Task: Create a Composite Photo Merging The Artist With Her Painting
The Idea
What would it be like to walk into your favorite painting, to be transported into the whimsical world created by the artist? That was the spark for this project. (I suspect that buried in my subconscious was the scene in Mary Poppins where Mary, Bert, and the children jump into Bert’s sidewalk chalk drawing.) When I first saw the painting Sunflower Path by artist Melody Phaneuf, I knew I had found the perfect painting to try my idea.
The Photo Compositing Challenge
Could I seamlessly blend a photographic image into an oil painting that created both a sense of realism and fantasy?
To create the final piece I filled the roles of creative director, photographer, photo stylist, digital imaging specialist, photo editor, and photo retoucher.
Going Behind-The-Scenes: The Process
Step 1: Digital Capture of Painting
The first step was to digitize the painting. I photographed the painting in a studio environment, under controlled lighting to produce a high-resolution, color-accurate digital file of the original artwork.
Step 2: The Model
Who better than the artist herself to enter the whimsical environment of this delightful painting? The next step in the process was to photograph Melody. We conducted an initial shoot in the city to work out poses and clothing choices. We then went to Buttonwood Farm, in Griswold, CT, and photographed Melody in the actual sunflower fields that were the inspiration for the painting.
The Contact Sheet: Click the photo to take a closer look of the contact sheet.
A contact sheet from the photo shoots of the artist-model. We tested poses and clothing options in the city and then went to the location that was the inspiration for the painting for the final shoot. Circled in red is the frame used in the final image. Click the photo to take a closer look a the contact sheet. Photography by Martha DiMeo.
Step 3: Image Selection
Melody’s personality shined through during the photo shoot. She was playful and silly; exactly what was needed for the whimsical painting.
I then had fun testing the various poses and expressions, roughly placing the selected poses in the painting file. The pose, body language, clothing, and facial expression all factored into the decision of selecting the profile view—second from the right as pictured here and circle in red on the contact sheet. Notice on the contact sheet, Melody is facing left. To work with the composition of the painting, and to match the light in the painting, I flipped the photo to have her facing right.
Step 4: Putting It Together, Creating the Composite Photo
Now with the raw material in hand, and the best pose selected, the final step was to meld the two images together.
I gave careful consideration to the size relationship, lighting direction, light quality, color balance, color relationships, tone, and contrast. The two images were then seamlessly montaged with delicately executed blending and masking.
“Artists create worlds with the strokes of the paint brush. My idea was to transport the artist into the whimsical world she created.”
–Martha DiMeo/ChromaQueen
Concept, Design, Photography & Photo Composite By: Martha DiMeo
Painting: Sunflower Path, Oil on Canvas; 30″ x 24″ by Melody Phaneuf
To learn more about the fine art of art reproductions, visit the Art Reproduction portfolio gallery.
Love These Images?
Both the composite photo and the painting are available for licensing. Drop me a line.
See More Photo Compositing Examples
> A humorous take on Whistler’s Mother.
> In this portfolio, adding people to a group photo and creating a product prototype.
