Thursday 29 September 2016

Tree Challenge

 Caroline from Art Jewelry Elements gave a challenge at the beginning of September - how time flies as now we are at the end of September! - for a Tree Themed Challenge and I said 'go on then I will play', then promptly did nothing for two weeks.

Panic set in last week and I realized that the month end was dawning and I had no ideas so I picked up my doodle book (most people call it a sketch book I just doodle in mine....) and was flicking through it and found this doodle...obviously it fit the theme.  

I LOVE eyes, I doodle them all the time and this one morphed into the finished doodle is now.




The other night I sat with doodle book on my lap watching the TV and this fellow arrived in the bark of a tree trunk....




...another evening doodle this time I was thinking about my dog walk and the ancient woods I walk through, a corridor of trees that can feel very spiritual and very ecclesiastical and I was reminded, during my doodle, of many Sundays spent in church listening to the organ and so doodled some music notes.  This doodle is actually quite flat and I really couldn't get  a good feel to it so was a bit disappointed but all doodles should be for pleasure and we shouldn't judge ourselves too harshly....


Before glass I used to do much more fine art, mainly pets and their portraits but sometimes I did trees too.  I was once told that to become more able to study a face, be it human or animal then practise 'seeing' trees as each one is different like a face they have unique lines.  Both of the drawings below are artist grade coloured pencil and ink.



This has to be one of my favourite paintings and it hangs in my bathroom.  It is approx 4ft wide and is painted with acrylic.  I am not a painter my use of the brush can be quite messy and I end up with more paint on me than the canvas, I prefer pencil, but I went through a stage of painting and produced many paintings, most of which featured a tree or animal.  This one was inspired by a wonderful trip with friends to Symonds Yat near to me on the River Wye on the border of Herefordshire and Gloucestershire within a few miles of Monmouthshire and the Welsh border.



Even in glass the trees, or more the spirit of the woodland, finds its way into my beads and small sculptures.  The first two beads are my take on the Green Man.





This one is supposed to represent the bark of the tree...



Oddly in glass my muse is whimsical, I suppose really my drawing is now too, being too serious doesn't suit me and I am known for my beads with bums.  This little chap was inspired by my love of everything whimsical, he is the Tree Spirit or Elemental and came about after my looking at the work of Brian Froud.


...and.. this is Trevor and Trevor was inspired by the Tree Theme Challenge....   It is time for all good squirrels to start collecting nuts as Autumn descends the leaves turn golden brown  and ruby red and Trevor here is told by his wife to buck his ideas up and start contributing to the family's stash of food for the Winter and to out into the driving rain and collect enough acorns to stock the larder. Poor Trevor is seriously hen pecked, in fact it has been known that Trevor is a frequent visitor to the hen house just to get some peace for an hour or so!


So after thinking I didn't have a single idea about using trees in art it turns out I have been immersed in a forest of ideas for a good few years!!

I am looking forward to reading all about those that took part in this challenge and seeing the ideas that others have come up with, if you want to blog hop with me here are the links....




20 comments:

  1. Amazing work Laney... I didn't know you painted as well, your artwork is amazing! And I love the beads, especially poor Trevor! Thank you for joining me in the challenge :)

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  2. What beautiful work Laney! I love your art work it has such a wonderful feel to it and of course your beads are amazing I just adore the happy look on that first green mans face!

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  3. Your 'doodles' are works of art! I love your drawings very much. And I didn't know that you painted either. Your glass pieces are all so unique. I love that each one has such wonderful expressions and character.

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  4. What you can sculpt with glass is amazing! Your doodles & paintings equally so.

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  5. Your feather eye is fabulous. Your work is always fabulous as are you!!

    You clever ol' stick!!

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  6. Your feather eye is fabulous. Your work is always fabulous as are you!!

    You clever ol' stick!!

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  7. Love your work Laney - from the sketches to the whimsical beads ...such rich talent!

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  8. Oh - the painting - I especially love it because it is 'painterly'. The tree cathedral is also wonderful. I am glad you shared the doodles with us... Wow. You are multi faceted. Love the leafy imp - and I too am a huge Froud fan. Your faces are awesome. OK I am repeating myself. LOL

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  9. I adore Trevor. Very cute fellow! You work is wonderful.

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  10. Great post luv elemental, he's adorable.

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  11. Beautiful work in all those mediums, your eye drawing is amazing and I love Trevor!

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  12. I love multitalent people. You truly are. ARTISTIC!

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  13. You have so many different creative outlets. I love your doodles and the sense of whimsy that makes its way into your glass work.

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  14. Love Trevor and his back story. So many creative outlets with different inspirations but he's adorable
    Mona

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  15. You have indeed been immersed in a forest of ideas for a good few years! How multi-talented you are. Your drawing, painting, glass beads . . . . All lovely! Let's not forget to add writing to your list of talents. Meeting Trevor was delightful, as was your story about him. What a fun blog post. Thank you for sharing your many talents with us.

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  16. I just love your ancient forest doodle!! So be nice to yourself!! Your artwork is amazing!!

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  17. WOWZA! Your sketches and beads are awesome! Love that tree man! I participated at the last minute: http://suebeads.blogspot.com/2016/09/aje-theme-challenge-trees.html

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Thanks for stopping by my corner of the blogging world :)