Remember that tree study? Well, in kicking around some ideas in my head, I decided to do a color version.
I turned the angle a little to make it a little more interesting and indeed make it clear that there were several limbs erupting from this one place on the trunk. I also added a forest behind.
The original sketch is more accurately telling the story from where I was sitting, looking at a slow rolling river. But both versions depict the character of the tree.
“I call artistic liceeeeense…”
(remember when you were a kid and used to shout “I call shotguuuuuun..” or “I call first in liiiiiine…”?)
6 Comments
I especially like the texture of the bark!
Thanks for the comment Karen!
I used a wax resist. It was fun
I love all the color in this piece, Don. What’s a wax resist?
Hi Karen,
Before painting, I took a piece of wax, and with extremely light pressure, rubbed it over the shape of the tree. The wax then resists the water and no color is deposited, thus leaving white where wax exists.
I bought a little block of wax at the grocery store, in the canning section, and broke off a small piece for ease of use.
This is tricky with cold pressed paper. The slightest pressure on the wax causes solid lines rather that just hitting the bumps on the paper.
I believe a harder wax might remedy that if there is such a thing…or use of rough watercolor paper.
John Singer Sargent used wax resist in his watercolors…so I thought I might experiment with it.
Thanks for the comment!
That’s beautiful! I like the character and texture/color of the tree. I also like how you alluded to a deep dark forest without overkill. Very nice.
Hi Gwynne,
Thanks for the kind words. I really like the woods…I’ll likely have some more of this sort of stuff soon.
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