These mind-bending images and video footage shows one of the world's best body painters creating stunning paintings using the human body as a canvas.

Gesine Marwedel, 34, blurs the line between reality and illusion creating beautiful art pieces out of her human subjects.

Models are painted head to foot individually, or grouped together, and arranged to resemble objects and animals from real life.

The footage shows Gesine’s pieces including a human sunflower, a convincing camouflaged owl and even a hum kaleidoscope.

Gesine, from Hannover, North Germany, said: “When I have an idea, at first I try poses in front of a mirror to see how it could work. Then I can start on a model.

“I usually start painting outlines, like a sketch in the body and then start colouring, adding details and background colour.

“It typically takes between five to seven hours to paint. Sometimes it takes up to 12 hours (like the group projects). So basically, it is a whole day.

“The videos show how the pieces are done, me painting on skin, and of course the metamorphosis of human models turning into something else.