“Two apple trees in my garden. One in blossom, the other still hibernating.”
As spring finally arrived with good weather I started painting more en plein air, obviously time permitting.
In my little back garden there are two old apple trees. Every year, one flowers before the other, but this year is a bit strange. One is in blossom, leaves growing rapidly, while the second one is still hibernating (we hope). There are some buds on the branches, but long time from coming alive.
Having a week of holiday from work, but dedicated to art (life drawing course at Sarum Studio in Salisbury), I had more time to paint in day light. This is why I have chosen to paint my weekly painting en plein air. And what better subject than my back garden with the two apple trees.
I always paint outdoors using Blue Ridge oil paints and medium (De Mayerne medium). I used cerulean blue and titanium white for the sky, with a touch of black and pyrol red.
For the buildings in the background I have used a mixture of burnt sienna, raw umber and white, while background trees were painted with a mixture of cerulean blue and cadmium yellow light. All the other greens are done with cobalt blue and cadmium yellow, light and medium.
For trees I used raw umber, yellow ochre and white, with a touch of burnt sienna and some black and titanium white.
I started it painting in the early evenings and finished it working an afternoon (few hours).
So, here it is:
“Two apple trees in my garden”
Oil on linen.
30 X 40 cm (12” X 16”).
