In Full Bloom

© Robin Edmundson, 'Bluebell Wood, Full Bloom', watercolor and ink, 14 x 10 inches.
Framed to 20 x 16 inches.  $375.

I know it's too early for bluebells, but that delicious color just calls to me.   I've been thinking about my trees in different seasons, trying to figure new ways to combine favorite subjects in a new way.

Still some work to do, but I'm having fun doing it.

More Trees

© Robin Edmundson, 'Trees and Vines', watercolor and ink, 18 x 12 inches.

Framed to 24 x 18 inches.  $450.

There is a group of three sycamore trees just down the way from us.  They're on a creek bank, covered with moss and vines.  I love them. 

After the experimental tree that I shared in my last post, I spent some time thinking about these trees. I painted the piece above thinking mostly about the vines and lines that festoon and crisscross every tree in the woods.  

In the next piece, I focused on the beautiful [and ubiquitous] moss.  Here in southern Indiana, the woods stay damp all year long and the moss thrives.   During the winter months, when the colors of the woods fade to umbers and grays, the moss glows.  

© Robin Edmundson, 'Trees and Moss', watercolor and ink, 18 x 12 inches. 

Framed to 18 x 24 inches.  $450.

The process of working through these tree studies is deeply satisfying.  I can be expressive with my mark making and the lines and I'm learning to let the paint do its thing and work with it instead of trying to control it.

Stay tuned for more.

Acorns

It's officially fall now and the acorns are raining like confetti from the tops of the trees.  We've never seen so many and are guessing that the long rains we've had this year are the cause.










Acorns are enchanting.  I like the textures.

In fact, I like all the textures of fall -- the moss, the colored leaves, the ripened seeds on the grass, the flowers, the trees....   It's all beautiful.

Muscle Tree

These trees always look very muscular to me.   It's an ironwood tree. Carpinus caroliniana - or the hop hornbeam.  They're very hard and were used to make ship parts. 

We have a lot of these in our woods.  They aren't very large, but they take a long time to grow.  I liked the moss on the bottom of this one.

Creek Rock

We have a lot of rocky outcroppings on our place.   All over the place.

It makes mowing kind of...exciting.  

The prettiest ones are around the creek where the water has worn things away.  The rocks break apart and fall in the water and moss grows on them and it's beautiful.   I love that bright green.  

Mossy Tree

I love this tree.  It stands guard on our property line.   It greets everyone who comes to see us. 

You can see the creek, just behind it.   There is another little creek that runs next to it, draining the wet from a swamp across the road. 

The creeks are spring fed and run all year, so this area stays damp.  Way damp.   No wonder there's so much moss on this tree.   In January. 

This is the mossiest side - facing northeast.

Of course. 

Jar

We have dozens, probably hundreds of jars full of all sorts of things at our house.  

They are everywhere.

It wasn't such a huge surprise when we found this one in the woods.  

A perfect little greenhouse.   Plenty of warmth and excellent ventilation.   It's some of the happiest moss I've ever seen.