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| Flowering Cherry watercolour & printmaking ink © Teresa Newham |
My neighbour's flowering cherry tree is a source of continual delight. It provides shade in Summer, glorious colour in Autumn, and sculptural interest in Winter. Birds shelter in it and squirrels climb it. And it heralds the arrival of Spring in a burst of pink blossom which lifts the spirits along with the lengthening days.
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| source photos & notes © Teresa Newham |
It seemed an ideal subject for another mixed media piece - the early leaves have a bronze cast perfectly suited to metallic printmaking ink - but it was only after I'd taken some photos and sketched out a possible design that it occurred to me I could use inks for the blossoms.
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| first stages © Teresa Newham |
I considered putting masking fluid on the branches but there were a lot of them and I didn't want to push my luck - so I painstakingly painted the negative spaces with a strong wash of Cerulean Blue. I could have stopped right there and called it "White Tree" - I was tempted!
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| now it's getting interesting! © Teresa Newham |
I painted the trunk and branches with Permanent Sap Green and Permanent Alizarin Crimson, at which point the tree took on an almost unearthly luminous glow. The leaves were applied next, and finally the blossoms, which brought the whole thing to life. Spring is definitely here!
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| the finished piece © Teresa Newham |
This is a magical picture, with as you say, a somewhat unearthly feel to it. Stunning colours - the blossom is particularly gorgeous.
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