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Artist Creates Striking Prints of Realistic Portraits Using His Hands as Stamps

Hand Stamp Body Art Body Painting Russell Powell

California-based artist Russell Powell continues to create impressive imprints that blur the line between traditional portraiture and experimental body art. Using his hand as a makeshift stamp, Powell produces extraordinarily detailed depictions of realistic and expressive faces.

To create each impressive imprint, Powell employs a unique process he calls “hand-stamping.” This technique requires the artist to first paint a picture on the palm of his hand. This step must be completed quickly, as the paint needs to remain wet in order for the image to be successfully transferred. Once his work of body art is finished, he simply presses his hand onto a sheet of paper or canvas, and voila—a perfect print.

With this technique, Powell is able to couple two of his artistic interests—portrait art and body painting—into a single practice. Additionally, this method is favorable for its unique aesthetic, as each portrait is entirely one-of-a-kind. Unlike traditional paintings that have defined edges and predictable compositions, Powell's pieces are framed by the recognizable shape of his hand. Look closely, and you'll even see his fingerprints forever embedded in his subjects' faces, quite literally demonstrating “the hand of the artist” in his work!

You can see more of Powell's handiwork on his Instagram.

In a unique twist on body painting, artist Russell Powell creates printed portraits using a hand stamp technique.

Hand Stamp Body Art Body Painting Russell Powell

Hand Stamp Body Art Body Painting Russell Powell

Hand Stamp Body Art Body Painting Russell Powell

Hand Stamp Body Art Body Painting Russell Powell

Hand Stamp Body Art Body Painting Russell Powell

Hand Stamp Body Art Body Painting Russell Powell

Hand Stamp Body Art Body Painting Russell Powell

Hand Stamp Body Art Body Painting Russell Powell

Hand Stamp Body Art Body Painting Russell Powell

Hand Stamp Body Art Body Painting Russell Powell

Hand Stamp Body Art Body Painting Russell Powell

Hand Stamp Body Art Body Painting Russell Powell

Hand Stamp Body Art Body Painting Russell Powell

Hand Stamp Body Art Body Painting Russell Powell

Check out the process behind the artist's imprinted body art.

Russell Powell: Instagram

All images via Russell Powell.

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Historical Artworks Painted on the Human Body

Kelly Richman-Abdou

Kelly Richman-Abdou is a Contributing Writer at My Modern Met. An art historian living in Paris, Kelly was born and raised in San Francisco and holds a BA in Art History from the University of San Francisco and an MA in Art and Museum Studies from Georgetown University. When she’s not writing, you can find Kelly wandering around Paris, whether she’s leading a tour (as a guide, she has been interviewed by BBC World News America and France 24) or simply taking a stroll with her husband and two tiny daughters.
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