A MAKEUP ARTIST took her skills a step further by creating fantastic optical illusions on her face.
She admitted that Europeans are not the biggest fans of her work, but Americans appreciate her talent.
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Celebrity makeup artist Mimi Choi opened up about her success story with The US SunCredit: Instagram/mimles
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She went viral in 2014 for her unique optical illusion makeup Credits: Instagram/mimles
Mimi Choi of Mimi Choi Makeup Artistry (@mimles) has gone viral on the internet for her creative designs.
With over two million followers on Instagram, her stunning face picture makes people stop and stare.
The 39-year-old spoke to The US Sun about her artistic training and transition to optical illusions while sharing some of her makeup tricks.
REAL REACTIONS
Choi said people regularly look twice when they see her work, but their reactions vary.
“Most of the feedback I’ve gotten has been positive, but in the past I’ve been told my art is too dark or even evil,” she said.
Choi explained that their words don’t bother her because “everyone is entitled to their own opinion,” and people can feel however they want when looking at her art.
“In North America, I think people are more accepting of this kind of oddity,” she said.
“I remember walking through Times Square on the way to the hotel and people would stop me to take pictures and interact positively with me. I guess I blended in with all the other characters.”
In Europe it is a different story.
“I found that people would look at me sideways and try to avoid eye contact,” she said.
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There have been instances when she has been caught with her avant-garde looks in public, but Choi said it was “out of necessity” and not because she was looking for a reaction.
“I had to walk back to the hotel in make-up after the shows and master classes,” she explained.
“Also, because my look can take so long to complete, I often start painting in my hotel room before going on set, so there are times when I have to go out with my face smeared.”
BACKGROUND OF BEAUTY
Choi said that she has always been a creative person and has always been interested in fashion and drawing.
“I never considered art or makeup as a career until I was 28 when I was a Montessori teacher,” she said.
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After being in a ‘creative rut’ as a preschool teacher, Choi enrolled in makeup school in 2014Credit: Instagram/mimles
She admitted that she was in a “creative rut” because she had to dress and act a certain way in front of her young students.
“I found myself painting nail designs late at night as an escape. It wasn’t until my mother asked me if I was truly satisfied with my career that I considered makeup school,” she said.
With the encouragement and support of her family, she decided to pursue her passion and enroll at the Blanche Macdonald Center in Vancouver, Canada.
OPTICAL ILLUSION ART START
Choi’s transition from traditional makeup to the art of facial optical illusion began with a Halloween costume.
“In my first month as a makeup school student, I decided to try a simple cracked face illusion look for Halloween,” she explained.
I use a lot of different blacks to create different levels of depth in my look.
Mimi Choi
“I posted the look on social media and got a lot of positive feedback which encouraged me to explore the genre further.”
Since then, her portfolio has evolved into what it is today.
“Each of my illusions is special to me because they all have to do with my life experiences, emotions and memories,” she said.
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He uses different blacks, pencils and eyeshadows to create levels of depth in his optical illusions Credit: Instagram/mimles
“However, my multiple looks are especially significant because this art style launched my career back in 2014,” she added.
Choi explained that her broken porcelain Kintsugi look is one of her favorites.
“It was inspired by my childhood memories with my grandfather who inspired me creatively,” she explained.
CHOICE FOR PRODUCTION
To create her face painting, Choi said she uses a combination of regular cosmetics, professional body and face paints, makeup brushes and artist brushes.
My layouts can take anywhere from two to ten hours, depending on their size and level of detail.
Mimi Choi
“I use a lot of different blacks to create different levels of depth in my look. Matte gel liners, eyeshadows and liquid liners 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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Choi’s look can take anywhere from two to ten hours to complete Credit: Instagram/mimles
“My look can take anywhere from two to ten hours, depending on the size and level of detail,” Choi said.
In addition to the actual painting process, she photographs, records and edits her work, which can add several hours to any project.
Sometimes she is so worn out that she takes a nap with her makeup on.
“In general, 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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Sometimes her look is so detailed that she takes a nap with her makeup onCredit: Instagram/mimles
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Choi said that North Americans are open to her quirkiness, while Europeans often look away when she goes out in public with her faceCredit: Instagram/mimles
Categories: Optical Illusion
Source: HIS Education