…Researched and contributed by Solomon Thomas.
Self-taught special effects make-up artist, Kim Witte, from Rockton, Illinois, is making a name for herself by painting her face and body to recreate famous or gruesome characters.
Kim, who runs Witte Artistry, a special effects makeup company, spends up to five hours creating full upper body characters like Marvel’s Groot and the Joker from the DC universe.
She also creates her own characters that can sometimes cause alarm when she visits public places still in costume, like her latest character called “Bob Ross Deadpool”.
Background
Kim became fascinated with fictional characters at a young age, creating her own monsters and then moving onto more elaborate costumes while in high school.
After watching the American reality TV series Face Off, she realised that creating monsters could be a full-time career.
She started working in a haunted house before launching her own company, Witte Artistry, to give YouTube tutorials on how to do “your own special effects make-up”.
Her company has since evolved into a “positive entertainment” channel.
Challenges
One of the biggest challenges with body paint is asking volunteers to sit still for long periods of time.
Staying in character can also prove uncomfortable, especially when prosthetics are involved, such as horns, gills and pointed ears.
Reaction
The reaction to Kim’s weird and wonderful characters has been mostly positive.
Even her own mother, Jodi, has been fooled by her elaborate disguises, which can take up to five hours to create.
Kim now plans to expand her business by selling body paint prints at art fairs and is also looking to get into the movie industry.
Commentary
Kim’s story shows the creative potential of self-taught artists who use their skills to carve a niche market.
Her art also demonstrates the power of body paint in creating an entirely new character.
Despite negative reactions, Kim has managed to turn her art into a successful business, which shows the growing appreciation for special effects make-up artistry.