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Photographer, painter and graphic artist Sari Wouters enjoys capturing images of the female form as represented in the classic pinup posters of the 1950s.

"The way that I see pinups are that the girls are very glamorous, sexy and strong," she said following a photo shoot she organized at Inspired in Centre Square Mall last weekend. "The curves and voluptuousness of the female form is such a beautiful thing. A man is more chiseled and square whereas a woman's body flows."

Yellowknife photograper Sari Wouters poses in front of a bit of inspiration for her work. - Daron Letts/NNSL photos

The images will be used in the gift store's print and online promotions.

With help from assistant Kyla O'Connell, Wouters shot photos of three models.

Nenna Trailovic, a trilingual aspiring model and math whiz, portrayed a punk look with high-heeled elf boots, a black dress and a sharp pompadour. Melissa Pettes, a professional cosmetician, modeled a red dress in a contemporary interpretation of Marilyn Monroe's classic look. Tonya Kovich, who also trained in cosmetology, dressed in a playful but elegant purple outfit.

Kovich assisted with hair design and Pettes did the makeup for herself and the other models.

"It's art to me," Pettes said of her profession. "My canvas is the face. There's so much power behind makeup. It's not all about looking pretty and being superficial. There is the potential to make everyone beautiful and that's really inspiring to me."

Wouters' next photoshoots will focus on the square, chiseled musicians in the band Giant Con and artist Inemesit Graham's upcoming Fairy Bad clothing line.

"We're going to make these girls look like kick-ass, bad-ass fairies," she said, adding that a pit bull will be among the fashion accessories used in the shoot.

Wouters is also planning to photograph models in mermaid costumes at Long Lake beach this summer.

Her detailed paintings and life-like pencil sketches blend darkness with beauty, depicting fairies, zombies and other fantasy creatures.

Wouters is assembling a portfolio of her work to accompany applications to various fine arts programs this fall.