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

Trees from Winter to Spring

Jekyll Island Park

18x24 inches

oil on canvas

Tree Art

 

 

Notes From My Tree Painting Journal

 

 

I've been busily painting trees this year. I traveled to St Simons and Jekyll Islands to explore recently and found some spectacular Cedar and Live Oak trees to paint. Jekyll Island was particularly fruitful with many walking trails full of fine trees.

 

 

The Fair oaks trees have been wearing their spring prom dresses in the last few weeks. I can clearly see the transition from winter to spring and now spring to summer. it all happens in about 4 weeks, like a blur.

 

Winged Victory

Live Oak

8x10 inches

oil on linen





 

I'll be teaching a couple of workshops in the fall, one in Evinston, FL at Fair Oaks and the other at St Simons Island, The Fair Oaks Tree workshop is almost full. I think there are 3 spaces left. The St Simons workshop has about 10 spaces left. This summer I will work on the workshops, putting the assignments and workbooks together for my students. There is no subject I love more to teach.

 

Some Tree Work

Shepherd

20x24

oil on canvas

Field Three

20x24

oil on canvas

Spring Light

En Plein Air

8x10 inches

oil on linen

 

Notes From My Tree Journal

 

As you can see here, I have been doing a lot of tree work this year. I have been focused on Live Oaks for a couple of months now. Last year I did a lot of pines. I rotate through the trees I like a lot. I'd like to work on some Sycamore trees this year, as they are so pretty. I have also been painting some cabbage palms again after taking time away from them last year. I think I improve my painting skills by sort of taking breaks from a kind of tree for awhile and then rotating them back into my portfolio again. Trees are very difficult to paint well and there seems to be a lot of painters who treat them generically, as if they are all the same. Serious tree painters know that they have to be painted with thought and care and with knowledge, so study is all important to me. I want to master the art of tree painting someday, so I must continue to work hard.