{"id":1868085,"date":"2026-04-06T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2026-04-05T21:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=1868085"},"modified":"2026-04-06T00:00:00","modified_gmt":"2026-04-05T21:00:00","slug":"hillary-waters-fayle-creates-portraits-of-place-from-seeds-foliage-and-petals","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=1868085","title":{"rendered":"Hillary Waters Fayle Creates \u2018Portraits of Place\u2019 from Seeds, Foliage, and Petals"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"entry-content prose-colossal max-w-none\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group alignfull is-style-default entry-header is-vertical is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-fe9cc265 wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure class=\"colo-post-featured-image wp-block-post-featured-image\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"2000\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/waters-fayle-13.jpg\" class=\"attachment-post-thumbnail size-post-thumbnail wp-post-image\" alt=\"A mandala-like composition of flower petals and leaves\" style=\"object-fit:cover\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">\u201cPenland Pop.\u201d All images courtesy of the artist, shared with permission<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<div class=\"wp-block-group post-title is-vertical is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-0bc941e6 wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\">\n<h1 class=\"alignfull wp-block-post-title\">Hillary Waters Fayle Creates \u2018Portraits of Place\u2019 from Seeds, Foliage, and Petals<\/h1>\n<div class=\"wp-block-group alignfull post-meta is-layout-flex wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-post-date\"><time datetime=\"2026-04-06T08:41:34-05:00\">April 6, 2026<\/time><\/div>\n<div class=\"taxonomy-category wp-block-post-terms\"><a class=\"category-art\" href=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/category\/art\/\" rel=\"tag\">Art<\/a><a class=\"category-nature\" href=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/category\/nature\/\" rel=\"tag\">Nature<\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"wp-block-post-author-name\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/author\/kmothes\/\" target=\"_self\" class=\"wp-block-post-author-name__link\">Kate Mothes<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"wp-block-group alignfull post-share-group is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-nowrap is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-6c531013 wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\">\n<ul class=\"wp-block-outermost-social-sharing has-visible-labels has-icon-color is-style-logos-only is-layout-flex wp-block-outermost-social-sharing-is-layout-flex\">\n<li style=\"color: #1c1e0d\" class=\"outermost-social-sharing-link outermost-social-sharing-link-facebook has-crow-color wp-block-outermost-social-sharing-link\">\n\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.thisiscolossal.com%2F2026%2F04%2Fhillary-waters-fayle-pressed-flowers-cyanotypes%2F&amp;title=Hillary%20Waters%20Fayle%20Creates%20%26%238216%3BPortraits%20of%20Place%27%20from%20Seeds%2C%20Foliage%2C%20and%20Petals\" aria-label=\"Share\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"wp-block-outermost-social-sharing-link-anchor\"><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"wp-block-outermost-social-sharing-link-label \"><br \/>\n\t\t\tShare\t\t<\/span><br \/>\n\t<\/a>\n<\/li>\n<li style=\"color: #1c1e0d\" class=\"outermost-social-sharing-link outermost-social-sharing-link-mail has-crow-color wp-block-outermost-social-sharing-link\">\n\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/cdn-cgi\/l\/email-protection#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\" aria-label=\"Email\" class=\"wp-block-outermost-social-sharing-link-anchor\"><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"wp-block-outermost-social-sharing-link-label \"><br \/>\n\t\t\tEmail\t\t<\/span><br \/>\n\t<\/a>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><button class=\"simplefavorite-button preset\" data-postid=\"472409\" data-siteid=\"1\" data-groupid=\"1\" data-favoritecount=\"0\"><i class=\"sf-icon-bookmark\"><\/i>Bookmark<\/button>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>When we think of somewhere we\u2019ve been, what are the first things to come to mind? Perhaps there are memorable smells, a sense of other people being around, or a particular quality of light. But what if we remembered landscapes and experiences through plants? For <a href=\"https:\/\/www.hillarywfayle.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Hillary Waters Fayle<\/a>, flower petals, seeds, and foliage combine into a kind of album of various places, which she then uses to create bold <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/tags\/cyanotypes\/\">cyanotypes<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>The artist has long worked with botanicals and other organic materials, notably <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/tags\/hillary-waters-fayle\">embroidering foraged leaves<\/a> and feathers with meticulous geometric designs. With the series <em>Portraits of Place, <\/em>which she\u2019s been pursuing for the past six years, Fayle precisely arranges individual petals and leaves into intricate, symmetrical, mandala-like compositions on acrylic.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/waters-fayle-1.jpg\" class=\"swipebox\" data-rel=\"lightbox-gallery-472409\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1988\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/waters-fayle-1.jpg\" alt=\"A mandala-like composition of flower petals and leaves\" class=\"wp-image-472410\"><\/a><\/figure>\n<p>She starts by collecting and drying botanicals from specific locations, such as Grace Farms Foundation in New Canaan, Connecticut, or Maymont Park in Richmond, Virginia. These are then laid onto watercolor paper that\u2019s been painted with UV-sensitive iron salts. After being left out in the sun, these result in the bright blue cyanotypes that chronicle the outlines\u2014perhaps one could even say the spirit\u2014of the distinctive layouts.