"Art Journal" Tree Painting by Jill Saur

© 2009 Jill Saur Fine Art LLC, Tree Art,  all rights reserved

Keeping an art journal can be an important way to connect with the painting that you are about to create.  It engages more of your senses and emotions and is bound to show in your finished piece.  The following words are from my own journal that I wrote before I painted "The Hastening Tree".

"What I love about this tree, is that from a distance it appears to be in its prime.  It continues to enamor its viewers with robust alluring shades of green foliage.  At sunrise, the trunk offers striking contrasts of light and dark.  Even the bark is bejeweled with flecks of rich golds, browns, and reds.

The great surprise comes upon close inspection.  The middle base of the tree is completely hollow!  It is absolutely amazing that the tree is entirely supported by the sides and the few roots that make its way to the soil.  This tree is fighting for its last vociferation, its last great moment.  It is reaching to the light and putting forth its branches for all to see.  It’s death will be swift and sudden.  There is no middle ground for this tree.  It is living in splendor and then it will be gone.  I am moved by the lessons it is teaching me and I am compelled to paint it in all of its seasons.  I have actually been photographing this tree for well over two years now.  I have witnessed this tree at sunrise when the first rays of the sun illuminate its weathered trunk and I have sat at its base in the mist of the afternoon when the only hue is a dull grey.   This is when the tree is most haunting and sullen.  My most recent visit was a week ago when the last remnant of fall glistened on its colorful leaves.

I guess you could say that this is one of my special places to go when I need some time to think, pray, evaluate my life, and listen for answers."   © 2009 Jill Saur Fine Art, LLC    Jill's Website

Saturday

Vanessa finished her dog painting today.  He looks so alive and real.  

This is my new favorite Vanessa painting.  

Rebecca is working on watercolor florals.  

Kim finished her owl painting today.  Pretty cool!

Thursday Art Class - Jill Saur Fine Art

My students in each class often ask what the other students are working on.  Since most of my students know each other from sitting in on other days, I think this is a nice way to show what everyone is doing.

Jennifer is working on a street scene in watercolor.

Tom is working on art for a fundraiser for Habitat Humanity.

Betty is working on the flowers behind her and a landscape in front of her.

Cecilia is working on her hummingbird painting.

Wednesday's Art Class

This is Pat working on her palette knife floral painting.

Below is the finished painting, just lovely!

Below, Carole is working on her shoes.  Love the 

painting and I really love her smile!

Michelangelo

"I saw the angel in the marble and I carved until I set him free"....Michelangelo

What a profound quote!  Michelangelo released David from the stone.  I am no Michelangelo, but I can relate to something here.  I am close to finishing a painting that I have had a vision for in my mind.  I feel like I am just painting until I set it free.  This is something to think about when you have an inspiration to paint.  Painting is like writing a song.  You feel the music when you write a song, and when you paint, you must feel what is flowing through your hand and brush onto the canvas.  Jill's Website

"Gesture Drawing Definition"

© 2005 Jill Saur Fine Art LLC, all rights reserved

Gesture drawings are quick, loose drawings. You don't stop the motion of your hand while doing it. Also, you don't take your pen off of the surface to move it to another point, you just drag it over.  I didn't spend any more than two minutes or so on the drawing above.


The gesture drawing focuses more on the inference of the figure, not an exact replica of what you see.  Practicing quick gesture drawings will train your eye-brain-hand co-ordination to pick up on lines and see where they are in relation to other lines.  Before you begin a fine drawing or painting, gesture it first to get a 'feel' for what you are going to do. Jill's Website

"Color To Black And White"

© 2010 Jill Saur Fine Art LLC, all rights reserved

© 2010 Jill Saur Fine Art LLC, all rights reserved

Tom and I went down to the river today for a walk.  I took my camera with the intent to capture some of my favorite trees.  This is one of my shots.  We have been talking in my classes about value.  You can see the light coming from the right, leaving the left side of the tree in the shade. This makes for an interesting subject matter.  Something you can do, is take your photo and turn it into a black and white.  If it looks good in black and white, you can be sure you have a good study for a rendition in color.  Happy Painting - Jill  Jill's Website

"Great Day"

Mac is working on a tiger.  She started painting it today and it already looks like it is going to emerge right off the canvas and into the room!  Mac has a great loose style. I just love her work.

Serena finished this zebra today and it is just stunning!  She has a fine, delicate touch with the pencil, which translates into drawings that have tremendous depth and beauty.  

Zoe is a new drawing and painting student with me.  She started this hummingbird last week and finished it today.  It is quite lovely!  I can't wait to see what she is going to do when she paints!