Artist paints picture of NBA star Yao Ming using basketball as paintbrush

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An artist has painted a picture of basketball star Yao Ming using the ball itself as a paintbrush.

Shanghai based Yi Hong has posted a video on YouTube showing off her skills.

Using nothing but red paint and a basketball, she slowly but surely creates a realistic portrait of retired NBA star Ming.

Hong simply dips the ball in paint and carefully bounces it on the canvas.

“It’s amazing what someone can do with a basketball,” the Daily Mail quoted her as saying.

“But after seeing artists paint with remote-controlled toy cars, their lips and even their breasts, I’ll believe anything is possible,” she said.

Hong goes by the name of Red and describes herself as an artist who ‘loves to paint, but not with a paintbrush’.

Ming, who retired from basketball last year, is a sporting legend in China.

The 7ft 6in player spent eight seasons in the NBA as a centre for the Houston Rockets and was selected for the NBA All-Star team eight times, leading his team to the playoffs on four occasions.

He is credited with expanding the influence of the NBA into Asia and was the source of lucrative merchandise sales.

A figurehead in China, he was chosen to carry the Olympic torch through Tiananmen Square during the opening ceremony of the 2008 Beijing Olympics.