A special effects makeup artist who specialises in painting baby bumps decided to turn her own belly into a piece of artwork after she found out she was expecting.
Depending on how you feel, it’s either really creepy or really cute.
This baby seemingly bursting from its mother’s belly is an illusion created by special effects artist Maria Bradley.
Maria Bradley, who has been a makeup artist for 15 years, created the impression of her baby pushing hard against her stomach, trying to get out.
One of her specialities is painting images on pregnant women’s tummies.
“Being nearly nine months pregnant and doing a job like this proved very hard indeed,” Bradley added.
“I used mirrors and both my left and right hand to glue and paint. I am happy with the outcome for my first time doing something like this.”
Bradley said when she shared the photos, the reaction was mixed with some people saying they love it and others saying it’s “very scary”.
But Bradley wanted to take the idea one step further – so she decided to practise her skills on her own pregnant belly.
She had wanted to do this for years but had never found a woman that was willing to let her do it on her bump “as it’s a bit far out there.” When she learned she was expecting, she realized it would be the ideal time to concentrate on her own baby bump.
To begin with, Bradley bought a second hand doll and cast its face in clay. She then then poured Kryolan Gelafix skin into the mould. The artist, who is self-taught in special effects, removed the cast and attached it to her own belly with sprit gum SFX glue.
She then applied liquid latex and tissue to the molds to make it appear as if the baby was pushing its head through the skin. Finally she painted the sculpture with foundation to blend in with her skin tone.
Bradley said doing a job like this while nearly nine months pregnant proved “very hard indeed”. She had to use handheld mirrors to assist her in the glueing and painting.
The reaction has been somewhat mixed – some people love it and others say it’s good but “very scary”. Bradley added: “All in all it has been a great reaction.”
