The Working Proof: Frances Pelzman Liscio - Two Dahlias

I'm super excited about the launch of this print - Two Dahlias, by Frances Pelzman Liscio. 15% of each print sold will be donated to Puppies Behind Bars.

Frances composes intricate floral arrangements - often using botanica in various states of bloom and decay - scanning the composition to get the final image. About the print, in Frances' own words:

"[Two Dahlias] incorporates bits of botanica that I saved until they became dry, curled, and mottled. It also uses fresh blooms– dahlias, kalanchoe, violas, and Christmas Cactus. The two large blooms are fresh, but softening and wilting. The viburnum leaf has already changed color and achieved a burnished look – all the detail and veining becomes more visible, and the oak leaf is quite dry. The bittersweet that crowns the image is an invasive non-native plant, but the berries are beautiful: almost incendiary in their hot coral.

I created this work on an Epson Perfection 4490 Photographic scanner. I originally started xeroxing and scanning images many years ago simply because I could not afford a good 8x10 view camera, and I wanted to get closer up to my images. But I also love the unique quality a good scanner brings to the final image. I do very little to the work once it is created, aside from cleaning up the cat hairs (I have four cats) and the pollen from the finished images. Most of the work is done before the image is scanned, with tweezers and manicure scissors, and the baskets and trays full of botanica and natura that fill my studio."

Beautiful, yes? The launch of the Two Dahlias edition also coincides with the April 2010 issue of Lucky Magazine just now hitting stands - look for The Working Proof and Frances' Two Dahlias print on page 44 of the magazine: "Art, Commerce and a Cause", featured in Lucky's new "Give Back" section. In celebration, and to thank you for your support since our launch back in October, we are offering FREE SHIPPING on all domestic orders placed now through noon (EST) on Wednesday, March 10th. Thank you for all of your support of The Working Proof!

Buy the print here, and read the rest of our interview with Frances here.