Alexa Meade's Living Paintings

Portraits aren't painted on canvas, but on the subjects.

At first glance, this looks like a painting of a woman. But look closer...

...It's actually a painted woman. Alexa Meade, a 23-year-old artist from the Washington DC area, has developed a painting technique that makes three-dimensional spaces look like flat, two-dimensional paintings. Instead of painting on canvas, she paints portraits directly on the subjects themselves

She did her first Living Painting, Bernie [pictured above], in May 2009 and has since honed her technique

As her website explains: "Typically a painting is an artist's interpretation of the subject painted onto another surface. In Alexa's paintings, she creates her artistic interpretation of the subject directly on top of the subject itself. Essentially, her art imitates life - on top of life"

Her painted models have been exhibited in galleries. She says that many viewers feel uncomfortable making direct eye contact with her art. "There are a lot of sideways glances," she says

Back view of Timmy at a Metro Station

Timmy on the Metro

She did not attend art school. Rather, she comes from the world of politics. Having spent time on Capitol Hill and working on the Obama Campaign, she admits that her political past has taught her that “there is always more to an issue than meets the eye; what one experiences cannot always be interpreted at face value. Seeing is not necessarily believing"

Self Portrait

Alexa Meade will be exhibiting limited edition prints in New York City at Postmasters Gallery from April 2 to May 8, and she will have her artwork in the Saatchi Gallery in London for the “Art of Giving” show in October2010

Will installation (almost painted)

Sara

Sara Unhooded

Self Portrait