Falling Together

It's been a stressful past couple of years, to say the least, but my art survives the artist folly, and I am regenerating. There'd been a terribly complicated matter that led to the loss of my inventory catalog of paintings... and most ALL of my collection of actual unsold paintings ... my personal collection. Many where rescued by the general public from tragic fate by those who just happened to see art that they liked -- that is the biggest honor an artist can receive, and I am thankful to those people!! Some works of my art have sadly met fates unknown to me still. What can I say now other than the modern phrase that "*it happens"; Floods and financial disaster have plagued many an artist in the past and they still persevered through the trauma -- as I intend to do. Not that I equate myself with a Master by any means, but Picasso said something to the effect that once an artwork leaves the artists' studio it has a life of its own -- independent of the creator whether sought or sold. May my creations life well! 

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Pink Japanese Magnolia Tree in Bloom

Rather than "on" my easel this canvas has just come off of my easel... "Pink Japanese Magnolia Tree in Bloom" is a water-colour pencil painting on canvas of a very large old tree that I'm blessed to share space with in this life. I really enjoyed drawing the tree onto the canvas and moving the flow of water from my paint brushes to enhance the forms! I look forward to the possibility of painting another version of this tree in (albeit exaggerated color) full bloom, as I've enjoyed observing it's growth over a few years now -- a twinkle in its growth span! Due to the diameter of this trees sprouting trunks I can only imagine that it must be 100 years or more in age -- an early example of a hybrid species of flowering trees in America! Add in the fact that this tree is left to chances in a semi-urban environment and it is truly an amazing example of survival, beauty, and luck (or Divine intervention). I've enjoyed this tree a great deal, and consider sharing life space with it as one of the high points of my time living in Indiana.

I began with a double primed cotton canvas. The image was drawn free hand with only 3 colors of Faber-Castell Albrecht Durer water-colour pencils -- Walnut Brown, Wine Red, Phthalo Blue -- then very few black accents were added. The background was enhanced with additional Light and Emerald Green pigment pencils with the Walnut Brown. A Burnt Ochre was then added in areas of the tree for highlight shadow. All of the white highlights (darkened here due to photograph lighting) are the white of the canvas showing through. Once dried for several days after painting I sprayed several coats of a fixative over the water-colour pencil paint, then carefully brushed over layers of acrylic varnish to seal the painting to a finish.

At this point the original painting is not for sale because my dear husband has requested that it remain hanging in our home for personal enjoyment... the BEST payment that an artist can hope for is to have a painting enjoyed!


*Original art images ©Tree Pruitt T. E. Pruitt, unless otherwise indicated. Contact the artist prior to ANY use please.

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Brightening the Post-Holiday with Blues

 In the depths of Winters moody darkness it's helpful and fun to find projects to craft that will add a bright spot to your spirit. I decided to craft up a new brightness in our lives by making a glass bead wire mobile. The holiday season this year found our home filled with sparkle, light, and decoration, but after it had passed taking down the ol' Yule tree left us feeling less than festive. Once replaced, the candle holder that usually hangs in the archway where the lit tree had been sitting looked dark and dull. I didn't want us starting a new year with a dull feeling hanging around, so that's where I put the mobile! A slight touch or a breeze will start the beads to movement, catching the light and also moving Chi life energy around. I wrapped some quartz crystals and used blue beads that look like frozen drops of water and captured air; We here are both Fire signs, so the energy of Water should offer a calming balance to us and Air should feed the fire of our creativity. At the bottom of the mobile hangs a faceted heart which not only sparkles nicely but hangs there to represent the desire for our loving energy to continue to effect our environment in positive ways and for that love to grow in the coming year. Over time too the steel wire will likely oxidize a bit changing into a nice warm red, which will certainly cause us to continue to enjoy the piece as well as serving as a reminder that change can be a good thing. Overall it's just a hanging wire mobile, but as with everything handmade it's what it means to the person enjoying it that matters most!

 Now that the excitement of the holiday season has passed don't let your inner artist go hungry... feed it some good energy by crafting up a project that will light up your life in some way that's special to you!

Happy new year to you all! --Tree

 

"Crystal Water" wire mobile by TE Pruitt.



*Original art images ©Tree Pruitt T. E. Pruitt, unless otherwise indicated. Contact the artist prior to ANY use please.

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