Lip Art Leading Ladies - Ryan Kelly
We continue our Lip Art Leading Ladies series with Ryan Kelly. As InStyle said, "Prepare to Have Your Mind Blown By Ryan Kelly, Lip Artist Extraordinaire." At the age of 9, Ryan was featured in her first professional musical stage appearance, but it is makeup artistry that has taken center stage in her life. And her lip art is front and center. We are truly amazed that this talented artist only began playing with lip art a few years ago. The intricate pictures and designs she paints on her lips are incredible. Her portfolio covers pop-culture designs, to recreations of iconic paintings such as The Scream and Starry Night, to portraits of celebrities like Marilyn Monroe and Audrey Hepburn, to cartoon characters Scooby Doo and Hello Kitty. Here is a look into Ryan's artistic process.
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| Portrait of Audrey Hepburn |
Mehron: How many hours does it take to create such intricate lip art and take the photos?
Ryan: The length of time a look takes varies based on the complexity of the look. It almost always takes at least an hour. Portraits and concepts that I know are familiar to my followers take longer because I want it to be an accurate representation. A wonky eyed Scooby Doo makes for lots of sassy comments!
The longest I've ever taken on a lip art design was probably 6 hours. It may sound crazy, but it's 100% a labor of love. Creating these looks is like a form of mediation for me. I have a quiet little makeup studio in my house where I go to paint, and it's like an escape. Everyone should have that!
Mehron: How do you put so much detail into one lip?
Ryan: I think the detail is hands-down the most important part! It's usually the last step in the process. I start with colors and shapes and keep adding layer after layer of detail (highlights, shading, perfecting line work, etc.) until I'm happy with the result. It definitely makes me go crossed-eyed now and then, but it's always worth the effort.
Mehron: Who or what inspires your lip art?
Ryan: I love creating pop culture designs because they're fun and light-hearted. I don't mind the kitsch label. There are plenty of artists, politicians, and news stories flooding our social media timelines, demanding to be taken seriously. How do you not smile when you see glittery ruby slippers painted on someone's lips?
Mehron: What makes Mehron products so popular with so many artists doing lip art?
Ryan: Most people don't know this, but I majored in Musical Theater in college. We were required to take a stage make-up class and we were given all Mehron products to create our looks. That was when my love affair with you guys began! (I won't even mention how long ago that was) I think Mehron has always encouraged outside of the box creating by providing bold and unique products. When I first started playing with lip art about two years ago, Mehron was one of the only brands to provide such a quality variety of color and texture. I would imagine other artists feel the same way.
Mehron: What Mehron extreme/performance products are your lip art go-to's?
Ryan: My favorite Mehron products are the Paradise Paints. Water based paints are perfect for the lips because they glide on easily (lips can be pretty textured, which can make them a difficult canvas) and they have great durability. I also love the Mixing Medium and Metallic Pigments. There is literally no better way to get a beautiful metallic finish or embellishment on the lips. When Halloween rolls around (or when I'm in a creepy mood) Blood Gel is my bestie. Secret tip: I also love using 3-D gel as an adhesive for larger gemstones and heavier pieces that I need to stay on my lips when Spirit Gum isn't heavy duty enough.
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| The Scream |
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| Coachella |
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| Edgar Allan Poe |
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| Fortune Teller |
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| Emoji Lips |
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