Sunday, July 22, 2012

The Tree Post

7" x 5" ink and watercolor on Tyvek
On the radio the other day, I heard the following ad for a program on a great local radio show called "Topical Currents":

Trees are deaf, so the idea that music can help them grow is a myth.
But they can smell.
And they can sense when their neighbor is being eaten by a ravenous bug.

And they can speak.  I know this.

I found the above group of young trees in a park.  And they spoke to me.

I loved how they were spaced and their varying heights.  I decided to paint them on Tyvek, which I had been meaning to do for some time as its virtues had been extolled again and again by Myrna Wacknov at her blog, Creative Journey.

Tyvek is synthetic; it is made by DuPont.  (Interestingly, my son worked with Tyvek at the DuPont plant in Virginia as a part of his internship in chemical engineering - so Tyvek would have had a special place in my heart, even if I had never used it before.)

I don't even think that DuPont even calls it a paper - it is simply, Tyvek.  Its uses include providing protection against moisture intrusion in construction, as covers for cars, as medical and industrial packaging, and for envelopes.  There are many more uses, I gather.  I believe that Myrna got her Tyvek from a hardware store but I've looked more than once and have not found it at ours.  So I took a Tyvek envelope and cut it up.

This paper is thin, but cannot be ripped, and it has a varied pattern to it.  So I laid out the general structure of the trees in pen and then laid brush to paper.

And then..

I don't know what I expected , but I didn't expect it to bead up.  What an effect!  It was like watching the world through a windshield in a light rain.  And then, just as I finished painting the trees it began raining!  And looking through my windshield, I saw that the painting was true.


 watercolor on 4" x 5" Fabriano Artistica cold press paper

So let's see..trees can smell, they can sense bugs, they can speak, and, by the way, trees can dance!  How do I know this?  From Jennifer Edwards, that's who!  At her Drawn2Life blog,  In case you missed it, she wrote this poem (used here by permission):

I chanced to see
the trees dancing
in the breeze.

Said I to the trees
could we dance
together please?

And I curtsied
to the boughs
of the trees.


watercolor on 8" x 8"Fabriano Artistica cold press paper



Here in South Florida the trees, for the most part, stay green for the entire year.  But green, in fact, should be plural like fish or buffalo, because there are warm greens and cool greens and bright greens and dull.  There is an endless variety of green to enjoy and many, many shapes of the leaves and trees, of course.

Honestly, I'm embarrassed to say it, but I don't know one tree from the other.  I can see their differences and I can paint them, but I don't know what most trees are called.  But I know this, they share many gifts, including their gems, the birds.





 Years ago I spent a fair amount of time birding.  I never grew particularly good at it, but walking in the woods and listening and looking for birds remains the most freeing and relaxing thing that I have done.

Once at an Audubon walk, I spotted a bird in the distance.  I signaled to the grey-haired experienced birder who was leading the group.  He asked where it was.  Signalling towards the copse of trees in the distance, I enthusiastically said, "It's there - in the green tree!"  He looked at me.  I'm sure he was impressed.

ink field sketch of painted bunting in sketchbook


There are always surprises.  On October 1, 1996 (I cannot believe it is that long ago), I decided to go into the field and sketch what I see.  Usually I would just enjoy the birds with my binoculars, and write down their names.

At a park called A.D. Barnes, there is a wonderful nature trail.  But my surprise wasn't there.  It was in some bushes along some railroad tracks behind a ball field.  And that day I peered into those bushes, and there was a painted bunting.  A painter designed that bird - it has to be - it is hard to believe it is real, because it had a red breast, yellow and green wings, grey tail, and a violet-blue head.  And the true miracle was that the bird remained in place long enough for me to make this field sketch on the right, complete with lines to denote the colors.

So it's about time that I paint the bird - don't you think?



Nora MacPhail, a wonderfully free and loose watercolorist, spent the last week at her blog here making a variety of Artist Trading Cards (ATC's or ACEO's).  I offered a trade, and she graciously said yes.  So here is the card I will be sending her, painted today, the Painted Bunting that I saw so many years ago.

ink and watercolor on 2-1/2" x 3-1/2" Fabriano Artistica cold press paper
So trees smell and sense and speak and dance.  And they share.  It is just as Alice Walker's character said in The Color Purple, "Us sing and dance, make faces and give flower bouquets, trying to be loved.  You ever notice that trees do everything to git attention we do, except walk?"

