Fall in Tree Land

Fall In Tree Land

Here it is almost Christmas, this Fall in tree land has come and gone. I taught a tree workshop in October on a picture perfect weekend. We painted at my country studio in the woods, enjoying the turning trees.

I have been working very hard on my tree paintings this year and feel that I have made some major steps in technique. Given that, I still have far to go. One painting at a time to success. I've painted red cedars, a cherry laurel, pines, and live oaks in the last several months.  I spent most of last summer developing a new winter palette, with which I've had some success.

Farm Oak Tree
18x24 inches
oil on canvas
distressed silver frame
tree

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. 

Amazing Nature

Ice Trees

Notes From My Tree Painting Journal

I took this photo this morning before I started my truck, Leroy. It is an amazing tree painting by nature in ice. What a lovely gift to me. Nature knows I am a tree painter. 

This week I am working on an 18x24 oil painting of trees. I am having a hard time with the painting, trying to work out issues with the trunks. Some foreshortening and textural issues to overcome. If trees were easy to paint, everyone would paint them!

I keep plugging along, learning what I can about painting them. I need to get started on another champion tree. I am doing a small commission too, so my champion trees are waiting patiently in the wings. 

Painting from My Recent Experience

Tree Paintings

Notes From my Tree Journal

A couple of weeks ago I observed the beautiful site of a dark indigo sky with powerful light in the tree tops. Based on that memory I did this painting yesterday. For some reason my camera does a lousy image of these strong transitional color paintings. The actual painting has a richer color. In order to get the field and lower tree color to work in photo shop, it shows the top as bleached out. To see the real thing, stop by my loft and enjoy browsing with a fresh cup of coffee.

Painting from memory becomes easier when you have painted in the field for a long time. You tend to remember and to know how nature works when you spend a lot of time out in it.