Worlds Most Incredible Face Paintings – James Kuhn
A man of many faces, artist James Kuhn creates some of the most incredible and bizarre masks ever seen. The eccentric face painter calls his creations “self-portraits” because he uses his own face as the canvas for his artwork.
Kuhn transforms himself into Tweety Bird from the Warner Bros cartoons.
Photo James Kuhn / Rex Features
The 46-year old artist is halfway through his project to create a design for his face every day for a year, which he began in March after he was snowed in by 12 inches of snow and had to miss work.
James got the inspiration from photo exhibitions of a picture a day. His 365 creations range from cartoon characters and animals to his favorite foods.
Corn on the cob. Photo James Kuhn / Rex Features
Kuhn uses real popcorn to add more realism to his popcorn box creation.
Photo James Kuhn / Rex Features
James turns his face into a cheeseburger complete with gherkin.
Photo James Kuhn / Rex Features
The Picasso of face painting has plastered his mug with a menagerie of images including Tweety Bird, King Kong, movie monster Hannibal Lector, zebras, and leopards.
But perhaps most striking are those of food — transforming his face into a giant box of pop corn, a cheeseburger, pineapple, frozen TV dinner, shish-kebabs, and even a cornucopia.
Photo James Kuhn / Rex Features
Dracula mask showing two screaming faces joined together.
Photo James Kuhn / Rex Features
Here he’s turned his face into a game of operation.
Photo James Kuhn / Rex Features
“I saw other 365’s but they are self-indulgent or just plain silly.” said James. “I wanted to take it to a higher level.”
“Face painting is the most exciting thing that has happened to me in a long while!”
Based out of Three Oaks, Michigan, US, James takes his inspiration from anything, including children’s games, and loves to paint on everything, including flesh.
Kuhn does his own take on Mickey Mouse but on the theme of oranges.
Photo James Kuhn / Rex Features
Mr Pineapple Head. Kuhn even adds a real pineapple to the top.
Photo James Kuhn / Rex Features
Photo James Kuhn / Rex Features
“I really have become totally obsessed with face painting and I think about what I can do next all the time.” James says on his blog.
The artist says the worst part is painting the inside of his nostrils, as he ends up spitting them for hours.
He says he’s been an artist all his life, and even drew pictures in his oatmeal as a child.
Photo James Kuhn / Rex Features
King Tut Pharaoh-face. Photo James Kuhn / Rex Features
Baby face embryo. Photo James Kuhn / Rex Features
“Art should never be a product.” says James. “It should be a gift of love and a prayer. Art is silly, and fun, and can be powerful and sacred.”
“I do show in galleries, but selling should never be your motivation for creating art.” James adds.
Visit James Kuhn’s website to learn more.
Pig-face. Photo James Kuhn / Rex Features
Photo James Kuhn / Rex Features
Strawberry. Photo James Kuhn / Rex Features
Snack Attack. Photo James Kuhn / Rex Features
‘Using your melon.’ Photo James Kuhn / Rex Features
Shish-kebabs. Photo James Kuhn / Rex Features
Photo James Kuhn / Rex Features
Body-builder weight lifter. Photo James Kuhn / Rex Features
A rockin role as Kiss. James Kuhn / Rex Features
Seamonkey
Miss Piggy and Kermit the Frog
Tom and Jerry
Frankenberry, Booberry, and Count Chocula
Zebra
Elephants Watering Hole
Casper the Ghost
Fred & Wilma Flintstone
Leopard
Seamonkey – James Kuhn
Zebra – James Kuhn
Miss Piggy & Kermit – James Kuhn
Gumby & Pokey – James Kuhn
Body Builder Weight Lifter – James Kuhn
Raggedy Ann and Andy – James Kuhn
Frankenberry, Booberry, and Count Chocula – James Kuhn
EZ Cheese Troll – James Kuhn
Source: Metro
this guy has alot of time and acid
i really enjoyed the last one!!! but could you tell me what it is?
So far from incredible.
this guy is not an artist, hes just dumb, and thu would be way too hard to do on blotter
Nice and interesting “portraits”..wish I had one to use for Halloween! Proubly would have won “best costume!”
Amanda, the last images are a leopard, as mentioned directly below them
It would certainly save on costume money Brian
Wow, this guy must have a lot of spare time! LOL. It must be difficult to do this on your own face. Certainly it would be very cool for Halloween but putting all that work into something you have to wash off at the end of the day just seems kinda sad.
I cant believe I waited as long as I did for it to load! Nothing impressive that to much wasted youth could have cured
Frankenberry…Booberry…Count Chocula, all in one – now that’s ambition! I suppose it’s handy, not having to rely on a model to create your artwork.
hoho.. what the wonderfull art work.. nice..
This man has tremendous art ! It could have been better to watch these portraits at the time, when they were going to create.
First of all I am highly amazed from where have you gethered this much collection. I grade this blog to be the best with the material you have put on it.
Thank you very much for sharing it with us…
A little too scary for me, I find him very inventive and creative. He realy Know what to do with his face.
Wow those are some crazy face paintings. Some of them are a little scary to look at, lol.
Tech and Justin, they are definitely on ‘the edge’
Hey,my primitive face paint supplies. Charcoal and butter just doesn’t cut it next to these cats.Perhaps I can rummage through his makeup kit? Nov 2, 2:14amTenacity has served me well when all other virtues have failed.When I applied for that.
whoa that guy really does have alot of time. but the face paintings are really cool.
What a great idea of a new way to express yourself! The other 365s that I’ve seen haven’t been as intriguing as this one.
wow im actually amazed by all of that. great work of creativity and art. im really impressed (:
I thought this guy did a really good job of the art he painted on his face.
These pics were amazing. I can’t believe he never once ran out of ideas!!
Why use such a cruelty images in the face. I was scared on seeing some pictures.
Fantastic Faces! What a tremendous amount of imagination and talent. Thanks for making me smile,laugh and cringe at the same time. I have a feeling we’ll be seeing you on the Tonight show soon!
sick!
it is very interesting.i like it very much.thank u for sharing.