Tree painting from my residency

Trees in Holy Ground Field

20x24 inches

Oil on canvas

www.lindablondheim.com

Notes From My Tree Residency

This was the last painting I completed at my residency at Fair Oaks in February. I've always been fond of this scene. There is a lot of standing water under these trees from the recent rains. Most of the time it is dry. This stand of trees is a favorite hideaway for the resident deer. I see them early in the morning and late in the afternoon before dusk when they like to feed. 

I started this painting on location and finished it in the upstairs studio on the last day of my residency. Though I paint at Fair Oaks almost every Sunday, it is quite special to spend a whole week there every February. 

The Angel Oak Tree South Carolina Champion Tree

http://www.lindablondheim.com

Notes From My Tree Painting Journal

This painting is of the Champion Tree of South Carolina, the Angel Oak Tree. It was a real challenge and joy to paint this tree. The palette was expanded to accommodate such a complex tree. I used the following palette with many layers of color and drying periods between. 

Ivory Black 

Titanium white

 Naples Yellow

Yellow ochre

Lemon yellow

Sap green

UB

Thalo blue

Red iron oxide

Raw umber

Cadmium orange

Cadmium red

I rarely use such a large palette. These Champion and heritage trees are difficult and they are expanding my skills. Always a good thing.