Russian artist Ellen Sheidlin is a force of nature. Not only does she create oil paintings and performance art, but her neverending creativity also translates into some incredible fine art photography. Her eye-catching, surreal images are instantly recognizable and have earned her nearly five million followers on Instagram.

Sheidlin’s initial interest in photography was sparked by a photo session with a professional photographer. But it wasn’t until she met her future husband in college that something changed. “He showed me that photography can be more difficult, it can be art,” she tells My Modern Met.

Now, she lets her imagination run wild and get carried away in fantasy. There are no limits to her work, whether it’s using simple items like colorful yarn or complex makeup to get her point across. Sheidlin allows herself to fully explore an idea and not let it go until her vision is completed.

Surprisingly, the actual photoshoot itself is brief and often takes about ten minutes. Much more time goes into the preparation, where she can spend up to a week gathering all the props she’ll need.[…]

More: Artist’s Surreal Photos Have Earned Her Nearly 5 Million Instagram Fans