Medium/Support/Size
I used a sheet of A4 (29 x 21cm) canvas. I started with a watercolour wash to establish (roughly) sky, horizon and foreground. Then I used acrylics for the tree and detailing.
I resisted the urge to copy the tree - I wanted to produce a much freer interpretation than usual - I know I'm prone to getting tied down in tiny details in a project like this.
Acrylics were ideal for achieving layers of colour and glazes - and being a bit impatient, their fast-drying qualities suited me!
My Thoughts About This Challenge
I wanted to get a feel for the spirit of the tree and landscape rather than try to reproduce them. The location felt like a vast area with a few trees and little sign of humans. That was the atmosphere I hoped to get.
I enjoyed the freedom of expression I allowed myself and now feel more confident to 'go for it' without the need to sketch out and measure size and shape so much as I usually do. I'm not sure the painting is finished - but then, I rarely am!
Tips and Tricks
- I'm quite pleased with the finished painting though I would like to achieve more depth and variation of colour.
- I'm still unsure about my decision to have the tree going off the page on three sides.
- Are the dark colours I used on the trunk too dark?
- I like the feeling of movement and energy in the trunk as it stretches towards the light (or away from the prevailing wind perhaps).
