In this exercise we were asked to focus on a group of trees to look into the different colours and textures of trees grouped together. Using a different material to our preferred one and focusing on the tones and different ways the light shines. We were told to spend at least 2 hours on this piece and I spent just that, I did use a picture on google to complete this as I wasn’t feeling well enough to go outside.
In my piece I decided to look at an autumnal woodland because I thought the colours would be the most striking and I liked the idea of incorporating watercolour to pop the colour out a lot. When doing this piece I found it fascinating to look at all the different colours and focus on the changes throughout each tree. The leaf changes and also the texture throughout all the different trees. In this piece there was also a lake; I found this a really amazing thing to recreate and I loved adding in the trees reflections.
What techniques did you use to distinguish one species of tree from another?
Throughout this piece I used various different techniques, I used the method of blotching my brush along the bottom to get the effect of mud along the lake, I also used different water techniques throughout the trees to get the lightness on the trunks. I also took a fan brush and did quick strides across the water to get a light reflection look across the top. In this picture I looked at the different textures between the trees and could tell the difference in the types of trees. I looked at the mass on the tree compared to the trees in the background so it grew easy to see the different types of trees.
How did you convey the mass of foliage and the spaces between?
When looking between the trees and seeing the different foliage on the trees I looked closely to see where it parted between the colours on the trees. As my picture was the lower part of the trees mainly there wasn’t much foliage to have on the trees yet I looked to see the different blocks of colours throughout and based my art on that.
How did you handle light on the different parts of the tree?
When it comes to the lighting I just looked at the lighter parts on the pictures, when I did that I could envisage where the light from the trees was coming from, I could spot the shadows and where the lighter parks of bark were and where to aim putting the more light tones in my image. I could see the light on the water and see the whiter tons and where to angle my shadows to.
I enjoyed doing this piece as it took me out of my comfort zone with the usual sketching or using pen to do my art. I liked experimenting with different colours and using the water to create different tonal work throughout the piece. If i was to improve this piece any I would do a larger scale to challenge myself a bit more. I would also not sketch out my image before hand, I think I have an old habit of being too nervous to go straight into a piece of art using just paint or watercolours because you can’t erase, but now I’m more skilled within art I’m going to try to take myself out of that comfort zone.
Sophie's OCA Art Work 