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Sunday, May 22, 2005

Tree: EDMWC


The weekly challenge for the Everyday Matters group this week was to draw a tree. Now, I live in East Tennessee, probably one of the greenest places in the country, and have upwards of 30+ very tall hardwood trees in my yard alone. Still, I couldn't find a tree to draw! It was a matter of not being able to see the trees for the forest, if you know what I mean. Today we went out on the boat and I brought my handy little sketchbook along, thinking I could sketch a nice tree or two while DH did some fishing, but found that every time we settled to one spot the wind or current would move us long before I finished any drawing. Sigh. Oh well. I did this little postcard watercolor last night from a photo in a book, so I guess it will have to count! I tried to work fast and wet, as the experts almost always say to do, and muddled it up a bit. The little dirt road on the left isn't TOO bad, but the mess on the right is supposed to be a creek ... use your imagination, people! Posted by Hello

14 comments:

Anonymous said...

Linda, I love this! I think you captured a beautiful May day just perfectly. And as for the watercolor experts, I say to heck with them. I take their rules and proscriptions with several cups of salt myself. My training and most of my experience have been in oils, so I can paint away, blissfully unaware or uncaring that I'm doing it 'wrong' when I use watercolors. I am really enjoying seeing your recent entries.

Jim Bumgarner said...

This is beautiful! I love the loose, wet on wet, and the main reason I love it is that I CAN'T DO IT, very well. This is really lovely and I think you shouldn't be like me and point out what you think are weak spots. I like painting just as well without knowing there's a road or a creek.

annie said...

I like it too! I am envious of your ability to draw and do watercolors! You know, if we were long lost sisters, I'd be so mad at you for getting all the artistic talent! (BTW, I figured out to get a picture in my blog header--check it our! I'll tell you how I did it if you want to know.)

annie said...

I meant, check it out!

Julie Durocher said...

Linda - this is a gorgeous watercolor. I just love it. You really do well with them. Thanks for sharing.

Anonymous said...

What a great painting. I just want to walk right into that forest.

Shelly McC said...

This is a gorgeous watercolour. I love the feel of it. It makes me want to go for a walk in the forest. Lovely.

Kathleen Pequignot said...

Linda,

This is wonderful. Congrats on a fine watercolor scene!

Anonymous said...

This is lovely. I think I see Opie coming along that path by the creek. I think Art is meant to do just that - spur the emotions of the viewer and make them think of other things, other places. I always get that feeling when I look at your watercolors. Your work and Jim's just make me imagine things.

Jim Bumgarner said...

Well, thank you, Janey!!

Chuck Rose said...

Sweet! It is so loose yet still describes the scene perfectly. Nice job. The only point I would make ( and it's nit-picky) is the composition. The tree splits the image just about down the center. If it were moved over to the left a bit, it would have a lot more energy. But great job!

Linda said...

Thanks for all the very kind comments, you guys! Laura, sometimes I agree - to heck with them -- other times I hang onto the experts' every word. Jim, you do nice loose work -- I don't know what you're talking about! Annie -- I stopped by and left a note. Julie, Karen, Shelly, & Kathleen -- thanks for coming by so often -- I enjoy your work, too! Janey, I love the idea of Opie on that road! Chuck -- I agree -- the tree right in the middle is a compositional no-no. I probably would have noticed it if I'd sketched it out first, but then again, maybe not!:-)

Chuck Rose said...

Like I said, I was nit-picking. (sp?)It's beautiful.

I just applied to join the Everyday Matters group. You guys all seem to be on it. I really like everyone's work so I thought it would be helpful in getting back to my studio more often. How does it work? Do you get assignment on certain subject matters and then a limited time to complete a drawing or sketch?

Chuck Rose said...

I have to change this self-portrait profile picture. I'm really not this scary looking. :-)