Using body paint and a woodland like location, Gesine appears to have created a model to look just like a red panda, Dortmund, Germany, October, 2016. An artist brings animals to life using body paint and contorted models. At first glance, these images could be mistaken for portraits of wildlife in their natural habitat were created with paper and paint. However, they are actually the incredible works of illusion by talented body painter Gesine Marwedel, who paints models to creates realistic animals. Marwedel, 29, from Dortmund, Germany has always been fascinated by the concept of transferring her designs to human bodies and her latest project features models posing in contorted positions. One image appears to show an elegant swan in a park pond, whilst another picture shows a mother penguin and its chick in a snowy landscape. (Photo by Gesine Marwedel/Barcroft Images)





Artist Gesine Marwedel transforms a model into a mother penguin with a baby chick, Dortmund, Germany, October, 2016. (Photo by Gesine Marwedel/Barcroft Images)





Two models practise getting into the shape of the conch shell before they are painted by Gesine, Dortmund, Germany, October, 2016. (Photo by Gesine Marwedel/Barcroft Images)





Amazingly this large sea turtle is actually a model covered in body paint and placed into position on the beach, Dortmund, Germany, October, 2016. (Photo by Gesine Marwedel/Barcroft Images)





A model places it's arm out of the water to look like a swan in the water, Dortmund, Germany, October, 2016. (Photo by Gesine Marwedel/Barcroft Images)





Amazingly this conch shell is actually a model covered in body paint and placed into position on the beach to look like a shell, Dortmund, Germany, October, 2016. (Photo by Gesine Marwedel/Barcroft Images)





Artist Gesine finalises the model before the picture is shot, Dortmund, Germany, October, 2016. (Photo by Gesine Marwedel/Barcroft Images)





Gesine has to spend much time searching for the locations to shoot in, for this image she had to find a tree with a hole large enough to fit the model inside, Dortmund, Germany, October, 2016. (Photo by Gesine Marwedel/Barcroft Images)





A model moulds herself into position to look exactly like a fox curled up in the leafy forest, Dortmund, Germany, October, 2016. (Photo by Gesine Marwedel/Barcroft Images)





Gesine also takes her models and body art to the water as a model holds her breath to dive under water and look like a seal popping it's head out of water, Dortmund, Germany, October, 2016. (Photo by Gesine Marwedel/Barcroft Images)





A model moulds herself into position to look exactly like a deer curled up in the grass, Dortmund, Germany, October, 2016. (Photo by Gesine Marwedel/Barcroft Images)