The Struggle to Paint Trees Successfully

Tree Art

 

Notes From My Tree Painting Journal

 

 

I finally finished this oil painting this morning. It was extremely difficult for me and for awhile, I thought it would never work. I did many changes on it over the course of 3 weeks. I did enjoy it, but it was also extremely difficult and challenging and who knows why? now and then that happens to me. I think I have a good plan, a good scene to work with and it just doesn't want to work.

 

As a young painter, I would have abandoned it and started something else. As a mature painter, I want to struggle a bit and find solutions that are part of the learning process. As I have grown as a tree painter, I have learned the value of study more than end result.  Trees are living beings, complex and mysterious. One must love the arcane to study and paint trees.

 

 

Today I start on my next Champion Trees Project painting of the Angel Oak in South Carolina. This one will be tough too, very complex and wonderful. I expect it to kick me around some before I can finish it.