Saturday, May 01, 2010

hidden gem

12" x 9"

coloured pencil on black archival paper
















I drew this from a photo I took when I visited Ruxton Island almost four years ago. There's something so dramatic about the colour and shape of the arbutus trees that are everywhere on Vancouver Island (and surrounding Gulf Islands) that always make me want to draw and paint them. I loved to peel the bark off the one in the garden where I grew up.

13 Comments:

Blogger Romeo Morningwood said...

I love that piece... :)

1/5/10 10:27 p.m.  
Blogger Julie said...

I love this! I reminds me somehow of the great illustrators from the early 20th century. Just has that feel to it. You are good!

1/5/10 10:27 p.m.  
Blogger p said...

that tree has such an asian bonsai feel to it, very cool!

2/5/10 3:36 a.m.  
Blogger andrea said...

Thanks all!

2/5/10 4:23 p.m.  
Blogger nancy said...

This is beautiful. The look of the bright clear colors on the blacks reminds me of soft pastels.

2/5/10 4:36 p.m.  
Blogger andrea said...

Funny you should say that Nancy because I love the look of soft pastels on coloured ground but find them hard to work with as their texture bothers me. This is my compromise in some ways!

2/5/10 4:41 p.m.  
Blogger valerie walsh said...

beautiful :D

2/5/10 5:22 p.m.  
Blogger AscenderRisesAbove said...

very pretty andrea! it has been awhile. I am trying to get back into the groove of visiting!
ascenderrisesabove.com

2/5/10 7:18 p.m.  
Blogger Ellen said...

Lovely Andrea, love those gnarled, windswept trees I see on the Island. Looked at you old Ruxton Island post and of course, I'm obsessing trying to figure out what those birds could possibly be, did you ever find out?

3/5/10 10:31 a.m.  
Blogger dinahmow said...

I'm in love with this place all over again!
Why don't we do a house swap?

8/5/10 6:21 p.m.  
Blogger Hayden said...

back staring again at this pic, and must say what's on my mind.

what I love is that you see each tree as an individual, you seem to capture the very life, the spirit of the tree, rather than the idea. Only that is too intellectual a way of parsing it, and is easy to interpret in a way different than I mean it. It isn't about the detail that makes the difference - but the very spirit or soul of the trees that I see here. These are not trees from an un-souled world.

9/5/10 1:49 p.m.  
Blogger andrea said...

Sorry I never got around to responding to these. Busybusy. Ellen: No, I never did find out. Anyone??? And Di -- your idea is truly inspired!! We should think seriously about that! And thank you, Hayden, for seeing what I see. That is so gratifying for me.

9/5/10 2:06 p.m.  
Blogger Hayden said...

and, in return, thanks for that response. easy to think I'm being all woo-woo and will be perceived as a little nuts.

9/5/10 3:24 p.m.  

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