Trees
8x6in oil on canvas panel $125.
Click HERE to purchase
Painted from a photo I took in Colorado
a few years ago.
Artist Note
I felt like using some
spring green color with a palette knife.
My green mixtures were made from
Hansa Yellow - Turquoise - a touch of light pink.
Naples or Yellow Ochre and Ultramarine Blue Deep
I mix my deep U Blue with a bit of white to bring it up to
the same value as the yellow ochre before mixing together.
Green has always been a difficult color for me
so I did a lot of exercises to try to learn to control it.
The one thing I found important was to have
a little pile of pink mixed from
any Rose or Permanent Alizarin,
in three values - light/med/dark - to add
to the matching value mixture needed.
Talking of trees...
One of our sons has started to make these
wonderful trees as a hobby.
He has always been a creative thinker
enjoying unique skills at problem solving.
We are now also very proud of his artistic talent.
I took these photos showing them in the gallery
Hi Julie. Your greens are beautiful as is the painting. I also use some red in my greens. The range of greens that we all use is so great. They are a continual learning experience.
ReplyDeleteThanks Helen - lucky you! I did not have as much success with the red as the pink. I could not seem to keep some lovely color when mixing a complement. It would gray it out too much for my taste. Much better with the pink in the correct value. BUT I have noticed how lovely your greens are. See how it all works with each of us?
DeleteThe trees are fascinating and sure to be a hit. Early spring greens are difficult for me to paint. Thanks for the advice.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the visit, Sue. I have seen hw good you are with green and hope you will soon have a blog I can link to.
DeleteHi Julie,
ReplyDeleteVery wonderful spring green colours and very interesting the use of palette knife !!!
Have a nice and creative week !!!
And you have one too. I like your new painting. I was in Nicosia many, many years ago. Beautiful.
DeleteGorgeous color combinations Julie! I also like to add some red in my greens, I'm happy to know you do the same.
ReplyDeleteYour sons artwork is so fine and unique! It is beautiful to see a family work along side each other.
I love your watercolors Celia and your colors are always gorgeous. Thanks for liking Jason's work.
DeleteOh I do love trees and both yours and Jason's are beautiful! I was surprised to see all the colors that go into making your greens but your time tested mixes are perfect, Julie.
ReplyDeleteHi and thanks, Sherry. Glad to hear your friends have been generous with the March of Dimes.
DeleteThat touch of red makes perfect sense. You could get some really crazy greens that were very dominant very quickly. And I have a very hard time with greens also-it almost seems like the possibilities for nuances are endless.
ReplyDeleteYour son's trees are beautiful-graceful, elegant and natural all at once. Please tell him for me that they are just wonderful!
Hi Libby - I do want to say that it is PINK which works for me, not red. Easy to read wrong when our minds say the compliment of green is red. I found pink did not gray down the green too much.
DeleteThanks for liking Jason's tree. I placed a nest in one of them and loved the way it looked.
I thought your practice pieces were wonderful. Looking forward to seeing the finished paintings.
So many artists struggle with green. I know ultra is traditionally used for mixing, but I find it particularly difficult to handle. I like your idea of adjusting the value before mixing and I can see how it has benefitted the paler green in your trees. I love the depth you've managed to create with clever composition and delicate value adjustment.
ReplyDeleteI drop in occasionally and watch happy Bob Ross who spent his life demonstrating landscapes. His go tos were Sap Green modified with Alizarin Crimson, some yellow and limited white. I don't recall him using blue except phalo for the sky. I've never followed his style because I'm primarily an acrylic painter, but I do pick up some good tips on mixing which I reckon he was better at than painting. But then he was trying to paint fast and on camera.
I also recently copied a Cezanne for my Mini Master Series and was surprised at how much fleshy pink he used along with sage and what appears to be ultra. Van Gogh of course loved his Cobalt and Ochre with Naples and Cadmium.
In my recent painting PONDEROSA, I found light permanent blue and brilliant blue, both phalo based, very useful for painting the bluish tone of the pine. Next I have a gallery request for a Willow with it's lush sappy yellows which require cadmium and warm sap green balanced in the shade with purple tones.
I've often thought of doing a tree series trying different mixes with different species. It would be quite a challenge.
Love Jason's trees.
What a fabulous comment. Thanks for passing on all the info. I have to be honest and tell you that I strongly dislike sap green. I wondered why everyones greens looked the same at a show I went to and found all of them used sap green. Unless they used a permanent sap then it is a very fugitive color. Same as Alizarin. I make sure I only use the Permanent one.
