Roll Over Botticelli: Venus Gets A Makeover
I had a lot of fun doing an assignment for Tracey Jones and Tremendous Life Books. It called for a parody of Botticelli’s Birth Of Venus (1486). I think everyone’s seen this famous painting at one time or another:
The parody called for Venus to be displaced by another goddess, an Australian Shepherd named Ruby Red. Ruby posed for a lot of pictures, but did she ever once strike the Venus Pose? Alas, she did not. So it fell to me to use bits and pieces from four different photos to build a composite Ruby in Photoshop.
I wish I could tell you I have some magic hair extraction technique. I do not. I’ve studied many hair extraction tutorials, but have never found one that works for every situation. I experimented with different selection tools, and fine-tuned the selections with the Eraser.
I used splatter brushes for the Eraser, and tried different hardness and opacity settings to see what worked.
Below are the four photos and the resulting composite. I had to adjust the color and lighting for the different parts, and I used layer masks to blend them all together. It was also necessary to graft on the end of Ruby’s right “foot” (it’s actually the tip of the left foot, which I cloned, warped into position, and then blended into the existing right foot).
Final below. Some of Ruby’s friends were also included (well, at least their heads). If you compare the final to the original, you’ll notice the sea shell had to be partially rebuilt and shifted to the right, in order to center Ruby properly. This called for some pretty doggone ambitious cloning… : )
The final was used on the cover of Saucy Aussie Living: Top 10 Tricks for Getting
a Second Leash on Life by none other than Ruby Red herself (with a little help from Tracey Jones). If you’re looking for some ongoing inspiration, I can highly recommend Tracey’s blog.
What do you think? Is Botticelli rolling over in his grave? Is Ruby giving Venus some serious competition? Hope you’ll leave a comment.
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I knew you were working like a dog on this one, but I had no idea how much so!! Ruby is displaying her inner doggess, which is inside everyone of us. Thanks so much for the amazing job you did on this. We did an show this weekend in NYC and everyone flipped out. Really an eye catcher. Thanks for making this vision a reality!!
Ah! I was hoping you’d like it. After all, you’ve got such great taste in artists… : P
Ruby was a hit in New York?? I’m not surprised. I just hope she doesn’t resign her post as TLB motivational evangelist for a career in modeling… : (
Thanks again for a great assignment– it was a pleasure from, er, ruff to finish! : )
Love, love, loved it. Posted it everywhere I could so others could marvel at your fabulousness. Ruby is with me for the long haul, never to be separated ever again:-)
Thank you, thank you!– hiring you to be my agent was the smartest move I ever made… : )
Glad you enjoyed it, Tracey, and thanks for the mighty trumpet blasts. And I’m glad to hear Miss Ruby knows a great gig when she sees one– woof! : )
I like to think that the Botticelli image would have made Botticelli himself smile.
Ha! Now that is a joyful thought indeed!
Many thanks for sharing and stopping by. : )
Were we to witness such an emergence from the sea we’d pick Ruby and her radiant doggy face any day. Delightful creation, Mark, and extra kudos for making it sound so easy to do!
Ah, is there anything better than a kind comment prosaically expressed?? I think not– and you guys are deservedly famous for ‘em! : )
It was certainly an interesting challenge. Funny how things often look fairly simple in retrospect. One tends to forget the sweat and the tears– which is probably a good thing!
Thanks for the delightful morale boost!! : )
If I could subscribe again I would, but I already am. Woof!
I like the way you have doggedly reinterpreted Botticelli.
Ha! “…doggedly reinterpreted Botticelli…” May I quote you down at the Kennel Club? That’s a winner!! : )
Thanks so much for that lovely and witty comment, Val– very sincerely appreciated, and it’s good to see you!
I think the motion of the cloths and sea are quite nice. I would have voted for cats myself, though, LOL.
The motion of the cloths and the sea? Mr. Botticelli gets credit for those– though of course I taught him everything he knows. Er, knew. : )
OK, next time we’ll do cats– and Ives can play Venus. : )
That was a dog gone good job.
Bob
You’re certainly barking up the right tree with that remark, my dear fellow!! : )
Thanks, amigo, very sincerely appreciated. It’s an honor having you here at, uh, Armstrong Kennels!! : )
We all know it is a dog’s world. Very funny!
So true, Jayne– and I’ve got the fleas and ticks to prove it… : (
Thanks so much for your cheerful support! : )
“Meow, meow, me! meeeeh!” My May Muse, Mimine, murmurs
You are really toothsome Mark, I love your work! Excellent!
Wow! I don’t often get comments from cats– especially on posts involving dogs. Klearly a kind, kultured high-klass kitty with keenly kultivated good taste!!
I’m just a poor Toothsome wannabee, trying to follow in your gigantic artistic footprints. Sigh. I know it’s hopeless, but I must keep trying… : )
Thank you, dear Dolly, for the encouragement, and thank you, dear Mimine, for the en-purrrrrrrr-agement… : P
Hey Mark,
Here I am as uusual two posts behind you and late to the party.
I’m a horse and dog lover. Who cares if Botticelli spins? Not me.
I love cats too and have one sort of … lol
Late to the party? Nonsense! You’re right on time– welcome! Yes, let ol’ Botticelli spin– good for him to get a little exercise… : P
A “sort of” cat? Hm. Sounds intriguing, but I hesitate to inquire further… : )
Great to see you, TT, thanks so much for your support.
I was awkwardly implying that I don’t really have a cat. He has me.
Ah! That sounds like a purrrfectly normal cat– whew! I feel better now… : )
He’s a feral cat we rescued about 18 years ago when he was under a year old.
Yeeeeeeoooowwww!!!!!!!!!! You’re a Photoshop Master!!!!
that’s amazing and wonderful and GRRRRR-eat!!!!!!
Botticelli wouldn’t know the difference.
Even the lighting is super!
Wow!
Seriously, WOW!
My blushes, Watson! as Sherlock Holmes used to say when his face was beet-red… : )
You know, when I read the words Photoshop Master, I leaped to my feet, assumed my best kung fu stance, then ran arond the house karate-chopping every pillow in sight! Now the air is filled with feathers for some reason… : (
Well, that is the most outrageously kind comment ever recorded!! I’m bowing low here and saying, “Thank you, grasshopper…”
Actually, the low bow was easy– I’m lying on the floor. Pillow chopping is hard work, never let anyone tell you different… : P
Thank you so mucho, Robin!!! : )
I love it! You really bring the goddess out in Ruby Red. What a clever pose
Aw thanks, Christine.
Actually I spent long hours posing in front of a mirror until I had the right look.
Now for some reason, I’m drinking water out of a dish, instead of a glass. Weird. : )
Ahahahahahaha….What a funny! hahahahahahahaa..love your work! I honestly cannot stop laughing at Ruby’s pose…hhahaahhahahahahahahaaha
Uh-oh!! Uncontrollable laughter?? Sounds like a medical emergency!!
I’d send a St. Bernard to rescue you, but she’d probably strike that Venus pose and make you laugh harder… : )
Thank you so much, Inge, for your delightful and rollicking support!!
Mark! You are amazing! I actually like yours better than the orignal! You really are good– a photoshop master! And you really know your way around the pooches too. The way you got them to pose just like in the original! But seriously Mark, you are a wonderful artist and fun and funny as all get out to boot!
Aw, gosh-gee and blush-blush! I feel as self-conscious as Ruby. We’re both very modest. We also share a preference for doing tai chi on seashells… : P
Yes, if my artistic career tanks, I can always become a dog trainer. I just know I’d be a howling success… : P
Thanks as ever, Linda, for your kind and cheerful support!! : )