Tree of Life

"Tree of Life"___a lesson in symbolism, watercolor, 6 x 9_________$50
Here's another watercolor demo for the High School class. "Symbolic Color".
There is LIFE in LIGHT...science says so. Scripture says so. To make this "dead" tree symbolize "life" I painted it with the full spectrum. Browns would look flat and dead. I have a sepia version, somewhere which shows the contrast, but I couldn't find it. This lesson was also about overlaying washes....
Nothing should be accidental for an artist. LINES need to point someplace on purpose. Shapes are arranged for a reason, composition flows to direct the viewer's eye. COLOR should SAY SOMEHTING. Artists have unlimited tools to communicate a message, so EVERYTHING needs to be thought out when you "create". It might seem tedious at first, but the more you do, the more automatic it gets....so LOOK FOR ways to make meaning happen in your art!
I teach this stuff in my workshops, and we have FUN at it!!!....here's the schedule for 2009. :
Feb, 7 Rockport, TX (1 day)
Feb. 21 Calvert, TX (1 day)
Mar. 7 Rockport, TX (1 day)
April 6 - 9 Granbury, TX (4 day - comprehensive)
Apr. 18 Rockport, TX (1 day)
April 27 - 30 Gadsden, ALABAMA (4 day - comprehensive)
May 30 DeSoto Art League, TX (1 day)
June 5-7, Fredericksburg, TX (Painting Fast -special 3 day focus)
Fall in New Orleans