I have a painting of a sentinel flowering tree that I’m trying to figure out. The drawing in oil pastel is near the same size as the painting (16 x 20 inches). I’m not sure what color I want for the sky — or even for any of the features. And I’m seeking a way of making the dimensional sense of the tree strong.
The painting (and the drawing) as they stand are focused on the surface whereas I want the tree to emerge from the surrounding vegetation and to look surrounded by the broad surface of other plants, plants growing so thickly as to be like a sea of leaves and flowers.
Neither the drawing nor the painting has this dimensional feature as yet. In the drawing I was trying to figure out the color for the sky and thoroughly neglected the sense of dimensions. Dizzy lines vibrate all over the place. Forms flatten out.
I’m not really sure what I was doing. Sometimes drawing happens as stream of consciousness. I’ll probably work on this drawing some more. Then perhaps turn to the painting again. Or perhaps I’ll make trial of another sheet of paper first. But I can see that to get this feeling I want for the tree, I am going to need to direct my attention exclusively there.
And to have the bushes turn into forms would also be nice. I try to maneuver my thoughts, to aim them. But I don’t know even quite where to aim them until after I have done some drawing first.
