Realistic Paintings on Skin Transform the Body into Mind-Bending Optical Illusions

Animal Human Hybrid

Artist Chooo-San creates mind-bending illusions on the body to transform ordinary people in incredible ways—all without digital manipulation. Using acrylic paints and a realistic approach, the Japanese creative fashions her subjects into cyborgs, animal/human hybrids, and dolls that are coming apart at the seams. Each is awe-inspiring in its attention to detail and intriguingly surreal as the skin is seemingly stretched and molded.

Chooo-San’s analog creations are a response to the overuse of technology in artwork. “I guess I was a little sick of everyone making pictures with their computers,” she told Daily Mail, “and wanted to see how far I can go without those technologies such as Photoshop.”

Since beginning this type of painting in 2012, we’ve watched Chooo-San’s illusions grow even more refined and sophisticated. Check out the pieces that first made us fall in love, here.

Artist Chooo-San Creates Mind Bending Illusions

Ordinary Person Transforms Into Robot

Japanese Artist Makes Her Subject A Robot

Japanese Artist Uses Acrylic Paint To Transform Ordinary People

Awe-Inspiring Artwork Without Technology

Floral Human Hybrid

Doll Coming Apart At The Seams

Japanese Artist Chooo-San Creates Intriguing Works Of Art

Artist Creates Surreal Illusions With Acrylic Paint

Illusions Created Without TechnologyJapanese Artist Fashions Her Subjects With Acrylic Paint

Artist Chooo-San Unravels High Attention To Detail

Japanese Artist Creates The Human Library

Chooo-San: Website
via [Design You Trust]

Sara Barnes

Sara Barnes is a Staff Editor at My Modern Met, Manager of My Modern Met Store, and co-host of the My Modern Met Top Artist Podcast. As an illustrator and writer living in Seattle, she chronicles illustration, embroidery, and beyond through her blog Brown Paper Bag and Instagram @brwnpaperbag. She wrote a book about embroidery artist Sarah K. Benning titled 'Embroidered Life' that was published by Chronicle Books in 2019. Sara is a graduate of the Maryland Institute College of Art. She earned her BFA in Illustration in 2008 and MFA in Illustration Practice in 2013.
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