It's so true.

46 comments:

  1. This, to me, is one of your most delightful posts, Dan. I'm an inveterate "tree hugger" in the best sense of the word(s). And birds are my current passion since we have a passle of them in our yard most days. Love your painted bunting...wish we had those here! Love your trees, too....

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    1. Glad you liked it! You must live in a beautiful area to get so many birds at the house. It is also amazing what you see when you leave the house - I would never have seen a painted bunting or any number of wonderful birds if I hadn't gone out and about. We are lucky to be surrounded by such beautiful wild creatures!

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  2. What a neat paper (or what ever its called : ), I like how it gives that great texture look to it and you put in words so well "like light rain on the windshield"... or like different kinds of clear stain glass. Very cool effect, must see if I can find this space age material. And I really love the sketch of the bird (great field sketch) its good you kept it all this time. The painting of is stunning, we have some birds here with colours, but nothing like that (rainbow almost). I wonder what it sounds like when it sings. And do you get Loons down there during winter months? One my favourite birds here, and they fly south in the fall and Im not sure how far south they go.

    Great post and yes, trees do dance and sing and I just love the sound and look of the leaves when the wind blows...

    Cheers,

    Mari

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    1. I remember shortly after our marriage, we were in an apartment by the lake and loons would go there and make there erie sound - loved it. At least I think they were loons.. Haven't seen or heard them since. Too tired to go outside to my car and get my bird book and see if they come here in the winter.

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  3. Wow Dan, the bird ATC is beautiful!! Thanks for the lovely mention too!
    Happy Painting.

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    1. our beautiful art inspired me to try to do just as well on mine. I got your ATC in the mail!! Love the colors:)

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  4. The bird is lovely as are the trees on the Tyvek. I would never have thought to use Tyvek for anything but a moisture barrier. I like all your trees. Greens are not easy. I recall a green only painting that was required for some painting class I was taking, but not fondly; green drove me crazy. And it's interesting that you used to go birding. I've just been considering it, but this summer is tropical rain forest weather and my sinuses are suffering. No woods for me. The birds can have the mold and mildew.

    When you go painting in your car, do you use a waterbrush? How do you rinse it? What's the scoop on painting in plein car?

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    1. I have not actually painted en plein air, except from the comfort of the front seat of my car. I have looked into it though, because I would like to. Very little is required for watercolor - it is much more involved for acrylic since you need an easel. I dream of a Coulter easel. You could even just have a board on your lap with tape for watercolor.

      I have a little kit I take with me out and about (and my confession is it is the same kit I use at home until I finally set up a studio space - then I plan on squeezing out a permanent palette here). I will tape paper to a board, or paint in my moleskine. I used to use a waterbrush with pan paints and it worked really, really well. Then I got used to using brushes. I don't know that one is any better than the other.

      In my kit I have pan paints, brushes, a small container of water, a baby jar to put the water in, an extra scrap of paper or two so I can lay down paint and see the color before I put it on the picture, a small plastic palette, maybe a napkin or paper towel. That is all that is needed. For en plein air, I would also bring a bottle of water for refills (and of course more to drink - and sun screen, insect repellant, etc.) and a board and tape. Of course paper. Perhaps a prochade box (at this point, I don't own one). I do sometimes bring extra items in my little kit: cotton balls, sand paper, sponge, credit card with parts sliced out (sort of forgot what that is for - lol), scraping tool, masking fluid, pencil, eraser..whatever. None of this is absolutely necessary. I always keep pens and moleskine in my pocket.

      When I am in my car I rinse my brush simply by dumping out the dirty water, pouring in some clean and swishing the brush around a bit. I don't have to use soap each time I use the brush.

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  5. Hi Dan,

    I read Myrna's blog, too, but never really noticed the Tyvek thing I guess. I mostly look at the pictures on her wonderful blog. I just happen to have a roll of Tyvek. I purchased it last year in order to break my 86 year old Mom's crossword dictionary into two separate books so she could handle it better. It worked really well for this, except the ink smeared when I printed on it. Maybe I didn't wait long enough.

