Birches with Leaves

"Birches with Leaves"

14 x 18 acrylic on canvas panel

Available through DPW gallery/auction

It's a new year, 2014! I wish you all a Happy New Year filled with art & joy! And as the expression said, this is Page 1 of a 365 page book I am writing (or painting) this year! I don't know if I'll get 365 paintings done, but I am going to work at it! And no, I did not sign up for Leslie Saeta's 30 in 30 challenge which is ongoing this month. I have done that challenge twice in the past and it had its rewards, but I need to pass on it this time due to other commitments.

This painting was started back in October, but because of one thing or another, it kept getting pushed aside. I had the background colors done at one point but then decided they were too bright & would conflict with any foreground I added, so went over them to subdue. Then I added the birch trees and those went, more or less, as planned. 

And then the painting sat. And it sat. And it sat. I knew it didn't have enough in it to stand on it's own, but.... what to add?

This sat on the easel and I would walk past it every day. And every day I would look at it & wonder what to do next. And as each day passed, I would fret more because the fear of "ruining it" was growing bigger each day!

One day I simply picked up a brush & "sketched" in the leaves. Grabbed the paint & started with the reds, then the greens & yellows. There are also purples mixed into the leaves (likewise on the tree bark) to help pull this all together. Final steps involved some subtle shading & shadows and the twigs & branches.

I'm calling this done now. It was fun to work at this larger size for a change. This is one of a handful of canvas panels that was given to me by my friends daughter. Seems her mother had intentions of taking up painting (in fact, 1 panel is missing from the package of 3) but did not get the chance before she died. Her daughter thought I could use them to create. So this is the first in my "Peg" series, Birches with leaves. I think she would have liked it.