Bald Cypress is done

Co National Champion Bald Cypress

18x24 inches

Oil on canvas

Notes From My Tree Painting Journal

I finished this champion tree painting today in my town studio. It was a lot of fun and a challenge. This is the third in my series for the year, so I'm not making huge progress in numbers, but I certainly am enjoying the project. I plan to put together an exhibition in 2015 for the champion paintings, with a journal with my notes. It might make a nice book as well. I do tend to forget about the promotional aspect of these projects after I complete them because by then I have new projects to do. 

A painting in the champion tree series

Work in progress

Champion trees

www.lindablondheim.com

Notes From My Tree Painting Journal

This is the co-national champion bald cypress tree from Mississippi. It is quite a challenge. This is session two. I have about two sessions to go. These champions are amazing! I'll show you the finished painting. 

A Pine Painting

Tree Art

http://www.lindablondheim.com

Notes From My Tree Painting Journal

This painting was inspired by the 13 paintings I did on location at Wekiva State Park a few weeks ago. I learned a lot during that trip and process. I wanted to do a larger studio painting while I had the painting experience fresh in my mind. I spent a couple of weeks working on this 18x24 studio version, finishing it up just this afternoon. 

From all of these paintings, I learned to paint pines without too much detail and precision. A lot of the pine paintings I have seen are a bit overdone which makes them almost cartoonish and quite illustrative. Of course, it is a matter of preference for painters and some like the tight detail. I don't like slap dash sloppy tree paintings, but I do like to leave the viewer with the fresh quality of paint, not too refined. 

The most important elements I learned were color mixing for pine trees and the quality of masses of pine trees together in stands, as well as the design elements associated with pines in a field. Quite valuable knowledge to add to my tree painting knowledge. 

Oh trees! How lovely they are and how difficult to paint well for me!

A new Tree Painting

Trees

16x20 inches

Oil on canvas

www.lindablondheim.com

Notes From My Tree Painting Journal

This is the first painting I did at my new studio space. I enjoyed it. I used the same palette that I practiced with in the pine forest at Wekiva State Park. I am finding that I really like the simplicity of the  greens mixed with the palette. 

I'll soon be painting the brilliant colors of Spring. 

Painting Pine Trees

 Notes From My Tree Journal

I spent Sunday-Thursday this week painting in the pine woods at Wekiva State Park. I am here for the annual paint out, sponsored by Wekiva Island, bless their good hearts. This is a wonderful opportunity to study the design of pine trees. I did not try to do realist interpretation of the trees, instead focusing on their elemental design, so these are interpretive. Anytime I can focus on trees for 5 days uninterrupted, I am pleased. I did 13 pine paintings in sizes, 5x7,6x8,9x12,12x12,12x16. I worked in all weather condition from sun, partly cloudy, overcast, and rain, so it was a great opportunity to alter my palette as well through the five days. A rare time of focus and discovery here at Wekiva.