Is this the world's best body art? Stunning eye-deceiving images reveal an artist at the top of his game



Body art is an art form that stretches back thousands of years, although for one American artist, it is as relevant today as it ever was.

Craig Tracy paints stunning images on people's bodies before photographing them in unique poses.

The resulting collection of masterpieces could be regarded as some of the best body painting in the world by an artist at the top of his game.

'Butterfly': Mr Tracy painted the leopard's eyes onto the floor while the back of a female volunteer, facing the floor, forms the rest of its face. A butterfly makes up the creature's nose

'It is an emerging art form that is continuing to grow, yet it is the second oldest visual art in the world, next to drawing in the dirt,' said 42-year-old Mr Tracy.

'I enjoy sharing something and showing people art that is exciting.'



Mr Tracy uses water-based paint which he spends up to nine hours applying to his models' bodies. Pictured: 'Magic' (L) and 'Toes' (R)



The works are so life-like, you'd be forgiven for thinking that you were staring into the eyes of a real leopard with 'Butterfly'.

In fact, the animal has been painted onto a woman's body and the floor behind her.

A speeding cheetah, a dazzling sunflower and even ultra-realistic lightning bolts flashing over an angry ocean are just some of the breathtaking masterpieces crafted by the New Orleans artist.

Mr Tracy draws inspiration from his volunteers' bodies, often only deciding what to paint after seeing them.



'Inclement': A model poses with realistic lightening flashes painted on her body and face

Using luscious colours he spends up to nine hours painstakingly applying water-based paint to his volunteer's curvy bodies before photographing them.

The former illustrator began body painting in 2002 and opened his gallery in New Orleans five months after hurricane Katrina in 2005.

Painted Alive Gallery, which was opened in February 2006 was renamed Craig Tracy Gallery.



'Eden': A woman is painted with colourful stained-glass imagery (L) and a zebra-stripe pattern adorns the stomach of another volunteer in a work called 'O'(R)



It is believed to be the first gallery in the world to be dedicated to body art.



Some of his paintings use only human volunteers while on others he merges them with stunning backdrops to give the display depth.

Some of his creations are so complex it's difficult to work out where the bodies start and the background begins.

'Speed': A life-like cheetah is depicted streaking down the woman's body

'Twogether': The outlines of two trees have been painted onto the woman's body against a sunset background

In 'Butterfly' - a captivating picture of a leopard with a butterfly shaping its nose - Mr Tracy painted the creature's eyes onto the floor.

The animal's face is formed from the back of a female volunteer, who is facing the floor.



In the eye-deceiving piece her shapely bottom is actually used as the big cats nose.

Walk like an Egyptian: 'Sphinx' (L) and 'Maya Cross' (R)



The artist at work: Tracy painstakingly applies paint to his volunteer's bodies before photographing them

Models eager to take part in his amazing work have travelled from Britain, Germany and across America to be transformed by his paintbrush.

Mr Tracy decides what to paint when he sees the model's body, using their shape as an inspiration for ideas.



He can spend two days planning before applying the first splash of paint.

With his work taking him thousands of miles across the world, last month Mr Tracy went to China.

He was painting women there to celebrate the first organised body painting event in the country.

'We just talk and eat and listen to music and create something beautiful,' he said.

Over the past 20 years Mr Tracy has painted on almost every surface imaginable.

He says that he finds non as challenging, diverse, or satisfying as the human body.

Mr Tracy's home city, New Orleans, is a hot-bed of artistic creativity.