Woman paints on pregnant belly

A female illustrator surprised people by painting artworks on her belly to portray her unique vision on and expectation of her unborn child, Chengdu Evening Post reported today.

Luo Qianxi, a female illustrator, surprised people by painting artworks on her belly to portray her unique vision on and expectation of her unborn child. [Photo/Chinanews.com]

Luo Qianxi, born in Sichuan Province, will soon become a young mother. "Like all mothers-to-be, I want to record this marvelous period in a very unique way," Luo said, "Some choose photography, some choose keeping a diary, but painting is what I'm really good at."

When the new life started growing in her body, Luo once worried her pregnancy might interrupt her artist creation. Yet when she could feel the baby kick after four months, her heart softened. She subsequently started using the paintbrush to draw her thoughts on this new life.

Throughout the eight months of her pregnancy, she created nine artworks. She had finally managed to overcome her initial hesitation and fear, and was looking forward to welcoming this new life into the world.

According to Luo, she would take on huge amounts of groundwork before she started painting. She would first draft the images on computer and then start to line them out on her belly, imagining what the baby would look like. Every painting would take her three to five hours. After putting the final touches to her art, she would then capture it on camera. Finally, for health concerns, she would never allow the paint on her belly to stay on for more than five hours.

"It is very easy to clean my belly. I don't feel comfortable," Luo said. Initially she would create the artworks every two weeks. After her belly started getting bigger and bigger, she would paint images once a week. Now, she has nine images of her future baby in total.

As a freelance illustrator, Luo's style prefers to play with darkness and shadows; a look deemed cool and pioneering among youngsters. Her favorite shades are black and white. Nevertheless, as the baby grew, she developed a more and more intense motherly love and her style in turn possessed that particular warmth that comes with it.

"The painting made the pregnancy more interesting and became part of my art creations. I no longer have that sense of fear which I initially held in my heart. I'm just looking forward to this challenge," she smiled.

Luo also tried out her painting brushes on the bellies of her pregnant friends. "Her artworks are so playful and interesting," said Lian Mingqiao, one of her friends who witnessed and enjoyed the whole process. "As long as it's safe, it is a great thing to do to make herself and those around her happy."