I paint optical illusions on my face with makeup – Europeans squint at me, but Americans are open to weirdness

A makeup artist has taken her skills a step further by creating jaw-dropping optical illusions on her face.

She admitted that Europeans aren’t the biggest fans of her artwork, but Americans appreciate the uncanny craftsmanship.

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Mimi Choi of Mimi Choi Makeup Artistry (@mimles) went viral online for his creative designs.

With over two million followers on Instagram, her mind-blowing facial art makes people stop and stare.

The 39-year-old spoke to The US Sun about her artistic background and experience, her transition into optical illusions, public opinions and some of her useful tricks.

REAL REACTIONS

People regularly stop and look twice at your work, but sometimes reactions vary.

“Most of the feedback I’ve received is positive, but I’ve been told in the past that my art is too dark or even evil,” she said.

Mimi said her words don’t bother her because “everyone is entitled to their opinion” and people can feel whatever they want when they look at her art.

“In North America, I think people are more accepting of that kind of weirdness,” she said.

“I remember walking through Times Square on the way to the hotel and people would stop me to take photos and interact positively with me. I suppose I blended in with all the other characters.”

In Europe, the story is different.

“I found that people would look at me sideways and try to avoid eye contact,” she said.

There have been instances where she has been spotted sporting her avant-garde appearance in public, but Mimi said it was “out of necessity,” not because she was looking for a reaction.

“For example, I had to go back to the hotel with makeup on after shows and masterclasses,” she explained.

“Also, because my looks can take a long time to complete, I often start painting in my hotel room before I get on set, so there are times when I have to leave with my face painted.”

BEAUTY BACKGROUND

Mimi said that she has always been a creative person and has always been interested in fashion and drawing as well.

“I never considered art or makeup as a career until I was 28, when I was a Montessori preschool teacher,” she said.

She admitted that she was in a “creative rut” because she would have to dress and act a certain way in front of the children.

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“I found myself painting designs on my nails late at night as an escape. It wasn’t until my mom asked me if I was really happy with my career that I considered makeup school,” she said.

With the encouragement and support of her family, she decided to follow her passion and enroll at the Blanche Macdonald Center in Vancouver, Canada.

BEGINNING OF THE ART OF OPTICAL ILLUSION

But how did she transition from facial makeup to facial optical illusion art?

It all started with a Halloween costume.

I use lots of different black paints to create different levels of depth in my looks. Matte gel eyeliners, shadows and liquid eyeliners are very important in my work.”

Mimi Choi

“In my first month as a makeup student, I decided to try a simple cracked face illusion look for Halloween,” she explained.

“I posted the look on social media and received a lot of positive comments that encouraged me to explore the genre even further.”

Since then, his portfolio has evolved into what it is today.

“Each of my illusions is special to me because they all have connections to my life experiences, emotions and memories,” she said.

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“However, my multi-feature looks are particularly meaningful as this style of art kicked off my career in 2014,” she said.

Mimi added that she Kintsugi broken porcelain look is also one of his favorites.

“It was inspired by my childhood memories with my grandfather, who inspired me creatively,” she explained.

PRODUCTION CHOICES

To create her facial art, Mimi said she uses a variety of common beauty cosmetics, professional body and face paint, makeup brushes, and art brushes.

My looks can take anywhere from two to ten hours to complete, depending on the size and level of detail.”

Mimi Choi

“I use a lot of different black paints to create different levels of depth in my looks. Matte gel eyeliners, shadows and liquid eyeliners are very important in my work,” she said.

She added that they help her achieve the desired depth and 3D effect.

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“My looks can take anywhere from two to ten hours to complete, depending on the size and level of detail,” said Mimi.

In addition to the painting process itself, she said she photographs, records and edits her work, which can add up to several more hours.

Sometimes she is so tired that she takes a nap with her makeup on.

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“Overall, my art has been well received online and any negativity has been rare,” she said.

“I love interacting with my followers in the comments section and I’m grateful that social media has spread my work around the world and opened doors for me.”

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