After witnessing a particularly cringe-making body-painting spectacle in an Italian disco, one would never have thought that it would be possible to have a title like Body Painting: Master Pieces by Joanne Gair catch one’s eye. However, the cover looked so tasteful that one was intrigued enough to take a look. And guess what? Joanne Gair is truly masterful. This make up artist uses the body as a canvas and this book presents 75 of her best works, covering a variety of show business celebs as well as models – all in body paint. Some of the most accomplished photographers of our time, like Annie Leibovitz, Herb Ritts and David LaChapelle, are behind the lens for the shoots. Who knew that such artful application of such thin layers of paint could provide such coverage?

Hardcover, 156 pages. Universe, 2006. $26.40 at Amazon.

+ Body Painting at Amazon