At the most recent Avon Valley Artists meeting the subject was `Trees'. Once again I failed to take my camera so can not show other members paintings. However prior to the meeting I decided to do some tree studies, an attempt to try new things and improve an area of weakness. The first two were painted in my `studio' and the other two at the AVA Thursday session.
This was No.1 - the left hand one based on a photograph
No.2 Again based on a photograph
No.3 from my imagination
No.4 again imaginary
The first was more orthodox as far as the left hand tree is concerned but I varied the colours and let them run together.
The second one was an attempt to achieve a more textural result with spattering and sponges brought into play.
The third study involved the use of very strong colour - which I let run riot - in the trio of trees at the front. There are reds, blues and oranges with the background trees reduced in intensity.
The 4th and final one (for the moment) was purely imaginary using Transparent Orange (Schminke PO71) and Turquoise (Lukas PB16) as strong colourful contrasts in the trunk. The foliage was blues and greens with water first spattered on to give a blurred effect.
I used my normal brushes but included a Rosemary Moongoose fan brush for both foliage and ground in Nos 3 & 4.
None took very long 20 -30 mins, No.1 slightly longer, but the one I like the best, number 4, the least of all at 10 -15 minutes.