Friday, November 21, 2008

Tree Studies




This summer I had the chance to attend the Hudson River School for Landscape Painting. It was a great experience to be surrounded by talented artists and a beautiful landscape (when it wasn't raining).

On the recommended reading list was a series of letters that Asher Durand wrote for inspiring landscape artist. In the first letter he advised the student to "master the pencil first" and "draw with scrupulous fidelity the outlines and contours of sych objects that you select". He further advised the student to begin mastering the components of the landscape such as rocks, trees and foreground plants as a prelude to painting finished landscapes. These are my attempts to follow his advice. There will be more forthcoming.

4 comments:

Tom Scholes said...

Very nice.

Shawn Boyles said...

These look really nice. We gonna see any more?

jess smart smiley said...

I'm still willing to trade you drawing skills? I really dig those roots in the top drawing. Are these in that teeny tiny Moleskine?

Anonymous said...

Brava. One does not regret making the effort to learn how to do it right, one only regrets having cut corners.