Just a little blog about how I paint trees, and why.
When I start a painting that features trees I always start with the tree. This establishes that point and focus. But to really drive your eye to the tree and cause you to focus on it I paint the entire painting after the tree and all around the tree. This makes the paint stop at the tree and isolates it with textured edges. This gives it that third dimension as well. One other thing I try to establish is the illusion of the sky glowing around the tree. This is made possible when letting the first background to dry and then second coating it after the fact to increase the layering that builds up around the tree's edge.
This one was/is called "The first day of summer", 18"x24" oil on wood. You will notice in the finished painting the colours are much warmer and cozier. That is a result of the layering.
Come to see it in person if you like to experience it first hand.
robsreply@gmail.com
Robert McAffee
When I start a painting that features trees I always start with the tree. This establishes that point and focus. But to really drive your eye to the tree and cause you to focus on it I paint the entire painting after the tree and all around the tree. This makes the paint stop at the tree and isolates it with textured edges. This gives it that third dimension as well. One other thing I try to establish is the illusion of the sky glowing around the tree. This is made possible when letting the first background to dry and then second coating it after the fact to increase the layering that builds up around the tree's edge.
This one was/is called "The first day of summer", 18"x24" oil on wood. You will notice in the finished painting the colours are much warmer and cozier. That is a result of the layering.
Come to see it in person if you like to experience it first hand.
robsreply@gmail.com
Robert McAffee
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