Tuesday 14 March 2017

Razzle Dazzle, Trees in a Landscape

Razzle Dazzle 
36" x 36" -  acrylic on canvas - SOLD
Continuing with theme and variation, some more 'trees in a landscape'! 
This painting evolved as follows...




.......and finally, it received an Honourable Mention in the Community Juried Exhibition at the Longboat Key Centre for the Arts (Florida) on view from March 4-30. 





Monday 6 March 2017

Tree'scape

Tree'scape
36" x 48" - acrylic on canvas
I know I have said (written) this before - that one of my favourite subjects to paint is 'trees in a landscape'. Yes, the basic landscape composition. I have usually been inspired by a particular image based on a photo taken at a particular place, and then, initially, try to interpret the scene in a fairly representative (though expressive) manner. 

While painting, however, alternative interpretations or ways to reduce and further abstract the composition suggest themselves and that leads to variations on the theme. Tree'scape was inspired by the photograph (photoshopped below) I took at my cottage last October. 
The first painting on which it was based is this one, started last December. It went through several drafts, and then I stopped, as it didn't feel like 'me'. But, I began to see other possibilities, and had a large canvas........



         
This was stage 1......

and then stage 2......
and finally the finished work with lots of texture created through using a palette knife. 
I am really happy with the final painting, and love the palette and textural quality of the trees. If some areas look a little 'fuzzy' in the larger photo, it's because those areas of the painting are not as defined.
And of course it has led to another painting which I will post next day!






Saturday 4 March 2017

Drew, the English Springer Spaniel

Drew
12" x 12" - acrylic on canvas - sold
This is a Drew, the second of two English Springer Spaniels owned by friends. As I had painted Emmy Lou several years ago, it was necessary to have a companion portrait of this little fellow, and here he is in all his colourful glory.