The Tree
A couple of years ago we visited Bradgate Park near Leicester for a day trip. It couldn't have been a nicer day weatherwise, as it was warm and sunny with lovely blue sky and a smattering of light fluffy clouds and those impressive, high stratus clouds which look as if they have been lightly dragged across the sky by some giant comb. The park is very open, scattered with trees and lots of bracken through which were wide grassy walkways. It was along one of these walkways that a certain tree took my eye. A very knobbly tree with a huge squat trunk and twisted branches. It was just magnificent to see it standing there on its own, sweltering in the heat of the sun and casting a huge shadow across the grassy heath.
I took a photo, which I have loosely tried to paint here. It's no great painting, but at least it's taken me away from portraiture for a spell and reminded me that I do have to put a lot more practice in when it comes to landscapes! The sky is OK and so is the tree trunk though I'm not so sure about the foliage. Oh, and will someone please tell me how to paint more realistic looking grass?
Oh well, a masterpiece will have to wait for another day I guess.
For what it's worth - I think you've underestimated this lovely painting. Technicalities and rules need not reign so much when the feeling is captured - as it is here.... I can FEEL the shade and grandeur of this graceful old tree.
ReplyDeleteWell thanks Alice, you've made me look at my painting in a somewhat different way now. Maybe I'm looking too close and seeing the little bits that every artist sees in their work, and feels they could've done that bit a bit better!
ReplyDeleteYou really cheered me up - thanks!
I think it is very well done, Frank! I do love how you captured the gnarly old tree trunk. I think everything looks fine with the sky and the grass, but I've not done a lot of landscape work. Cathy Johnson (Kate) does a lot of grass and I think she has some pointers in her tips section. http://www.cathyjohnson.info/
ReplyDeleteThank you for your comment. You are very generous with your critiques and I appreciate them!
Thanks Raena, that gnarly old trunk almost painted itself, the way the pigments reacted and settled on the paper. Looking around Kate's website at the link you gave me is a wealth of information, including no less than ten ways to paint a tree!
ReplyDeleteIt's lovely isn't it? To sometimes do something different! Actually - I really like it! It looks like a really bright day and you have captured this really well. I like the composition too. Grass I have foung is best captured using various tones with minimal texture other than in the foreground. I find scratching in to the paint when it's not quite dry, using a palet knife or my finger nails is quite effective - just in the foreground, but no too much. Also a hake brush is good for this too.
ReplyDeleteI think this is a very nice painting Frank. Not only are your sky and tree trunk very good, but your foliage is super. Foliage is so often spoiled by too much detail, yours is loose and compliments this lovely tree. :)
ReplyDelete@Sandra - thanks for the hints, I will try the scratching method, but not with my chunky, clumsy nails!
ReplyDelete@Ingrid - Some people paint every leaf in a tree, while others suggest by changing the wash colour partway through. I guess I'm somewhere in the middle. I tried dropping a darker colour in the foliage while the paint was wet, but it still ended up too pale.
I think you have underestimated the appeal of this one Frank. I think it's great. You've perfectly captured a sunny summers day and that tree trunk looks as old as I feel. LOL. Another great painting.
ReplyDeleteJohn, rumor has it that that tree has been there for over 100 years, so I guess you must be about ready to 'kick the bucket' then? Hee Hee!
ReplyDeleteI have underestimated it by the response - thanks for commenting.