Green Man Awakens Series
ILLUSTRATOR – LUCIANA ORR




Above the doorways on a row of elderly Wimbledon cottages, faces of stone peered down at the passing Londoners.
Inspired by these ‘Green Men’ and their connection to both forest and folklore, I took a few photos. This was the first time I had used conté crayons, which delivered beautifully dramatic results.
The faces in this series looked so alive, they seemed to breath. The crayon was perfect for sculpting the carved stone, leaving a gritty looking texture in places. They were really fun to draw.
Interesting the last image ‘Lion’s Crown’ poses a few questions, as it is clearly not a Green Man. Did it represent the Lion of England, church or crown? If so was it’s inclusion introducing the idea that this lion had the same power as the pagan Green Men?
Decorative Stonework Faces
Found in many forms throughout history, Green Men or ‘foliate heads’, were often included in medieval cathedrals and churches which were often built on pagan sites. They appear in places where there were stretches of ancient woodland, harking back to pagan times when trees and nature were worshiped.
In the form of ‘Jack of the Green’ he has made a popular resurgence, with appearances at Beltane or May Day festivals, signifying the coming of spring and marking re-birth and the start of the cycle of growth.
In this form, he is an environmental guardian, keeper of forests and woods.
Green Man Awakens Series
- A series of four images – 2007
- Conte Crayon on black archival card
- 35cm x 35cm (un-mounted size)
Collections:
- NOW Architecture – Melbourne, AU. Inhale, Expel, Present.
- Private Collector: Lion’s Crown.