Tree building

​I wanted to learn how to paint inter-connecting planes of land and water, shade and light better. So, the morning before, I'd opened my copy of Vibrant Acrylics by Hashim Akib. My partner had presented it to me as a guide, not a manual, as closest to the style of my own painting, but I'd used it only sparingly.

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I was going to practice an exercise, painting a woodland scene, including a pond. My reading took me on diversions, like loading paint onto a brush and effects of holding your brush in different ways. I've always used a wooden palette, but here was a round palette dish. I had bought one of these right at the beginning, and never used it. Now, I did. I studied the colour wheel and how he loaded paint onto the dish. Let's give it a go! I tell you, it is easy to load too much paint. I ended up making two Palette Paintings with the surplus paint. And then, I ended up on a page, headed 'Building Your Skills'.

Step-by-step, it guided me in the choice of paints for each transition. I followed these religiously, up to the last picture window and instructions. Except by this time, I was struggling somewhat with focus and misread process magenta for cadmium yellow. Tired, I thought to pack up...but I had so much paint left. So far, I'd been working for an hour, when the artist said it took him fifteen minutes. Let's go again! This time, I could remember what to do but in my own way.

And so, time passes and I'm starting to gain some insight into painting in layers, in stages. Inevitably, by copying someone else's way, it bothers me that I will lose my own. I'm hoping, expecting the opposite. Working through stuff, I'll borrow what I need from Hashim and, hopefully, continue on my own way, improving, building my skills.

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I love the way the light strikes the trunk of the tree. I got so involved in the tree, that I forgot all about trying to show the lie of the land. Oh, well, one for another day, then. The words called out to me, 'Keep going!'