The Story behind the "Dark Cherry Tree"
This painting was based on Dan Delsbey's photo from Tully, NY. His picture was selected as one of the eight winning photos for the Best Onondaga County Tree Photo Challenge, an interactive art project funded by CNY Arts..
This week I will highlight the story of Dan Elsbey, one of the eight winners of the Best Onondaga County Tree Photo Challenge, an interactive art project that asked Onondaga County residents to go into nature, find the most beautiful trees in our county, and send their suggestions to me with a photo.
I asked Dan to share with us who he is, what he does for a living, what are some of his hobbies, why was he compelled to photograph these scene, if he knew what type of tree it is and how did he found out about this challenge. Here it's his response:
Dan Elsbey
1. Dan Elsbey, age 69, Live in Town of Camillus, retired, Hobbies include - painting, drawing portraits (better portrait drawer than painter), Gardening and walking the Erie Canal when it's nice.
2. Why I chose this tree - Some of the branches are inches from the ground, very unusual the way it grew.
3. The photos were taken in the Springtime just after the leaves came out
4. The exact location of the tree is Juniper Lane in the Town of Camillus.
5. This tree is a Black Cherry Tree. When the housing tract was built back in 1957, this is one of the original trees from the Terry farm the builders left standing. As a youth, I climbed this tree. The Black Cherry tree is estimated at over 160 years old and has seen its better days. Dead branches have been cut and wires installed to protect it from high winds.
6. I found out about the challenge from an article in the Post Standard. I knew the black cherry tree would be a natural because of the low hanging branches and unique shape of the tree.
The making of 'Dark Cherry Tree'
Below you will see, step by step, the development of this acrylic painting.
What I found charming about Dan Elsbey's tree was its unique shape and the feeling that you are looking at a majestic old tree. This is the 3rd painting I started in 2014 and I gave this piece a different feeling by adding varying layers of yellow hues at the end.
The Dark Cherry Tree is a 24x24x1.5" acrylic on canvas that I painted in July and August and finished in December, 2014.
The Story behind the 'Magnolia Tree'
This week I will highlight the story of Deborah Goemans, one of the eight winners of the Best Onondaga County Tree Photo Challenge, an interactive art project that asked Onondaga County residents to go into nature, find the most beautiful trees in our county, and send their suggestions to me with a photo.
Writer, Deborah Goemans.
1. Describe yourself: name, age, location, what do you do for a living and what are some of your hobbies? I am Deborah June Goemans, a writer and editor living in Tully. My age is over twenty-one J and I love to dance and eat and travel to my native South Africa as often as I can.
2. Why did you choose to photograph this particular tree/ trees? I loved how the blossoms looked like a natural bridal bouquet.
3. What time of the year was it? This picture was taken in spring.
4. What is the exact location of this tree? It is in my garden in Tully, New York.
5. Do you know the type of tree you have captured? Does this tree have a particular meaning to you? This magnolia tree is special for my family. It was planted before we moved into the house but it was like my girls—still young when we moved in. It has grown with them and now that they have moved on to their own lives, it remains, a beautiful symbol of their childhood.
6. How did you find out about this challenge? I love this artist’s work, and I follow her on Facebook.
The making of 'Magnolia Tree'
Below you will see the development of this painting, step by step, and how my social media followers played a big part on the final result of this acrylic painting.
I really liked the red on the background but it looked unfinished that way. I thought about covering all the red and just create a copy of the photo (boring, right?) or saving the red, somehow, therefore, creating a more surrealist and dreamy piece.
So I asked my faithful friends and fans on facebook what they thought I should do. I received many responses and they all had the same answer: KEEP THE RED. So, I did.
I left my perfectionist and joyless way of approaching a painting to embrace a looser and more enjoyable style. Instead of copying exactly the photo, I listened to my gut, allowing this painting to take a distinctive direction. Don't you agree?
Magnolia Tree a 24x18x1.5" acrylic on canvas by Maria Rizzo.
MARIA RIZZO
Trees, Lands & Dreams | Art Blogger #theartistspath | Art Educator | From Italy 🇮🇹🇺🇸 |