Tal Peleg’s Art Uses the Eye as Its Canvas

You’d be hard-pressed to find anything similar to Tal Peleg’s eye makeup art. With a magnifying mirror, thin brushes and extremely steady hand, she’s able to transform an often-overlooked region into an entire storytelling canvas. Even more impressive is that the 30-year-old Israeli artist creates all her looks on her own eye.

Tal’s artwork not only brings fantasy to life, but it also educates people on important topics such as bullying and childhood cancer. Each design takes a couple of hours to make, with her longest look (“The Princess and the Pea” design) taking 4.5 hours. Her tremendous precision has gotten her recognition the world over (she was recently featured in Ripley’s Believe It or Not), and caught our own eye as well.

Why do you use the eye as your canvas? Do you use other canvasses?
I find the eye to be a very interesting and challenging canvas. I don’t just paint on the eye; I try to use its shapes and natural curves as part of my illustrations. Usually I use only the eye, but sometimes I use the whole face as well. I also paint on paper and ordinary canvas.

You’ve created anti-bullying artwork. Why is this cause so important to you?
It can be very dangerous, and people may think words don’t have power, but they do. Words alone can kill or harm the soul so much. These days, people use the internet and social media to bully other people, whether they know them or not. I want to make people think twice before they write something harmful and remember that there’s someone behind the screen that can be really hurt.

What’s your favorite look you created?
It’s hard for me to choose, but it may be the black cat playing with yarn. It’s pretty simple and not very detailed, but the idea is quite creative. Also, it was inspired by my beloved cat Louis, who passed away last year, so it’s very sentimental to me.

Do you start with a drawn-out design, or do you freehand everything?
I usually make a rough sketch on paper so I know what I’m going to do. While creating, I usually change things and improvise.

What’s one makeup tip that most people don’t know about?
I always recommend using art brushes or nail art brushes for eyeliner. They’re usually much better than makeup brand eyeliner brushes—and much cheaper, so you can easily replace them once they split.

What’s your one go-to product?
It’s quite impossible to pick just one! But if I had to, it’s gel eyeliner; I really love it. In terms of brushes, I love the Morphe brand.

In anticipation of Nocturnal Wonderland, what are some of your favorite night-themed looks you’ve created?
The Edgar Allan Poe, the “fear of ghosts” look, the girl and the moon, and the girl with the cat.

What product would you recommend for ensuring makeup stays put during a festival?
Powder is a great way to ensure foundation stays put.

Who are some of your favorite music artists to listen to?
I’m a metal girl, so my favorite artists are bands from the metal scene, including Epica, In Flames, Symphony X and Nightwish.

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