I paint optical illusions on my face with makeup – Europeans look at me askance
A MAKEUP ARTIST has taken her skills to the next level by creating stunning optical illusions on her face.
She admitted that Europeans are not the biggest fans of her artwork, but that Americans do appreciate her talent.
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Mimi Choi of Mimi Choi Makeup Artistry (@mimles) went viral online for her creative designs.
She has over two million followers on Instagram and her stunning facial adornments make people stop and stare.
The 39-year-old spoke to The US Sun about her artistic training and transition to optical illusions, and shared some of her makeup tricks.
REAL REACTIONS
Choi said people often look twice when they see her work, but their reactions vary.
“Most of the feedback I get is positive, but in the past I’ve also heard that my art is too dark or even bad,” she said.
Choi explained that her words don’t bother her because “everyone is entitled to their own opinion” and people can feel whatever they want when they look at her art.
“In North America, people are more receptive to this kind of strangeness,” she says.
“I remember walking through Times Square on the way to my hotel and people stopping me for pictures and interacting with me in a positive way. I think I just blended in with the rest of the characters.”
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In Europe it’s a different story.
“I noticed people looking at me askance and trying to avoid eye contact,” she said.
There have been instances where she has been caught in public with her avant-garde looks, but Choi said it was “out of necessity” and not because she wanted a reaction.
“I sometimes had to walk back to my hotel with my makeup still on after shows and masterclasses,” she explains.
“Because it can take so long to finish my look, I often start applying makeup in my hotel room before I go to the set. Sometimes I have to go outside with my face painted.”
BEAUTY BACKGROUND
Choi shared that she has always been a creative person and has always been interested in fashion and drawing.
“I never considered pursuing art or makeup as a career until I was about 28 years old and a preschool teacher at a Montessori school,” she says.
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She admitted she was in a “creative rut” because she had to dress and act a certain way around her young students.
“I found myself painting pictures on my nails late at night to escape. It wasn’t until my mom asked me if I was really happy with my career path that I considered makeup school,” she said.
With the encouragement and support of her family, she decided to pursue her passion and enrolled at the Blanche Macdonald Centre in Vancouver, Canada.
OPTICAL ILLUSION ART START
Choi’s transition from traditional makeup to optical facial illusion art began with a Halloween costume.
“In my first month as a makeup school student, I decided to create a simple cracked face illusion for Halloween,” she explains.
I use many different types of black paint to create different levels of depth in my looks.
Mimi Choi
“I posted the look on social media and received a lot of positive feedback, which encouraged me to explore the genre further.”
Since then, her portfolio has grown to what it is today.
“Every illusion I have is special to me because they are all connected to my life experiences, emotions and memories,” she said.
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“But my multi-feature looks are particularly meaningful because this art style boosted my career in 2014,” she added.
Choi explained that her broken porcelain Kintsugi look is one of her favorites.
“It’s inspired by my childhood memories with my grandfather, who inspired me creatively,” she explains.
PRODUCTION CHOICES
Choi says she uses a mix of regular cosmetics, professional body and face paint, makeup brushes and art brushes for her facial art.
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 liners, eye shadows and liquid eyeliners are all very important in my work,” she said.
She added that they help her achieve the depth and 3D effect she wants.
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“My looks can take anywhere from two to 10 hours to complete, depending on the size and level of detail,” Choi says.
In addition to the actual painting process, she photographs, films and edits her work, which can add hours to each project.
Sometimes she’s so exhausted that she takes naps with her makeup still on.
“Overall, my art has been well received online and I have hardly heard any negative comments,” she said.
“I enjoy responding to my followers’ posts in the comments and I’m grateful that social media has spread my work around the world and opened doors for me.”
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