MATERIALS
• Canvas 450 x 910 mm.
• Artists’ quality acrylic paints.
• Various brushes.
• Spatular.
• Matisse Gel Medium 4.
During the summer months in the hinterland State forests around Pomona on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast, the flooded gums shed their bark and show a body of reddish glow.
When the sun comes out after a shower, these trees stand out with a glow that cannot be missed.
After making a trip into the forest and taking quite a few photographs, I came across the tree which is the subject of this Demonstration. It was large – with a diameter of around 1.25 metres – and it stood proudly all by itself amongst a lot of ironbark gums. It just had to be painted.
STEP ONE
I loaded the photograph onto my computer and gridded up my canvas (it had been sitting around at home for a long time, waiting for a subject that would suit its size).
Firstly, I gave the stretched canvas two coats of Gesso. I then sanded it and painted in the outline of the tree with a wash of Burnt Umber.
STEP TWO
The darks of the trees were painted in with Burnt Umber.
STEP THREE
The sky was painted in using Cobalt Blue and White; and the ironbark trees were placed in using Burnt Umber. Distant trees were also suggested.
The body of the tree was painted in using White and a small amount of Brilliant Orange.
STEP FOUR
This was the time to achieve the brilliant colour of the tree and introduce some foliage. Brilliant Orange, Cadmium Yellow Deep and White were used in varying amounts) to obtain the desired colours. Sap Green, Cobalt Blue and Burnt Umber were used to create the foliage.
STEP FIVE
Bark on the branches was painted using Payne’s Grey and White with a Number 7 Taklon brush. Highlights were added and the foliage was intensified.
FINAL STEP
I introduced the spatular, which was used to create the bark. This was done by wiping the blade sideways through Burnt Umber and then sliding it sideways horizontally below the tree … giving the impression of bark under the tree. This process was repeated, using White over the top of the brown bark. The paint was applied thickly to create texture and depth.
Fine details were completed throughout the scene, including the darkening of the foliage.
