Friday, August 22, 2008

Minoan Priestess Poppy Pod Earrings



Finished a lovely, delicate dangle pair of earrings with sterling silver components and semi-precious gemstone beads. They feature two hand painted poppy flower pods; an authentic ancient design! They have been sealed with clear environmentally friendly varnish, but are a real, natural plant material. Quality sterling ear wires, and spiral wire drops hang with pale green/blue-green Amazonite gemstone beads (Grade B) and dark Czech Glass fire polished beads. Free rubber stoppers included to insure the earrings stay put. Unique, mystical design fit for an Atlantean priestess or Pagan princess alike! The blue green pods of the purple poppy were carefully dried, cleaned, and painstakingly hand painted for an oxidized copper effect. The paints have a mild metallic sheen, and were dry brushed on, returning the pod to a vibrant life like color scheme.
Check store link for availability.

*Original art images ©Tree Pruitt, unless otherwise indicated. Contact the artist prior to ANY use or for purchase information.

Monday, August 18, 2008

Painted Hand Drum Soon Minoan Dolphin

Minoan culture was a Bronze Age civilization in the basin of the Aegean Sea that some believe to be the origins of the myths of Atlantis. The Atlantean connection may indeed hold some truth due to the many technological benefits the society enjoyed and the relatively peaceful existence they encouraged. Developed on Crete in the 2ND millennium B.C., it is thought that the Minoan empire coordinated and defended bronze-age trade over a large area. Despite the powerful influence of surrounding artistic cultures such as Egypt, the Minoans developed their own highly distinctive styles. Minoan, and later Mycenaean, art is notable for its struggle between stylized and naturalistic motifs; However the colorful, near three-dimensional, natural style originated on the island of Crete. The famous frescoes found there are dynamic, fluid art filled with expressions of nature and daily life.

One of the most famous of motifs chosen by the Cretians was the dolphin. Just as those crafts-persons of the past painted motifs formed and curved to suit the shapes of vessels, I have done with the dolphin design on my new Minoan hand drum. I've hand painted many different types of objects using the dolphin frescoes as reference, but each piece is unique. The dolphin jumping upon this professionally made Remo drum was hand drawn without the use of a pattern or template -- only visual references and the guidance of fun.



It's the same type of drum I've painted unique, free hand designs on before; a Remo hand held frame drum. The Frame drum originated in the Middle East and is among the oldest of drum types. Frame drums can be played using the traditional style of striking with fingers, held with one hand and played with a soft mallet, or straddled between the knees like a bongo drum. Whether you are a professional drummer or just want to have fun at a drum circle with family or friends, the Remo frame drum will meet your highest expectations for sound quality and durability.

A finished example, Celestial Sol Luna (Sun Moon) drum
The Minoan Dolphin Drum is nearly ready. Though the acrylic paint is durable and long lasting, I've protected the artwork with an art fixative. Neither the fixative nor the paint adversely effect the lovely tones of the drum. I'm sure it will please the owner both as a music instrument and inspirational wall art for unique Mediterranean home decor.

*Original art images ©Tree Pruitt, unless otherwise indicated. Contact the artist prior to ANY use or for purchase information.

Wednesday, August 13, 2008

Harbor Path Painting


Harbor Path
Originally uploaded by Artist-Tree


2008 Fresh off of my easel...
16" x 20" x 1-3/8" acrylic paint on gallery wrapped canvas -- painted on the edges.
Painted from memory is this stormy landscape meeting the water. It portrays a walk along Grays Harbor, literally behind Hoquiam, Washington. A compacted version of wild Rennie Island rests in the background. The path leads towards the Hoquiam estuary where an annual bird migration offers the Grays Harbor Shorebird Festival. Also very near is Bowerman Airport. Bowerman Field is coastal Washington's only jet-capable airport. Bowerman is a destination for thousands of air travelers and visitors alike.

I began the painting with a thick blank canvas. Eager to get my brushes moving, and with only a strong mental image in mind of my former home, I sketched a scene out with an orange Conte pastel. Then dipping a brush into Transparent White and Neutral Grey (Value 5) paints I workeded the pastel in with the acrylics to fade and bind the drawing to the canvas. Some of the original orange color can be seen in the background horizon, and it adds a touch of warmth all over. I challenged myself to use new colors and move quickly to stay with the mental picture of a place I once knew so well.
Here's a list of those colors used ...
  • Orange Conte Pastel
  • Transparent White
  • Titanium White
  • Neutral Grey
  • Unbleached Titanium
  • Transparent Raw Umber
  • Parchment
  • Raw Sienna
  • Prussian Blue
  • Mars Black
Below are side views of the painting in natural light.




Copyright 2008, Tree Pruitt, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

The Road to Aberdeen


The Road to Aberdeen by Tree Pruitt
The Road to Aberdeen

Originally uploaded by Artist-Tree
I'm getting to be more active at a site called Flicker, for sharing images. I found some great groups there, and especially groups on the topic of my former home -- the Pacific Northwest. I love the rain. So here's in an older painting of mine I've recently shared at Flicker. It is in the style of Post Impressionism, with fat juicy paint strokes in vivid Da Vinci brand oil paints, which are excellent for capturing the high key light of the moister places in Washington.
The earth and sky shake hands on the horizon, in the Olympic National Rainforest area. Travel on towards Aberdeen - where rivers meet. Towering trees hug the roadway in this Western Washington State scene. Pacific Northwest, Grays Harbor area.


The Road to Aberdeen; 16" x 20" x 3/4" original oil painting on canvas by Tree Pruitt.

