Cheraine Collette 101u4y

The inspiration, sketch, material, self-portrait, the process and the end result of one of my latest photographic paintings 'The Chimera and the Dryad' 2024.

Still dreaming after spending the most magical days with my family and friends at the breathtaking @SienAwards Festival 2024, celebrating its monumental 10th anniversary!

I am beyond honored to have received the Silver Pangea for my "Braving the Strings to Destiny" work. But what truly took my breath away was seeing my piece "Symphony of the Muses" exhibited all over Siena, representing this special edition of the awards!

Words cannot describe how deeply this experience has touched my heart. From the impressive choir of 400 voices to the soul-stirring live performance by the incredible John Metcalfe, and the ethereal ballerinas dancing through the sky, this all together felt like stepping into a living fairytale.

A heartfelt thank you to the entire @SienAwards family for this phenomenal experience, and especially to the visionary founder @lucaventuriphoto whose ion, dedication, and dream bring artists and photographers together from all over the world.

These memories will forever be in my heart. I can't wait to return and create even more unforgettable moments with all of you!

This work celebrates receiving the Gold Pangea Prize at the Siena Awards last year (2023), from which the golden orbs in this piece originated. Inspired by the endlessly beautiful nature and cultural treasures of Italy, ignited by the magical experience that the @sienawards holds.

The creation process involved approximately 800 layers of photographs and hand-painted details.

From inspiration to realisation, here's a look into my creative process for 'age To Paradise', 2023, part of my 'Where is Adam?' series.
This photographic painting, envisioned at approx. 455 x 500 cm, merges my own photographic material with tradition painting techniques, blending the digital and tactile worlds, to reimagine a time when humanity and nature thrived in harmony.

In this series, I explore a deeper question: what if we had never left paradise? Is there still a way to return or create a new one? Through these pieces, I seek to reconnect with the natural world and rediscover the balance we once shared.

My newest Artwork 'Leap of Legends', 2024,

Part of my 'Limitless' series, featuring a beautiful Jaguar XK150S 3.8 Litre Fastback from 1962.

Reflecting on how humankind would have been and still will be without the presence of both our technological achievements and the natural wonders that inspire us to dream and sur our limits.

My newest Artwork 'The Chimera and the Dryad', 2024, 300 x 240 cm (*size impression)

An encounter between a fearsome chimera and a vulnerable dryad.
In greek mythology, the chimera is often depicted as a fearsome creature, a hybrid of a lion, goat, and snake, known for its fiery breath and terrifying presence.

Dryads, on the other hand, are nymphs of the woods, considered gentle and deeply connected to their specific trees in the forests. They are generally portrayed as nurturing figures in the mythology.

The chimera preyed on nymphs like a dryad, a conflict between the natural world and the monstrous.
 Will the nurturing spirit of the dryad overcome the chimera’s ferocity, or will the mythological predator claim victory. Will the greek hero Bellerophon save the dryad just in time and conquer the monster everyone feared for centuries.

How will this story end?

Created over several years, each element has been captured with a full-frame camera and later fused using a wacom cintiq pro tablet, employing brushes and techniques inspired by traditional painting.

The foreground is a self-portrait, set against the dramatic backdrop of Sicily’s etna volcano and its surrounding landscape, the cave was also photographed on Sicily. The white lion, goat (both photographed in their natural habitat from a safe distance) and serpent (Barcelona), represent the fearsome Chimera.

‘PINK DELIGHT’, 2024, 300 x 240 cm (*Size impression)

Where the boundaries between dream and reality meet, a majestic elephant strides through shimmering waters, blurred by soft hues of pink and carrying two pastel colored tigers on its back. As they wash each other, pink drips into the clear water, transforming and brightening the world in their beautiful and loving hues the water speaks in soft tones of a delicate secret: the world can be bathed in brighter, more enchanting shades by those who dare to dream. Hidden realms of magic and marvels unfold, waiting to be discovered.

Created over several years, each element has been captured with a full-frame camera and later fused using a wacom cintiq pro tablet, employing brushes and techniques inspired by traditional painting.

On the foreground two white tigers with pink stripes being carried by a pastel pink African Elephant (Photographed in their natural habitat from a safe distance), set against the dramatic backdrop of Sicily’s landscape and it’s magnificent ancient greek temples (Photographed in Sicily 2017).

*This is just an impression of the size it could be produced in.

IN 2 FUTURE, 2023,

R. Padovan of Pordenone (northern Italy) built this aerodynamic coach for FIAT in 1948, made entirely of aluminum. This (and only) car was first shown in 1949, but was never put into production. The wing on the back was later used in F1.
The Fiat 1100 TV Padovan Aerodynamica 1948, photographed at the private collection of Museum METROPOLE Druten @metropoledruten

As of 2020, there are estimated to be fewer than 800 mature Sri Lankan leopards (Panthera pardus kotiya) in the wild, making each sighting of these elusive creatures a rare and precious encounter with one of nature's most endangered masterpieces.

Available in only two distinguished sizes

Behind the Scenes, Making of 'Uncharted Heights'