Here is another experiment with the oak branches as a subject using “hard” collage, as opposed to soft quilting techniques...there are so many possible options it’s pretty amazing. Below is the reference photo, taken on Big Talbot Island in north Florida:
The spiraling branches are what caught my eye in the park and inspired this piece. The large broken off branch in the lower right didn’t seem to add anything, so I left it out of the composition.
I’m not crazy about the texture of canvas, so some torn pieces of handmade paper were collaged onto the bare canvas to cover some of it. I sketched in the branches using watercolor pencils and painted in the basic structure with Golden OPEN acrylics. They’re nice to work with because they don’t dry on the palette/canvas as quickly as regular acrylics.
Blues, greens, and turquoises were painted on fairly quickly, just to cover up the white ground, primarily. Fortunately, I was liking it already, always a huge relief. Many, many pieces of torn paper and words ripped out of a defunct old book were added. The word “cathedral” in all caps (seen at the center bottom) inspired the name of this piece.
The words form a poem that can change, depending on the order in which you read them...
Cathedral
quiet woodlands
branches spreading to the sky
ageless strength
peace and restful calm
priceless beauty
cathedral
9 comments:
Gorgeous and CLEVER!!!!
Beautiful -- I love the poem too.
Great color combination and I do love the spiraling effect. We have so many oak trees here and I was reflecting on the photos that I have similar to this one. Always a great idea to look up when walking:)
Just wonderful Loreen. You definitely captured the soaring branches.
This is just fabulous, Loreen -- what a great eye you have for collage.
Diane
These trees are so interesting to me. After the last painting I did with acrylic (mostly Golden), I'm putting together a paint box, so I can take my paints outside and try something inspired by a landscape.
I love the way you've incorporated fabric and words into the images -- both great loves of mine. Very inspiring and lovely!
Loreen, thanks for complimenting on my blog and I look forward to meeting you in the workshop. I cannot believe that you have not emailed me or contacted me before now! :) Your gnarly tree is fantastic!
Many thanks, everyone! I have one more oak tree in the works, then the pine trees are calling...
That's a fantastic shot of the tree! I love them and they always appear to me to be 'deceptively easy' to quilt but are quite the opposite. You've nailed it!
Post a Comment