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe way these portraits illustrate a very particular place and time via botany can be a way to define the relationship that the people of that place have with the land\u2014almost like a modern-day <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Florilegium\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">florilegium<\/a>,\u201d Fayle tells Colossal. She continues:<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p>All of these pieces are so different and special to me, but it has been particularly meaningful to make portraits of areas that are going to change drastically in the near future, either from development or rising sea levels, fire, etc. It feels like a way of preserving and honoring the land and all that is present there right now.\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>Flowers and plants symbolize the natural evolution of particular spaces, such as a gardener adding new bulbs or birds depositing seeds. They symbolize the nature of seasons and life cycles, emphasizing a relationship that is simultaneously enduring and ephemeral. See more on the artist\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/hillary.waters\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Instagram<\/a>.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/waters-fayle-2.jpg\" class=\"swipebox\" data-rel=\"lightbox-gallery-472409\" title=\"Chisman Creek Park, Tidewater, Virginia (detail)\" data-rl_title=\"Chisman Creek Park, Tidewater, Virginia (detail)\" data-rl_caption=\"Chisman Creek Park, Tidewater, Virginia (detail)\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1334\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/waters-fayle-2.jpg\" alt=\"A detail of a mandala-like composition of flower petals and leaves\" class=\"wp-image-472411\"><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Chisman Creek Park, Tidewater, Virginia (detail)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/waters-fayle-4.jpg\" class=\"swipebox\" data-rel=\"lightbox-gallery-472409\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"2000\" height=\"2026\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/waters-fayle-4.jpg\" alt=\"A mandala-like cyanotype composition of flower petals and leaves\" class=\"wp-image-472421\"><\/a><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/waters-fayle-11.jpeg\" class=\"swipebox\" data-rel=\"lightbox-gallery-472409\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1999\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/waters-fayle-11.jpeg\" alt=\"A mandala-like composition of flower petals and leaves\" class=\"wp-image-472418\"><\/a><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/waters-fayle-12.jpg\" class=\"swipebox\" data-rel=\"lightbox-gallery-472409\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1334\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/waters-fayle-12.jpg\" alt=\"A detail of a mandala-like composition of flower petals and leaves\" class=\"wp-image-472419\"><\/a><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/waters-fayle-8.jpg\" class=\"swipebox\" data-rel=\"lightbox-gallery-472409\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/waters-fayle-8.jpg\" alt=\"A mandala-like composition of flower petals and leaves\" class=\"wp-image-472415\"><\/a><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/waters-fayle-5.jpg\" class=\"swipebox\" data-rel=\"lightbox-gallery-472409\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"2000\" height=\"2000\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/waters-fayle-5.jpg\" alt=\"A mandala-like composition of flower petals and leaves\" class=\"wp-image-472413\"><\/a><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/waters-fayle-6.jpg\" class=\"swipebox\" data-rel=\"lightbox-gallery-472409\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"2000\" height=\"3001\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/waters-fayle-6.jpg\" alt=\"A detail of a mandala-like composition of flower petals and leaves\" class=\"wp-image-472414\"><\/a><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/waters-fayle-9.jpg\" class=\"swipebox\" data-rel=\"lightbox-gallery-472409\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"2000\" height=\"2000\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/waters-fayle-9.jpg\" alt=\"A mandala-like composition of flower petals and leaves\" class=\"wp-image-472416\"><\/a><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/waters-fayle-10.jpg\" class=\"swipebox\" data-rel=\"lightbox-gallery-472409\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"2000\" height=\"2000\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/waters-fayle-10.jpg\" alt=\"A mandala-like composition of flower petals and leaves\" class=\"wp-image-472417\"><\/a><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/waters-fayle-3.jpg\" class=\"swipebox\" data-rel=\"lightbox-gallery-472409\"><img decoding=\"async\" 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Perhaps there are memorable smells, a sense [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[226,270],"class_list":["post-1868085","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized","tag-crawlmanager","tag-thisiscolossal-com"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1868085","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=1868085"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1868085\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1868085"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1868085"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1868085"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}