I had done this tangled tree, and at the same time did a yellow-orange wash for another tree. It turned out there were two trees and I tangled much of them but again wasn't sure what to do in the background. I had used some white ink which I really didn't like, and more importantly, a moon had appeared in the topmost branches! Into a drawer it went. A few days ago I rediscovered it. In the meantime I'd started using metal leaf on a few pieces and suddenly the moon knew what it wanted. I applied copper leaf to it and it looked good. At some angles it really shines and at other angles it looks somewhat dark or even non-descript.
But there was still the background. I decided it needed more moons (what?!) and the title "Moonrise" popped into my mind so I traced the moon in the tree and applied it four more times at different angles.
Originally the sky was all very pale yellow and orange (like the top right) so a lot of darkening was needed at the bottom. The stark white ink got covered. I added more shading to the trees' tangles and around the second moon in the tree. I also added white pencil to that second moon as the tangles were too dark and prominent.
Patience paid off. I'm quite happy with this piece now, with the copper foil and the extra moons with hints of eye and mouth!
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| MOONRISE (c) 2014 Margaret Bremner 8"x6" mixed media |
Beautiful! :)
ReplyDeleteWow! How beautiful!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful! Sometimes the ones that test our patience are the ones we value the most. This is a stunning piece.
ReplyDeleteGorgeous! Your trees are beautifully done and the moons...just perfect.
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely beautiful...
ReplyDeleteVery pretty. I will often just sketch out a design(usually something abstract) and wait for it to "speak" to me. If it doesn't start talking right away, I put it aside and periodically return to it. I am glad you came back to this piece and had your inspiration with the moons. It turned out really well.
ReplyDeleteYes, sometimes it's amazing what waiting for the art to speak can do, rather than forcing our agenda on it. Inspiration.
DeleteThe colors are very nice
ReplyDeleteLove the colours!
ReplyDeleteI have decided to sign off on words like "awesome" "gorgeous" "swell" "great" "beautiful" and etc for awhile. I mean we all love those words, no doubt about it, especially when applied to our own artwork.
ReplyDeleteBut after awhile they become so rote and so "used" that they lose their original meaning. So how to respond when you truly appreciate something? You want the artist to know that when she explains things that were going through her head while creating art and…takes the time to TELL us the process of her thinking…that we totally appreciate that! When she knocks our socks off with outside-the-box use of materials like copper and she sees a tree and a moon in a way that none of us has…how do you register your amazement? (I can hear Margaret saying with tongue in cheek…"they could offer to buy it!" Hahaha. Imagine this framed? I almost said "wow". Uh oh. I'll just say "thank you".
Thank YOU Ginny!
DeleteI so love this.....I still haven't figured out how you do the white...it is on top of water color? My jell pens do not want to write on the paper after it has been water colored. I love every little detail of the body of your work........each shape has a purpose and the backgrounds are full of intrigue!
ReplyDeleteIt would make a difference what type of color pencil you use. I generally use Prismacolor, and occasionally Prismacolor's Verithin (a hard lead). I'll be trying out Irojiten pencils once I've done a light fastness test on them.
DeleteYour work has always inspired me. This is certainly no exception!
ReplyDeleteEveryone of your trees, past and present, take my breath away. I LOVE them. And now you have added the moons!?!?! I'm gasping for air, I'm so out of breath... Thank you, Margaret. So fantastic!
ReplyDeleteMargaret, is there a way to see all of your trees together - next to each other... ? Like in a slide show? Just wondering.
ReplyDeleteInteresting idea Angela. I'll try to remember to think about when I return from vacation. We leave this morning for BC and Alaska!
DeleteOh Margaret! I just don't know how you keep producing these absolutely exquisite pieces! I so love the multiple moons and the warm colours! Just beautiful! I cannot even begin to think as to where and how you start! Have a fabulous holiday!
ReplyDeleteThanks Brenda. I was pleased with the multiple moon inspiration too. I find I'm best starting with an extremely vague indication of what might be there in the end, but I do usually begin with the idea of "tree" or "houses". I get the best results when I just let the process flow, go with inspiration, and not try to force too much on it.
DeleteOver the moon moons. . . . .love 'em.
ReplyDeletem
There is nothing as lovely as a tree and the super moons during a super moon, the comparison is just too much! Reminds me of a Gustav Klimt painting of birch trees.
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