I've always loved February. The trees, with their wondrous forms still bare of foliage, seem to lift their branches in anticipation of the surging life of Spring.
The above painting, sold a few years ago, was composed looking up from the woodland in the University of Durham Botanic Garden. The tree-roots ripple along the grassy bank and the light snowfall is similar to ours earlier this week.
I painted it on tinted Ingres paper, using ink, watercolour and white gouache, a technique I find particularly expressive for sylvan scenery.
Above is another painting on Ingres paper, painted at the same time as the previous image. The group of conifers, also in the Botanic Garden, seem to be drawing together to gaze at the February moon and waiting ...
I love this group of trees so much that I decided to paint the image again, this time on a larger scale using acrylic on canvas. This painting is not quite finished - I often like to 'rest' a piece of artwork, to contemplate it for a while before completion.
Ingrid Sylvestre - Durham Artist
8 comments:
The three are beautyful, but I especially love your first one, I like the way you frame the picture and the night but lightly mood, the way makes everything clear. I find it very poetic!
Thank you Malyss! The Botanic Garden does inspire a kind of poetic mood, so I'm pleased that you see that in the painting!
PS:The music on my blog is from Diana Krall, "Only trust your heart"
Thanks Malyss - I thought it might be her, she has such a wonderful voice!
I like how the trees are reaching toward the moon!
It is fascinating how the different techniques brings forth different aspects of the same subject. I hope that when you are finished with the last painting you will again show them both together.
For some reason, the first one made me think of J.R.R. Tolkien :-)
PS Malyss has an excellent taste in music :-)
Monica, it does really feel as if the trees are reaching for the moon when one is among them in the Botanic Garden! They have such strong presences.
RuneE, I will try and remember to show them both together when finished! I'd also love to paint another painting of them in the summer, with the different colours and atmosphere.
Tolkien had a tremendous influence on the way I see landscape, especially trees & woods. I'm really glad if this is reflected in my work!
PS I've been listening to more of Diana Krall on YouTube since hearing the track on Malyss's blog - such a wonderful voice!
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