Thursday 12 April 2012

Flora of the Foliage

I've been working on Flora on and off for several weeks. On the whole I was happy with her, but felt she was missing a certain je ne sais quoi. I wanted to blend her in with nature and toyed with waxing a layer of pressed leaves and flowers, but I'll be honest... I did try but it just got a bit messy - the leaves just weren't keen on being coated in hot wax - can't say I blame them.

So, I took her outside and slung her in the shrubbery for a photo shoot. This gave way to a few strange looks from my other half questioning what the neighbours might think. They should be used to my antics - after all, it's only a few months ago since I dressed up as Boudicca and staged a Roman battle in the front garden.

I'll admit that this photographic expedition wasn't quite as successful as historical staging - nor nowhere near as much fun.

Flora had to find some decent foliage in PhotoShop - but at least I was using my own photography so it still feels very much my own piece. I think she's waiting in the shadows for the 'people' to go away so she and her fairy friends can come out to play.

She is joining in with Inspiration Avenue's Foliage challenge and then hopping over to Paint Party Friday - busy girl!




40 comments:

  1. I love this Lisa! - love the light and reflection going on. Her hair colour is divine and amongst the ivy is certainly the right setting for her.

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  2. Really Kewl effects.....She looks like she is gliding down stream just under the water....Awesome Job!

    blessings,
    Cindy♥

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  3. Flora looks very at home amongst the foliage... she looks quite other worldly... wood nymphy... great interpretation of foliage by the way...xx

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  4. lol...Love that your hubby was worried about what the neighbors might think. I often wonder that myself. haha...She is fabulous. A truly beautiful red head. She could be Irish. I love her expression.
    Hugs!

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  5. this is really lovely lisa, thanks for playing this week! I absolutely love how she turned out, I think the digital leaves look fantastic! Great work.
    Best,
    Jenn

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  6. She is gorgeous...very soft and feminine:)
    Beautifully created!
    xx

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  7. Loving Flora and her fab surroundings. Happy PPF, Annette x

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  8. Love the journey Flora had to go through to get here. :) She looks fantastic!

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  9. Interesting piece, nicely photographed! She seems frightened and perplexed!

    I'd love a neighbor like you!! I have the opposite....you know what that means!!

    Happy ppf!!
    Hugs Giggles

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  10. Flora is amazingly beautiful and magical ~ Wow! ~ thanks, namaste, ^_^

    You might consider my blog hop ~ Magical Monday Meme ~ thanks ^_^

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  11. Very beautiful. We were just talking about painting shadodws in class yesterday.

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  12. We both did a Flora this week. I think yours is lovely. Sure wish I'd seen you reenacting Boudicca in the front garden.

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  13. I love this. Whatever technique you ended up using it certainly worked! The way the foliage plays over her skin casting shadows and light - perfect!

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  14. Beautiful, Lisa. The face is pensive and gorgeous. What technique you have used works.

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  15. She is very beautiful hiding in the foliage. The different values of the shadows make for a very interesting painting. I need to learn some techy stuff. Very neat!

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  16. Wow, i think the way you combined the foliage is perfect! I'm impressed as always!

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  17. I like the dappled light on her. Lovely effect.

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  18. A wonderful painting, I love your look.

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  19. Flora is wonderful with just the right amount of mystery in her expression!

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  20. Wonderful shading on this. Beautiful image.

    HPPF

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  21. Your combination of painting and photography is beautiful. The reflected light that falls on Flora is well done!

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  22. Flora is quite magical and beautiful..fabulous!

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  23. You are fabulous, I love Flora. I agree, she has the perfect expression on her face.

    Happy PPF!

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  24. Rhonda @ Roban Studio14 April 2012 at 04:52

    It's just beautiful! I never thought to combine paintings and photography! It worked very well. Happy PPF! :-)

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  25. Flora is beautiful. I love all the light flecks.

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  26. A wonderful work of art... i love the colors & the foliage around her body & hair. Beautiful work... xoxo

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  27. So beautiful and mysterious. I love how Flora is integrated into the shrubbery!
    ♥♥♥
    Happy PPF!!
    Mary
    Mixed-Media Map Art

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  28. Very, very beautiful! Love the foliage and the shadows and reflections! Great job!

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  29. She is just plain gorgeous! Looks like things are going well around here! That's wonderful Lisa!

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  30. i think this turned out wonderfully! the light and shade adds such depth to this piece. well done!

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  31. She's not just busy, she is gorgeous. And she is so YOU!!

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  32. your funny...but just like me in that I also do strange photo shoots with my various art pieces outside. I really like the natural surrounding to photograph in and I get great results because of that. and I use the bushes too. My neighbors know me by now I guess...they never say anything like what are you ding out there taking a million photos of a bush

    - KAT -

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  33. Hey I just checked out your Zazzle I will remember it cool stuff you have on there ! Who doesn't need another beautiful coffee mug maybe I will look into getting a zazzle account too

    - KAT -

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  34. I think she is beautiful and meditative surrounded by her lovely foliage. Earthy and full of life Lisa!

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  35. A beautiful and poetic piece Lisa. I love the way the light and shadow of the leaves play on her face, lovely!
    PS Boudicca in the front garden?? I must've missed those pictures!!

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  36. dappled in shadow Flora is beautiful.

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  37. I love your FLORA! She looks like she is wondering it is possible to have all this beautiful foliage without the pollen ???
    LOL
    As always...amazing!!

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  38. I quite like Flora. I particularly like the sort of dappled leaf shadows.

    Darla

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Thank you for your comments - I always love to hear what you think :)

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