Page 35 - Port Douglas Magazine 42

WORDS by Jeremy Lebeuf
here are few places on this rotating Henna is enchanting, beautiful, and chic.
rock that feel more liberating than Applied directly on the skin, it is a paste made
Tthe tropics. Playful, invigorating, and from the crushed leaves of the henna plant
relaxed with equal parts wild, edgy, and and is super safe for all ages. Naturally dying
cleansing. your skin with its ancient tattoo form, the art
The uninhibited feels of the tropics frees will only last for two to three weeks.
one’s spirit to express yourself without Sound intriguing? Then find your way to
wavering. Sun-soaked skin, flesh is exposed, the popular locals’ markets, on Saturday in
the body becomes a flawless canvas, inspiring Mossman or on a Sunday in Port Douglas.
courageous and creative expression with There you will find the talented Peta Campbell
some beautiful and badass body art. from Peta Does Arting creating beautiful
When a fridge magnet or postcard just isn’t designs with her refined line work and creating
enough, inking your memories with a tropical- fun holiday memories of your own.
inspired tattoo is a fearless more permanent “When visitors come to the tropics, they are
souvenir. There is a story behind the ink, a just so happy to be warm and to not need to
fond memory, transformation, empowerment, cover their bodies up in layers and layers of
or a journal of cherished events. clothes,” explains Peta. “Getting henna done is
Now I’m not saying that you should impulsively like a celebration of your skin seeing the sun.”
get tattoos on your Douglas Shire beach “Henna is alluring because people love to
getaway, because, no, don’t. Tatts are like decorate their bodies. It is a gentle application
chips - you can’t have just one. But what I am and of course it is temporary which makes it
saying is, if you have always been flirting with more appealing,” Peta said.
getting palm trees and Coral Seas ink done, However, perhaps the most expressive form
Tropical North Queensland stirs a lust for of body art is children and face paint. They go
possibilities. together like watermelon and summer days.
For Port Douglas-inspired ink think palms, No one has seen this at its purest than face
wildlife, sunsets, turtles, botanicals, and painter with flair, Natalia Lucano of Cosmic
waves. It is a celebration of the region’s Carnival Entertainment who also resides at
beauty, a hallmark and a reminder of serene, the Port Douglas Sunday markets.
joyful moments spent in idyllic tropical Natalia is a hub of whimsical artistry who
surroundings. creates a rainbow-filled wonderlands.
Getting a tropical tattoo on vacation can be a “Kids just wanna have fun!” said Natalia.
fusion of personal expression and a snapshot “It’s imagination and expression in its most
“When visitors come of self-discovery in a lasting way tied to your innocent and honest form.”
soul and character. “If they say they want to be a tiger, spiderman,
to the tropics, they For Tara Short, who is a regular visitor to the unicorn, Elsa, or even a pickle, they become
tropics escaping the frost box of Canada, a
whatever they want to be. There are no rules
are just so happy playful pineapple tattoo fills her tropical cup here, the freedom and the choice is theirs,
with delight giving her a silly smile with every
glimpse. that’s the magic of face painting.”
to be warm and to “Pineapples just make me happy! They’re Kids embrace the playful opportunity to stand
out.
yellow and fun and delicious and remind me
not need to cover of the beach,” said Tara. “Face painting is like a cocktail of creativity,
fun, social interaction, and the chance to
“I always knew I wanted it but did a henna transform your appearance in a safe and
their bodies up in tattoo while on vacation first to see if I liked enriching space,” said Natalia. “It engages
it,” explains Tara, “and I did it again the next
the imagination and can be thrilling and
layers and layers vacation. After that, I was sold and got it done empowering.
at home.”
“The most rewarding part of face painting is
of clothes, Getting Tara’s inked pineapple emotes the memory seeing the wonderment and confidence it
of a sandy sea breeze paradise. For her it’s
bestows, which lasts I’m sure, until they jump
relaxation, nature, wholeness. A resounding in the pool! We need more innocent positivity
henna done is like a sensation of peace, an engulfing feeling of in this world,” said Natalia.
being entirely stress-free. It’s like having beach
celebration of your vibes on tap an instant hit of bliss sauce. So, the next time you want to pump up those
joyful tropical holiday feels celebrating growth,
But what if you love body art and you’re
a landmark moment, or just for flip-flop kicks,
skin seeing the sun” also a bit of a commitment-phobe? Then body art in the tropics is a blissful releasing
maybe henna is right for you. Henna is the
way of self-expression. Whether permanent
art that leaves a lasting impression without or temporary it’s a memory that’s skin-deep.
overstaying it’s welcome, because you can’t
possibly regret something that only lasts a
couple of weeks. Right?