    Is your watercolor quite dry on it? Or do you have to seal it somehow? I'm loving your trees,

    xoxo

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    1. I am wondering if the Tyvek roll is similar to what I used from a Tyvek envelope - how does the thickness compare, for example? Anyway, I am new to Tyvek, but is seems quite dry. It doesn't seem that sealing would be necessary. Unlike, say, yupo.

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  6. Nice one Dan, as a birder, especially like the bunting.

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    1. Well, then, if I ever come your way we have got to go birding!

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  7. Phenomenal trees! Lovely composition too. The Tyvek seems to be the perfect medium.
    And that ATC... WOW!!! What a treat for Nora.
    I've really enjoyed seeing all your work lately Dan. Keep up the wonderful art!

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    1. Thanks Pamo - as I was doing it, I was thinking about your postcard. One day - when you least expect it - you will be the recipient of something along those lines. Judging from how long it is taking me to do my studio or do the next 2nfro post, for example, this may be when you are an old lady, but we will see..

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  8. Tyvek, huh? must try that. This series of paintings is just lovely, small in size but big in stature. They make me want to paint, always a good sign!

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    1. Paint! Paint on tyvek - paint on anything - just paint!

      Thank you. Actually just did my largest watercolor ever. One of many future posts planned. Not necessarily better that the small ones though - that is for sure.

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  9. Tyvek... YUK... I had to wear hot tyvek jump suits when I worked cleaning up Charleston harbor after an oil spill... the suits were SUPPOSED to protect us from the crude oil... all they did was make me so HOT I could barely do the work we were trying to do, and at the end of the day, my clothes (under the suit) and my skin was BLACK with the oil.... so the suits were not very effective in my opinion, but we were required to wear them by the coast guard... typical of government regulations, the second day I wore the suit with the sleeves rolled up, the legs rolled up and it was unbuttoned... I had to wear it, but they didn't say HOW I had to wear it :-)
    It appears tyvek works better as watercolor paper... at least in the hands of my favorite artist Dan.

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    1. That is some story. Wow. I have a feeling you have many many stories to tell.

      As for your "favorite" artist - wow, I am totally blushing. Thank you.

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  10. I just watched a show on PBS about "hippies". It was a great show and in it one of the old hippies (who was a lovely woman) said "next time you are in the woods and no one is around..just put your arms around a tree and hug it". I think reading this post and seeing your beautiful trees is very close to doing that. Trees are wonderful and they do deserve to be honored....your tribute to trees is exceptional. I am impressed that you sketched a bird in 1996 and painted him in 2012. That's really not something you see everyday!

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    1. Celeste, I am a Master..Master Procrastinator, that is. Sketching a bird in 1996 and painting him 16 years later - that is nothing!!

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  11. Trees have always talked to me and one of my great hopes, if I keep on working at my drawing, is to be able to draw trees with the life in them that I feel when I am near them. I love all the various parts of this post Dan - and marvelled at the cooperation of the painted bunting sitting kindly for you to draw it. That pen drawing of it is very special, and Nora is lucky to be getting that ATC!

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    1. Thank you so much Jane. Trees are wonderful, and if you feel that spirit I am sure it will come alive in your drawings. As for the painted bunting sitting - I think it is nothing short of a miracle! Birds never stay still.

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  12. I have Tyvek that I was using when I was doing mixed media work. I did put paint on it, but only to add color, not make a painting on it. You did a fine job with it! The painted bunting is a gorgeous bird, and you did a super job with it. What a wonderful ATC - I'm sure she'll love it. nancy

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  13. I have tried Tyvek, too. I found the w/c beading to be too frustrating so I coated the Tyvek with Goldens GAC 200 and got better results. I've used acrylic on it and made some Tyvek wallets like Myrna did.

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    1. This is awfully interesting - and you had me looking up and reading the descriptions of these coatings. It looks like it does just what you say. But I wonder, if we are to do that are we getting the full benefit/effect of the surface? I don't know. I tried yupo again this week. At first with too much water I got a similar beading effect. When I toned down the water it was better. I googled yupo paintings and many folks seem to try to make art that looks the same as art on other surfaces. But why?! Why not let it distort and cause all of the trouble it is meant to cause so that yupo paintings will be unique. That's my feeling for now.

