The Amazing Makeup Transformations of Lucia Pittalis

This Makeup Artist’s Incredible Transformations Will Blow Your Mind

By Sumitra on October 20th, 2014 Category: Art

Lucia Pittalis, an Italian makeup artist and portrait painter, is a master of disguise – she can give herself a whole new identity with just a few strokes of makeup. All she needs are a few cosmetics, makeup tools, and wigs. The 43-year-old mostly chooses to turn herself into famous musicians, actors and fictional characters – both male and female.

Some of Lucia’s most epic transformations have been into iconic figures such as Marlon Brando, Walter White, and Bette Davis. She has also morphed into pop icons like Iggy Azalea, and movie characters like Rambo, Rocky, and Don Vito Corleone.

Rambo

Lucia, who studied the classics and art in school, makes use of her background as well as self-developed techniques to completely transform her own face. But she revealed that her most important tool is observation: “The process is studying the character – watching photos, movies, videos, and saving frames where necessary. I think how can it be adapted on my face. It is a kind of acting process before. I must be that character. Then I put on background music related to that character to be in the mood and I start to watch myself in the mirror.”

Rocky

“I give myself enough time to study my new character, being close to his or her image and having time to relax and paint my face,” she added. “Sometimes it can be weeks and sometimes it’s days, depends on the inspiration.” Lucia said that she uses a mix of various brands of makeup for her work, along with wax and collodion when she needs them. “I buy old stuff at markets like wigs and accessories – it is extremely fun searching for good stuff to create a character.”

Keith Richards

Her most time-consuming transformation so far has been Sylvester Stallone’s Rocky – it took her over five hours because she posted three different variations, with and without bruises. Her favourite one is Bette Davis, because she has a “deep love for such a great actress and talent.” She hopes to transform into David Letterman in the near future.

Iggy Pop

Lucia also has a bit of advice for people who want to try their own makeup transformations: “Love a character and have fun to create with your own possibilities.”

Don Vito Corleone

For more amazing makeup transformations, check out the work of Paolo Ballesteros, a Philippines-based actor who transforms himself into female pop icons.