plan started coming together, I had an idea. What if it wasn’t just me? What if Chris joined in too and we turned this into something more meaningful? A maternity photoshoot that celebrated both of us, both bodies, both journeys. Male and female body positivity, side by side.
Louise loved the idea.
We gave her creative freedom, only asking that the two designs complement each other. Something bright, bold, and in harmony. She absolutely nailed it. The designs were full of colour and energy, incorporating animal print (my favourite) and floral elements that somehow suited us both perfectly.
As the day approached, though, I’ll admit I got nervous. I was 34 weeks pregnant at the time and my body was changing by the day. I’d worked so hard on accepting myself, but the thought of standing mostly naked in front of a complete stranger made me uneasy.
Still, my 2017 resolution — carried proudly into 2018 — was to say yes to experiences that challenged my comfort zone and built my confidence. This ticked every box.
When Louise arrived, she instantly put us at ease. She was warm, professional, and had this calming energy that made the whole thing feel natural — not awkward or exposing. Before long, we were both standing there, partially covered in paint and laughing about how surreal the moment felt.
The painting process itself was fascinating. You don’t think about your body the same way when it becomes a canvas. Every brushstroke felt like art taking shape — not decoration, not disguise, but celebration.
By the end, we were walking, breathing works of art. Louise’s designs were stunning — full of movement and meaning. We photographed each other, captured the colours and shapes and couldn’t stop smiling.
And then came the moment I always dread: seeing the photos. Normally, I cringe at naked pictures of myself — I pick apart everything I see wrong. But this time… I didn’t.
I looked at the images and just smiled.
I didn’t see flaws or imperfections. I didn’t even see “me” in the usual self-critical way. I saw art. I saw colour, confidence, and creativity. My shape didn’t matter. My size didn’t matter. The body paint had reframed everything.
What I saw was beauty,not because I fit any standard but because I wasn’t trying to.
It’s funny how one small “yes” can shift so much. That day reminded both of us why we share this journey publicly because body confidence doesn’t come from perfection, it comes from participation. From saying yes when it would be easier to say no.
Louise gave us more than artwork that day. She gave us a memory. One filled with laughter, colour, connection, and a deep appreciation for what our bodies have carried us through.
And for that, we’ll always be grateful
Ginny & Chris | Bare With Us 🌿
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