These looks aren’t photoshopped—they’re makeup! Mimi Choi is famous for her mind-bending illusion makeup art. Choi combines everyday makeup like eyeliner with face paint to create ultrarealistic optical illusions. When she’s not painting a client, Choi uses her own face as a canvas. Her looks can take up to 16 hours to complete!

How does she come up with her designs? “I like to follow my heart and start painting directly on the face,” says Choi. “Spontaneous art is beautiful!” Many of her paintings are inspired by her dreams—both good and bad.

“I think the most important thing is having fun and exploring your passion,” Choi says. “Be brave enough to try different things.”