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To live and enjoy every day to its fullest, use my gifts to help others, I travel to wherever passion finds me.

What Will She Paint?

So many friends I met here...!

Wednesday, September 02, 2009

SCRIBBLE/DOODLE WINDOW - from BACKground to FOREground

Would I withhold this week's little SCRIBBLE/DOODLE painting from you, just because a few weeks ago I just did a post about the roots of a tree? I wouldn't do that! On a more serious note, in my teens I did more of these diminutive style paintings, in mixed media. Had not discovered the joy of watercolor yet!

The background of the tree with the big root system (a few posts ago)I now put in the spot light.



At times it is tempting to just "copy" what one sees, without thinking. Especially if a certain method "works." But then I would be on my way to be a copy-er, and my artistic way of thinking would slowly disappear. I rather make mistakes and be on the move, than mass produce!

Topaint this scene in an individual style, I took the following strategy. With my focus on the right tree, I only painted the trunk of the left tree, and left the rest up to the imagination.
The incline of the lawn is somewhat sharper than it is in reality.

I chose for the crown not to be as overpowering as in the pic. Also, I toyed with the idea to give the lawn another color, like red or brown, but that would make it more of an expressionistic painting, and for this one I would like to stay with a more natural style.
Also, I made the "horizon" line of the lawn higher to accentuate the tree even more.

9 x 11 Watercolor, St.Germain

One way of working in watercolor is to dip a sponge loaded with paint and press it on the paper to give the impression of a crown of leaves. Since the size of this painting is so small, I decided to do it the long-hand way, like typing on a type writer instead of the computer. More work, but worth it!

Some Hints for Artists
To make a tree look like a tree instead of a lollipop, keep the boundaries of the trunk and branches angular. With the crown, keep the outer edges wild, irregular and asymmetrical.

The watercolor medium has taught me to think twice, thrice if need be, before I put any brush stroke on paper! Once you make a mistake, it stays there!
I put a little more purple with the ultramarine in the sky by the trunks to give it a mysterious look, which makes it look like it is about to rain. All these little changes keep it from being a dime in a dozen painting of a tree.

32 comments:

Lillie said...

You've made it looked lovely.

SAPhotographs (Joan) said...

Ah, so NOW I knw why my trees looked like lollipops!! :)

I like what you have done with this Jeannette. The slope of the ground upwards in the foreground draws your eye to the tree. Nice!!

Jeannette StG said...

Thank you much, Lillie:)

Jeannette StG said...

Joan,
glad you caught it! (lollipop trees)

I see that your Greek is steadily progressing -now you're talking about "drawing the eye in"...soon I'll ask you to be my agent!!

SAPhotographs (Joan) said...

LOL!! That kind of thing is much the same as photography Jeannette. :)

Irene said...

Well done, Jeannette. After seeing the photo, it was a real surprise to see what you had done with the painting. I like it very much and I love all the color in it. It is very close to an impressionist painting, but more precise and detailed. I think the colors make it so.

Jeannette StG said...

Irene,
Whatever and however I paint, I seem not able to get away from impressionism!
Which is okay with me - I have great respect for the ones at the end of the 1800 who led us into impressionism - at that time is was almost scandalous and one's reputation went haywire, while we do not have anything to lose now!

Jeannette StG said...

Joan, I guess you like to IGNORE the compliment I gave you LOL!

Unknown said...

Love your interpretation of this tree; in fact, I'm very drawn to all of the trees you've painted and posted here!

Dimple said...

This was interesting. I am not a painter, but I do love photography. I see that in choosing your subject you "cropped" the image considerably. I understand that; it can make a bad photo good and a good photo great. Thanks for letting me into your thoughts about your work.

Reader Wil said...

Great idea to use a wet sponge to create a crown with leaves. I think illustrators like Rien Poortvliet did it more often than not. Thank you for the kind comment on my gnomes.

Gary's third pottery blog said...

I am so pleased to see the scene and then your gorgeous painting, wow!

DUTA said...

I like it how you left the crown of the left tree to imagination, and like the purple color added to the trunks. Lovely.

Jeannette StG said...

Jane,
Thank you! Don't know why I'm drawn to paint trees, although I don't consider that my niche.
There has been quite some activity/celebration at your blog lately- I guess you like to organize things for people (of course your job in the past has a similarity there:) ).

Jeannette StG said...

Dimple,
Thank you - it's so true what you are saying - cropping can be tricky!
If I do, it's to get more focus on the subject. I like to tell some things about the process, because that is what I miss with some of my favorite painters' work.

Jeannette StG said...

Dear Wil,
Thank you Wil! Your posts are always so interesting and I'm glad you came to the blogging world to share your interests.

Jeannette StG said...

Hi Gary,
thank you! Still walking in leather? Here you would have been roasted, since the weather has been leaning against a 100 deg.F. lately!

crochet lady said...

Those trees are fabulous. I like your rendering and the color you brought out in the foliage.

Jeannette StG said...

Duta,
Thank you - it's nice when viewers/readers "get" the details!

Jeannette StG said...

Jen,
Thank you! I know my rendering strayed from what it really looks like, but that's the privilege of an artist, eh? :)

Another subject: I'm crocheting my kitchen curtain - I'll show it to you when I'm finished.

Shaista said...

You have made the tree seem ripe with fruits! Red Cherries, purple grapes, all hanging temptingly - waiting to be enjoyed. I wonder if the tree would like its own portrait? I am sure it would :)

Jeannette StG said...

Shaista,
LOL - what an idea! Now if trees could also pay for the self-portraits, I would make it my living!

Gaelyn said...

I like the contrast of the colored leaves with the light barked trunks.

Jeannette StG said...

Gaelyn,
Thank you! Since you are there a good part of the year, I wonder if you have done watercolors or acrylics or pastels of the mountain ridges where the Grand Canyon is so famous for.
Do you know that my relatives in Europe knew of the Grand Canyon, but never heard of Yosemite? So you must get lots of foreign visitors!

SAPhotographs (Joan) said...

LOL!! Thanks for it. :) My Greek is coming along nicely. :)

Jeannette StG said...

Joan,
Now the second language to learn is Dutch. You need to know Dutch if you wannabe my agent:) just kidding...

Eleanor said...

Yes, I am so pleased that you did not just copy. Your creativity has transformed the tree. Lovely!

S said...

I think that you've transformed the scene~! I love the soft effect of watercolour in the foreground - but I have never dared to venture to this medium, for it can be a flop if not done properly :o) Thanks for the advice - I'll surely remember it for the next time I paint a tree.

Jeannette StG said...

Eleanor,
Thank you!
When I read your profile, I saw that you're a university lecturer -are you still doing that? And what subject do you teach?

Jeannette StG said...

Shreddy,
Try it sometime, Shreddy! Who knows you'll love watercolor LOL But in the beginning expect a slow learning curve:)
It's for that reason that you mentioned, that I keep up with watercolor: the soft watery effect.

Robin said...

I love this tree. It looks like it's holding it's very own bouquets.....

Jeannette StG said...

Robin,
What a poetic way of saying this! I love this tree too - thank you!
Thank you for visiting -how did you find my blog?