Don't Believe Your Eyes! Hyper-realistic Paintings on Naked Bodies By Craig Tracy

Craig Tracy is an American artist who can paint hyper-realistic scenes on naked bodies of his models. A single work of art takes Craig days of planning and preparation while the actual paint application can take a whole day. He spends up to nine hours painstakingly applying water-based paint to his volunteers' bodies before photographing them in unique poses. It’s a major feat for models too who have to maintain the specific pose for hours on end. Some of his paintings use only human volunteers while on others he merges them with backdrops to give the display depth. His creations are so complex that it's difficult to distinguish between the art and the bodies. You have to look very closely to make out the nearly invisible bodies in the photographs.

Craig uses traditional paintbrush for the majority of the work with airbrush being used about twenty percent of the time. Finger-painting, sponging, splatter and dripping are also part of the process.

“I'm often inspired by a specific body's shape or perhaps a unique pose. I'm greatly inspired by aspects of culture, nature and intellectual constructs”, says Craig Tracy.

Craig says that he never uses the same body twice unless if another new body becomes a part of the composition. “I will also make exceptions if the painting is limited to a small body part such as hands, feet or a face. I love the adventure of working with a unique individual each and every time”, the artist adds.

amusingplanet.com

25 Reasons Why Japan Is Unique

Unique, cross-bred fruit

Everyone eats KFC for Christmas dinner. Well, maybe not EVERYone, but at least a lot do.

Some of the world’s safest streets, on which you can go walking in the middle of the night with no worries

Fancy Japanese coins. Their 5 and 50 yen coins have holes in them.

Capsule hotels

 Electronic toilets/bidets

Buttons for summoning a server at family-style restaurants

Multistory robot-operated parking garages

Heated toilet seats

Love hotels everywhere

An incredible variety of KitKat flavors. Wasabi, anyone?

Vending machines of all types everywhere

“Lucky bags” (sold during New Year’s)

Really high-priced movie tickets

The world’s tiniest hotel rooms

Pachinko parlors everywhere

Hot springs just for your feet

 Squat toilets

 Clean, drinkable water from the tap

Free tissue packets handed out on the streets

The complex blueprint of Tokyo

 Trains and Buses ALWAYS come on time. In the rare case that they don’t, they pass out tardy notices for you to give to your employer.

Kids’-sized beverage cups for adults

Japanese people are really into Yahoo!, but have been switching over to Google lately.

 via weirdasianews.com

11 Amusingly Ridiculous Notes From Crazy Mothers

When our Moms left us notes, they usually just said stuff like "Be good," "Listen to your babysitter," and "Stop trying to look up her shirt." Those helpful bits of advice shaped us into the men we are today, so God only knows what kind of weirdos we'd have turned into if we had mothers like the quirky, awkward, irresponsible, and/or just plain crazy ones on this list.

via happyplace.com

10 Strangest Things For Sale on eBay

Barack Obama Toilet Paper

If you want to wipe your butt with democracy, this is the toilet paper for you.
This item sells for just $5.94 a roll, which would also buy you an entire pack of regular toilet paper, for the record.

Civil War Foot Prop

This isn't just any foot — it's a Civil War soldier's infected, severed foot.
Well, it's actually a handmade prop. And it's all yours for just $39.99 plus shipping.

Haunted Demon Power Ring

For $165, you can have "the radiating, enchanted sigil ring of enochian alchemist." Apparently, it "grants the powers of wealth, sexual attraction and power."
The marketing on this demon ring is top-notch. There's even a YouTube video.

Taxidermy Duckling

This taxidermied baby duckling looks so real, you'd think Chuck Testa made it.
It's currently up for bid at $21.50, but you can still beat the three people fighting over it.

Haunted Baby Doll

The seller claims that this baby doll houses the spirit of a neglected 7-year-old middle child with autism.
She goes by the name of "Candy" and she can be purchased for $24.95.

A Niece's Hand in Marriage

Looking for love in all the wrong places? Try eBay.
A woman calling herself "Aunt Diane" has placed her niece (who's apparently unaware) up for auction, starting at $9.99. The proceeds will go to Habitat for Humanity, of course.

Giant Granny Panties

Prank your friends with the world's biggest pair of underwear. $14.99 will guarantee laughter or confusion, but likely some combination of the two.

Baby Shark Embryo

Science geeks will love this baby shark embryo in a jar, for the reasonable price of $42.99.

Voodoo Spells

Looking for love? Beauty? Revenge?
Brigitte will perform a voodoo spell for you for $8.87.

Jar of Farts

Why fart in a jar yourself when you can pay $27.52 for someone else to?

via mashable.com