DeleteThe good thing about sap is it is transparent and mixed with transparent brown or blue makes a great undercoat color for trees.
I looked for Ponderosa but could not find it. Show me the way please.
Hi Julie, Lovely and your son's trees are wonderful as well. I find it interesting that he has an affinity for trees in his work and you have one for bird's nests!
ReplyDeleteHow absolutely hilarious - we never put that one together . I have placed a nest in one of the trees though and love it.
DeleteCongratulations on all the exciting things going on in your art life at the moment. A double WOW!
Oh my Julie - your son has certainly inherited your artistic ability. The trees are simply gorgeous. I am sure you are quite proud of his work.
ReplyDeleteYour greens in this painting are lovely. It looks like you would never struggle with the color green. There is a wonderful depth too that you have captured within the shadows...simply lovely as always my dear friend. Have a great day.
Hello and thanks, talented Debbie.
DeleteStruggle? I struggle every day and wonder if it is ever going to get easier. Seems a case of - the more you know the harder it gets.
Your sketchbook paintings are really beautiful and so are the photos you take.
Your mixture is very appealing, Julie, and works so well. Green has always been a difficult color for me, too. I will remember the advice about the pinks and matching values.
ReplyDeleteYour son's trees are exciting! It figures that a Mom who paints nests would have a son who creates trees! I love their twisted shapes - like a lot of trees I've seen. They really capture one's attention, and with light shining on them you get a whole other dimension with the shadows. These would be a show piece in a room!
YOU - green difficult?! I consider YOU a master of greens. Your succulent painting was a dream of green
DeleteYour painting is beautiful, Julie...as always!!!.....and your son Jason's work is absolutely amazing and so impressive! It looked wonderful when I zoomed on it... I hope he continues his unique work!!!
ReplyDeleteThanks Hilda. It is only a hobby but I am so pleased he is finding talents he didn't know he had.
DeleteYour Rembrandt copy is truly amazing. In pastels no less. What skill.
Such a visual delight - so much to see in this painting and the greens are wonderful. I like your idea of the mixed pinks ready to add to the greens - it makes perfect sense. And Jason's trees are really wonderful - I have no doubt they will be a great success in the gallery!
ReplyDeleteHi Susan. Thanks for the neat comment.
DeleteLOVED the post with your trip to Washington DC and Phillips Collection. Fab!
Dear Julie, these beautiful wire bonsai have the advantage of being immortal!
ReplyDeleteThe note is not mine but my husband who immediately saw the practical side of what ...Bonsai are beautiful but very difficult to manage.
The beautiful tree structures created with true art from your son Jason are a natural marvel as the bonsai landscapes with many elements that may evoke woods in a room ... a pleasure for my eyes your painting and woods- forever created by Jason!
LOVE the comparison to the bonsai. How true!
DeleteI enjoyed seeing the photo's of the magnificent place you are having the exhibit and will look forward to hearing how it went.
Julie, thanks for the green mixing tips-- I always find greens challenging. Love your paintings and your son's sculptures-- truly a creative family!
ReplyDeleteThanks Susan. Love your new painting. Wow - fabulous color!
DeleteI saw this painting and the first word I heard in my thoughts was "gorgeous!" Love this piece!
ReplyDeleteHi sam - thank you and glad you visited.
DeleteI went to your blog and saw your pastel and can return the complement.
I never thought of using pin to mix in the greens , thanks for the tip ! Outstanding painting as always and really like the trees your son create , very special and unique. No denying creativity runs in the family !
ReplyDeleteI love your fruit still life, Jane. Lots of texture and great color.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the lovely comment.
it is fun to read about your green mixtures. I will try that--! Your painting is wonderful. I also love your son's trees. I bet those are popular with collectors!
ReplyDeleteI agree that greens can be difficult. You've handled this so well, however. I LOVE that texture!
ReplyDeleteYour painting is beautiful...and what great info for painting greens! There is so much green in our area, and it is so difficult to paint. I'm eager to try your technique for mixing.
ReplyDeleteThe tree sculptures are quite beautiful - it looks like your son is following in your artistic footsteps!
Such beautiful depth and texture in this painting Julie - you have done justice to your subject matter. I also love your son's beautiful creations and wish him every success with them. It's always so nice to see the artistic gene being inherited by the next generation!
ReplyDeleteI REALLY love your apple blossom painting too - and your bird's nest. I hadn't realised how much I'd missed since my last visit to your blog! Everything you touch turns to gold Julie - you are an inspiration!!