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  14. Hi Dan, can't tell you enough how much I enjoyed this lovely post. This is the first post of yours I have read and I am so delighted. Your trees are so elegant, especially the first one and your bird full of glory. We have a lot of beautiful birds here in Kansas and I have thought many times about painting them. Oh if there were only more hours in a day.

    I have heard of Tyvek...a community art teacher here does these amazing leaf works made of tyvek. I think she said she ordered it online, but I am not sure where.

    Is that my imagination, or does your blog background look like watercolor paper?

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    1. Welcome!! I love your blog too - you have such a uniquely wonderful style. Thank you.

      I am not sure - but you may be the first person ever to mention the background to my blog. Thank you. The name of my blog is "Dan's Canvas". When I first started my blog, I found a square of canvas on another blog and used it here. So it is supposed to look like a canvas. I think of my canvas as broad - writing and art on paper is fair game here too. My blog, so I make the rules. :)

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  15. These are wonderful, Dan. You conquered the Tyvec--I always wonder how it can be framed. I've done a couple of "beady pictures."

    I am a tree-hugger; they don't walk but they do clean the air. I love that you wrote they share their gems--the birds.

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    1. I actually think the Tyvek conquered me, but I was submissive and let it do it's work - that is why there is the unique effect. I think it can be framed like any watercolor, really.

      Trees clean the air! Yes..that is something we certainly don't do. We do the opposite.

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  16. interesting paper...I mean Tyvek. I've never thought about drawing on different surfaces or medias and stuff like that. :) and the look wonderful (the drawings) in the hands of a master.
    Beautiful bird sketch too Dan

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    1. Thanks Alex! Re the master comment - please refer to my response to Celeste. :)

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  17. Your painting of the trees on the Tyvek is beautifully lyrical with the atmospheric affect of green colored raindrops.
    As you said, TRUE. I hope you do more with it.
    I love the art, stories and poetry. Your blog is a real treat for me.

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    1. Thank you Julie, and yours for me - I was thrilled to find it.

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  18. That's a great effect you get with the Tyvek. I have wondered if paint would bead up on it.
    The other tree paintings are fantastic too.
    As for the bird drawing and the painting...wonderful.
    I'm a big tree fan...I look like a big tree fan :-)
    Stew.
    stewcrowther.wordpress.com
    _________________________

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    1. Thanks Stew! There's always room for you in these here woods.

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  19. Love the trees Dan...but why can't trees hear if they can do everything else? I will go and ask them.

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    1. Yes - Cathy - that makes perfect sense .. why don't you do that. :)

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  20. beautiful tree studies, love the texture on the tyvek. trees do rock!

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  21. You have a very interesting blog...the texture is wonderful on the tyvek...very unique!!! and love this red bird..vibrant colors.

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    1. Thanks for visiting! Glad you have enjoyed what you have seen.

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  22. Jennifer Edwards wrote: WOW, WOW, WOW!!!! What an absolutely fabulous post on trees and birds! Your paintings are terrific: truly masterfully done! And I do see how the poem worked in nicely with how you talked about trees. I do love trees! They are almost like persons, aren't they?

    Really awesome post Dan! I tried placing a comment and was not able to get the comments section to pop up for me. could be my dratted Wordpress thing acting up!

    I think I'll go back and visit your post again...wonderful!

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    1. Thanks Jennifer - your poem was a true pleasure to me, and I was pleased that it worked so well in the post. :)

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  23. Thanks all - I usually thank everyone in one comment at the end, and that is probably how I will continue to do it because of my limited time. I tried it this way for a change (largely because I had so much to say in response to Linda's question.) :) So if, next time, you don't see a reply to your comment, scroll down and it may be at the end. I usually don't reply until shortly before my next posting.

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  24. Whew...nice! I forgot about the tyvek! I love the effects on your trees. So trees talk to you? When I was little, I thought trees made the wind by waving their arms around! Wonderful post!

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