Live Oak

Lately I’ve had a few too many irons in the fire, and haven’t given myself permission to draw or paint much. After receiving an invitation to join Kate’s new nature blog, a part of me decided that posting some older work was quite acceptable. Another part of me took myself outside and just started to paint! So today I hope you enjoy sharing this oak with me.

Here in southwest Florida our spring is subtle but still quite tangible. As I was painting this upper branch, a red-headed woodpecker flitted in the canopy as a nearby gray squirrel scolded me and skittered in the dry leaf litter below. Blue jays performed their little hopping dance; warblers and mockingbirds sang their hearts out. The sun danced through the oak leaves, weaving a carpet of dappled shade. It’s warm, but breezy and dry.

I found a few remnants of acorns to draw; it was a minor crop this year compared to the year before. New leaves are vibrantly green, turning to olive as they mature; they are leathery and tough, designed to survive our spring droughts and the intense summer sun. The waxy upper surface and the curled-under leaf margins help this massive tree conserve water. The delightfully corrugated bark is a lovely combination of cool browns and grays, supporting ferns, lichens, mosses, and air plants.

What a wonderful reconnection for me! Thanks, Kate, for the invitation and the inspiration!

~ Elizabeth

After Glow

Dear Friends let me first say Happy Easter! It's a great day to me. I wanted to share this wonderful group of sunflowers with you because of them glowing with excitement after basking all day in Gods created sun. These were in my garden last summer along with my million Iris and Rudebeckias. Gosh I love flowers so much but these have a special place in my heart. To watch the sun flower physically move as the sun goes across the sky is a miracle in itself.
It was a nice evening so I proceeded to paint. Crickets were going and lightening bugs all over and here was this glow as such like my indiglo watch dial. I couldn't believe it at first but there it was, but only for a time. I had to wait til the following evening to make sure I wasn't imagining but even if I was I knew it was going to be captured on paper.
I used a wet into wet method to begin and painted around my subjects here and there. As the drying takes place I keep adding paint as the painting tells me to. Yes it speaks to me friends and will do the same to you if you listen. Negative and positive painting were used and of course I used my artistic licensing. After thoroughly drying I added the accents as needed.
Yes, again another healing treatment for me and most of all to remember the experience every time I see the piece. We all know that not everyone is going to like our style or interpretation etc. but that is not our goal unless it is a commission piece. So I look upon it as one of my kids and say WOW you're great no matter what. Something that only possibly the artist/creator can say. Happy painting and give me your comments and questions. Ricky Holtman