Trina’s hyper-real illusions have taken her all over the world, including the UK, the Seven Wonders of the World and Italy. During her Florence Artist Residency at Villa Il Palmerino, Trina made the most of the amazing landscapes and landmarks that Italy had to offer.
Nestled in the famous Fiesole hills in Florence, the residency apartments immediately whisk you away to the elegance and beauty of Renaissance living. The architectural elements of the space reveal traces of the past such as a fresco believed to date back to the early 1400s, helping Trina understand the culture in which her artwork would reside.
Tuscany Vineyards
Trina’s first piece began in Tuscany, as she wandered through a large handful of vineyards in search of a location that truly spoke to her. Despite the challenging weather, Trina’s experience in female body painting shone through as she skillfully camouflaged her model into the gorgeous vineyard behind. The beautiful tones of the green leaves spill on to the model, who elegantly stands in the centre of the image.
Leaning Tower of Pisa
Incorporating stand-alone architecture into the series, Merry chose the Leaning Tower of Pisa to experiment with her unique style of painting. Since Pisa serves as a cathedral, Trina worked with cultural consideration, using the nearby science and art centre, Domus Colemlina, to pose her naked model. Trina painted a faux bikini on the back of the model so passersby would not realise she was fully nude and she could throw herself into creating the artwork. Over several hours, the camouflage body painting took shape as the model, split wonderfully down the middle, became part of Pisa and the surrounding trees adding greater dimension to the image. The model’s silhouette is barely peeking through, blended impeccably as the texture and colours of the landscape become part of the model’s body and replicate the inquisitive Renaissance nudes we all love.
Read more about this specific art adventure at Pisa HERE
Ponte Vecchio
In the port town of Porto Vecchio, Merry gained permission from an elite boating club to use this serene backdrop. Modelled by a travelling blogger, Merry transformed the lower half of her body as part of the rose bush - a lovely nod to the femininity of the entire image. Her top half embodies the archway and buildings while her face is entirely merged with the vibrant blue sky. What you can’t see in this image are the tons of tourists peeking down from the right, entranced by Trina’s work. Trina describes her type of artistry as “camouflage 2.0, - the “ability to bring awareness to elements of life that have previously been camouflaged” and this piece certainly did.
““Sometimes we just want to hide away from the world for a while, but there is beauty in that retreat””
Villa Il Palmerino
Using the collection of random objects at Villa Il Palmerino, it’s not until you look closely that you can see the nude model subtly popping out as her outline is hard to distinguish from the detailed background. The model acts as the living heartbeat of the image amongst these inanimate objects, with the entire artwork providing a gentle nod to the sculptures of the surrealists.
Teatro Fiesole Archaeological Site
Once home to a crowd-filled theatre and Roman thermal baths, the Fiesole Archaeological Site holds traces of the oldest settlement dating back to the 11th millennium B.C. Trina’s model is barely noticeable as she becomes part of the ancient steps of this magnificent site. Here Trina’s camouflage body painting skills were really put to the test as her paintbrush battled against the quickening shadows that graced their way over the location. The live model brings existence into this empty plot, reminding us of the amazing civilisation that once resided in Italy.
Villa Bardini Gardens
Trina used two Venetian dancers as the models of this female body painting, to make the most of the infamous Bardini gardens as she put on a live performance for the public. Holding tiptoe poses for around two hours, Trina purposely placed her models in between two statues as the ancient duo doubled with every stroke of Trina’s brush as two became four.
Fresco Art by Federigo Angeli
This repainted version of art was done by Federigo Angeli, grandfather of the residency organiser. Trina had the honour of putting her own stamp on this beautiful painting using her camouflage technique to the fullest. From the intricate tiling that borders the artwork and across the model’s body to the leaves and horse’s hoof that covers the model’s chest, Trina’s patience and artistic talent mean the model does not look out of place in this setting. As if part of the original, Trina’s ability to morph her model into this infamous piece is truly enlightening.
The Museo De Bardini
Captured at The Museo De Valdeni, Merry located herself on one of their amazing porches to access the iconic skyline of Florence. The intricate detail that Trina put into this image is simply charming as the distance hills spread across the model’s shoulder and small windows cover her chest. Like a chameleon, she is elegantly draped across the balcony with her eyes closed perfectly capturing the whimsical and dreamy feel of the city. For Trina, her camouflage body painting is about breathing life into landscapes, using the soft human curves to juxtapose the hard lines of the architecture or backdrop she’s using. Here, the results speak for themselves and this piece is now a part of the Florence art collection at the museum itself and stands as a firm favourite for Trina.
“...sometimes the human body pops right out at you and other times you have to look closely to reveal the outline of the human form”
If you haven’t visited Italy before, there’s no doubt that Trina’s Florence art work and Italian born pieces have made you want to experience the magic for yourself. You can keep up to date with Trina’s latest projects by following her on Instagram @trinamerryart and get involved with the conversation.