Masterpiece theater: Chinese make-up artist brings paintings to life

A combination picture shows makeup artist He Yuhong, also known as "Yuya", posing without her makeup and garments (L), and without her makeup (C) following her transformation (R) into the "Girl with a Pearl Earring", the 17th century oil painting by Dutch painter Johannes Vermeer, at her house in Chongqing, China August 14, 2018. REUTERS/Thomas Suen

CHONGQING, China (Reuters) - Marilyn Monroe, Audrey Hepburn and Cristiano Ronaldo are just a few of the famous faces that Chinese make-up artist He Yuhong can transform her features into, but now she's turning to famous artworks.

The 27-year-old has gone viral on Chinese social media for her videos of her make-up transformations, drawing a million followers on popular video and music platform TikTok.

"It's more difficult to do this kind of make-up, because it's more like drawing," said He, who is based in the southwestern city of Chongqing.

Makeup artist He Yuhong, also known as "Yuya", applies makeup during a recording of her transformation into the "Girl with a Pearl Earring", the 17th century oil painting by Dutch painter Johannes Vermeer, at her house in Chongqing, China August 14, 2018. REUTERS/Thomas Suen

"I need to draw other people's faces onto my own, with a lot of details added, and I need to change my facial features."

He has even taken on characters from paintings, such as the "Girl with a Pearl Earring" by 17th-century Dutchman Johannes Vermeer.

It took her more than six hours to recreate, carefully adding layers of foundation to her face to replicate shadows, and wearing a headscarf to match the one on the canvas.

Makeup artist He Yuhong, also known as "Yuya", uses her makeup brush during a recording of her transformation into the "Girl with a Pearl Earring", the 17th century oil painting by Dutch painter Johannes Vermeer, at her house in Chongqing, China August 14, 2018. REUTERS/Thomas Suen

In May, He kicked off her video series, unexpectedly bringing to life Leonardo Da Vinci's "Mona Lisa" in a recreation that captured attention on social media.

Before she became a blogger on the transformative use of make-up, she had her own studio, applying cosmetics in preparation for weddings and advertisement shoots.

Now she estimates her monthly spend on make-up is up to 10,000 yuan ($1,452). She is backed by corporate sponsors.

Makeup artist He Yuhong, also known as "Yuya", applies makeup during a recording of her transformation into the "Girl with a Pearl Earring", the 17th century oil painting by Dutch painter Johannes Vermeer, at her house in Chongqing, China August 14, 2018. REUTERS/Thomas Suen

"I like to try new things," He said, adding that characters from the "Lion King" and princesses in Disney animated films are next in her lineup for imitation.

($1=6.8873 Chinese yuan renminbi)

Makeup artist He Yuhong, also known as "Yuya", poses during a photo shoot following her transformation into the "Girl with a Pearl Earring", the 17th century oil painting by Dutch painter Johannes Vermeer, at her house in Chongqing, China August 14, 2018. REUTERS/Thomas Suen

(Reporting by Thomas Suen; Writing by Karishma Singh; Editing by Clarence Fernandez)

Makeup artist He Yuhong, also known as "Yuya", checks her makeup during a recording of her transformation into the "Girl with a Pearl Earring", the 17th century oil painting by Dutch painter Johannes Vermeer, at her house in Chongqing, China August 14, 2018. REUTERS/Thomas Suen

Makeup artist He Yuhong, also known as "Yuya", adjusts her headscarf during a recording of her transformation into the "Girl with a Pearl Earring", the 17th century oil painting by Dutch painter Johannes Vermeer, at her house in Chongqing, China August 14, 2018. REUTERS/Thomas Suen

Makeup artist He Yuhong, also known as "Yuya", checks herself in the mirror during a photo shoot following her transformation into the "Girl with a Pearl Earring", the 17th century oil painting by Dutch painter Johannes Vermeer, at her house in Chongqing, China August 14, 2018. REUTERS/Thomas Suen

Makeup artist He Yuhong, also known as "Yuya", applies makeup during a recording of her transformation into the "Girl with a Pearl Earring", the 17th century oil painting by Dutch painter Johannes Vermeer, at her house in Chongqing, China August 14, 2018. REUTERS/Thomas Suen

Makeup artist He Yuhong, also known as "Yuya", cuts a string from her headscarf during a recording of her transformation into the "Girl with a Pearl Earring", the 17th century oil painting by Dutch painter Johannes Vermeer, at her house in Chongqing, China August 14, 2018. REUTERS/Thomas Suen

Makeup artist He Yuhong, also known as "Yuya", applies makeup during a recording of her transformation into the "Girl with a Pearl Earring", the 17th century oil painting by Dutch painter Johannes Vermeer, at her house in Chongqing, China August 14, 2018. REUTERS/Thomas Suen