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 IllusionsOrdinary Person Transforms Into RobotJapanese Artist Makes Her Subject A RobotJapanese Artist Uses Acrylic Paint To Transform Ordinary PeopleAwe-Inspiring Artwork Without TechnologyFloral Human HybridDoll Coming Apart At The SeamsJapanese Artist Chooo-San Creates Intriguing Works Of ArtArtist Creates Surreal Illusions With Acrylic PaintIllusions Created Without TechnologyJapanese Artist Fashions Her Subjects With Acrylic PaintArtist Chooo-San Unravels High Attention To DetailJapanese Artist Creates The Human LibraryChooo-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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