Tuesday, August 12, 2008

Teddy Bear Original Hand Sewn Doll

Had a little fun ... I hadn't made a stuffed animal in years and the urge to sew overcame me a little while ago. So, I drew the pattern, cut the fabric, sewed it all together by hand and then stuffed with a little polyfil and dried lentil for a floppy feel. He sits well for display with that fat tummy. A little guy, at only about 4" high or so when sitting. All original design, each unique!
He'll be available for purchase soon.

Sunday, August 10, 2008

Isaac Hayes; The Shaft, the Chef & a King

~ 1942-2008 ~


Isaac Hayes, a fellow BMI member, has always been a favorite entertainer of mine, as well as a person I admired with great respect. Entertainment legend Isaac Hayes has died at the age of 65. It may not have been a tragic accident that took the life of the latest celeb to cross over, but it was indeed a tragedy.


Having reached near Pop Culture deity status from his success with works such as Hot Buttered Soul and The Shaft movie soundtrack, Isaac Hayes was a soul singer, songwriter, musician and producer for over forty years in America. He was a key player in the birth of 1960's Southern Soul music, and gave us now classic songs such as Soul Man. Hayes' deep sexy voice later became THE sound of "gettin' it on", and only Barry White may have been more well known for putting the groove in smooth seduction.



In 1997 Isaac Hayes became the voice of beloved "South Park" character, Jerome "Chef" McElroy. Chef handed out lunch trays at South Park Elementary School, and had befriended the group of children who are the main characters on the show. Chef dished up more than food though, offering wisdom through song, served with a side of sex; a flash back, not throw back, of the open lifestyle of the 1970's. The character went a little like this ... create a stereotype of a white dude, then picture what that white dudes stereotypical imagining of a hip black guy would be and there's Chef! Isaac Hayes was good natured about playing the role, for the most part, though it often times seemed to be a parody of himself. Eventually his patience ran out when his Scientologist views clashed with the show. In 2005 South Park created a thinly disguised satire of Scientologists in its 10th season premiere on Comedy Central. Hayes left the show and continued with his work in other areas of his life.

A lesser known fact about Hayes is that he was also true 'resident royalty' for more than a decade. He was an actual coronated King! In the western Africa Ada coastal district of Ghana he was a member of the Royal Family. According to the Official Isaac Hayes website a http://www.isaachayes.com/ "instead of a palace, he built an 8,000 square foot educational facility through his Isaac Hayes Foundation (IHF). He is most certainly the only King on earth with an Oscar, Grammy awards"!


In addition to his music and television careers, Isaac Hayes was also well known for his concern with literacy. He and Lisa Marie Presley, a lifelong friend and fellow Scientologist, established a mission for the Central Library in Memphis in their hometown of Memphis. The mission now houses a LEAP center (Learning Education Ability Program), "for kids after school to learn how to study, to learn how to read and write." The IHF continues to partner with other nonprofit organizations to support global causes that serve community needs, actively promoting celebrity benefit concerts (like the Jam For Literacy at the House Of Blues in Los Angeles), Literacy Links 2000 (a middle school program in Memphis), and the Crusaders, a volunteer team of exhibition basketball players from all over the country who put on benefit shows for various causes.


In the spring 2003, one year after his induction into the Rock and Roll Hall Of Fame Isaac Hayes made a celebrated move back to his birthplace in Tennessee, where his body was found laying on the floor next to a treadmill five years later... today. A man may not do all that he is able to do within his lifetime, but a man who does all that he can with the life he is given graces us with his efforts.


-- artist Tree

*Photograph credits unknown.

Friday, August 8, 2008

Seahorse ACEO

I've broken the ice and made my first ACEO! Giving myself a little play time the other night, I thought of the monthly WWAO challenge. I'm currently a member of Worldwide Women Artists Online, which is an international collective of women artists showing & selling our original art through the worldwide web. Each month, group leaders pose a topic or subject for each artist to challenge herself with in her chosen media. It's a casual event, shown privately within the group, so it's an excellent opportunity to test yourself with something new.
The theme of the August Challenge is "Nautical". Having lived near the ocean for most of my life, I'm excited that a favorite topic came up.
So with my thoughts drifting towards ocean memories, I began to admire my curio collection. I've a small hoard of flotsam and jetsam gathered over the years. Sitting out on a studio table was a dried little seahorse I'd collected after a Florida storm when I was a child. In between artistic work times in the studio I'm moving my collections into specimen mount display cases. The seahorse was awaiting its new home, but at that moment the shapes begged for exploration. I grabbed a specimen hang tag, a pencil, and doodled out a drawing in play. Sitting back to check out the final line, I liked what I saw. Thinking that it was too cute to tuck away in a drawer, I pulled out my basket of collage supplies.
I got out a stack of papers and quickly selected a few, because I knew what colors I wanted right away. It was GOOD to get back to collage! Sadly, the project was over far too soon, so I'll have to do another right away, ha! The bottom of the tag, where the drawing sets, was perfect to cut off and add to the center of the tag. By doing so, it created a hang tag in the ACEO size!
It simply hadn't occurred to me before to make an ACEO. I often paint small when working one of my Spiritkeepers Stones, though an animal on a pebble is different from a full scene in a mini canvas space; the smallest Spiritkeepers Stone to date is a 1/4" tall baby penguin! I suppose I knew how perfectly addictive the world of the ACEO could become. Look out for more to come because ACEO's are fun!




*Original art images ©Tree Pruitt, unless otherwise indicated. Contact the artist prior to ANY use or for purchase information.