When I'd taken the Barnes classes many years ago, Violette de Mazia used the word "effulgent" to describe eleven Van Gogh paintings she'd lined up to make a point about lush and luminous color. I was immediately drawn to these trees for those very sames reasons, on Saturday. (watercolor)
In the afternoon I painted this back-lit beauty, intertwined in an arbor that leads into the formal gardens.
I plan to have accumulated enough paintings done at the Barnes Arboretum in the next few months to have an exhibition at a nearby gallery, in the fall. I'll let you know where and when. (watercolor)
This watercolor is actually the first done this spring, of crocus making their presence known along the path and stream in nearby Merion Park.
And here is the first tree to show color in the park.
I've been wanting to paint this old guy, who continues to arch precariously over the stream, for so many years. I finally did this watercolor of him last week, at mid-day. The light was wonderful.
My daily walk takes me along the stream. I love how the root systems of of trees demand their bit of space in the old stone retaining walls. It all makes for wonderful shapes to paint. For starters, it really is all about the shapes. One of my instructors told me years ago, "Ternay, if you get the "SHAPES" right, then you'll get the "THINGS" right. Words of wisdom I pass on to my students, daily.
Now that warmer weather has finally arrived, I'll once again linger after my Thursday morning class in South Jersey, to paint. So many subjects; too little time.
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