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.

Share

Rusty Old Sign

Managed to get out for an inspirational walk a few days ago and snapped a few photos. I'm fond of the rusted old lettering on this sign. I also like the quirky division of space in this photograph with that misty blue sky against the rough red bricks.

Digital photograph of a rusted sign on an old brick building in town (Kokomo, Indiana).
See a larger image and prints of this image that are available at my deviantArt Gallery...
 Old Building: Shipping and Receiving, by Tree Pruitt 2012

 

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

Share

Rainforest Inspired

This month has featured numerous days of rain in my area. My houseplants are loving the soft light and the art studio is nicely cooled. So far, no hot Indian Summer like I'd expected, but enough rainy days in a row to make me think back to when I lived in Washington state. Here are two bits of art, a painting and a poem, that were inspired by the misty Pacific Northwest rainforest.

~ My Eye Will Not Forget ~

Blurred vision of a distant horizon --
Cedar rhythms dance my eye --
American rainforest a-drip with neon green.
Rivers run my pulse.
Sunset explosion of fiery, bright orange --
Solid color fills the sky,
As if upon another world!
The trees come down to kiss the shore
Where Pacific waves have their way.
Red forest trails --
My eye is filled with wonder!
Water hovers in the air.
Faces look from shapes in trees;
Primordial magic!
Moss beds and alder swamps,
Blue mountains hold a burning secret.
My eye will not forget.

©Tree Pruitt

Artwork shown, "The Road to Aberdeen", oil on canvas painting by Tree.
*See a previous post about this piece, here.

  

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

Share

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

Share

The Road to Aberdeen



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.

Share