World Body Painting Festival

Well the 33rd year of my life has really taken off.  My Dad always said that God helps those who help themselves and I've decided to run with that theme this year.  Just a month ago I traveled to Austria to compete in the World Body Painting Festival and won third place in the Semi-Pro Brush/Sponge Bodypainting Division (for more info check out www.bodypainting-festival.com and www.racheldeboer.com).  It was one of the most amazing experiences of my life. To be on an international stage of professional artists, completely new to the scene, a total newcomer and to actually prove not just to others but to myself that I do indeed have talent in this new art form I have embraced is incredible.  I always thought of myself as only a performance artist but now I see that we humans are like the phoenix, constantly reinventing and rebirthing ourselves out of the ashes of our old selves.  I love life and I love the muse and I love the act of creation.  I cant imagine doing anything else with my life except love and beauty.