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!