Some pieces of art come very easily and others you have to wrestle, argue, ignore, cajole and fuss with for months to finally figure out what they want to become. This is one of those pieces!
It isn’t just me that struggled with it, my artist friend Doug finally was exasperated enough with it that he gave it to me at a play date with instructions to finish it. 🙂 Now if you clicked that link you’ll know it’s been a LONG time that I’ve had this piece in the studio! I began working on it during the play date buy taking a hammer to it and chipping out some of the background texture and edges, adding more concrete and even adding some color that day. Here are images of it as it transitioned from phase to phase – and I know I missed a lot of the stages!
After this last image I used it to test some spray paint on but didn’t get a photo of that (although you can see some of it on the next image). What it had turned into was a piece I let my young grandson paint on because, honestly, he couldn’t do any worse!
And his creativity is just what got me inspired and going in the direction I needed to! Why I’d not tried my one of my favorite color schemes before is still a mystery to me.
Finally it was (or I was?) moving toward a finished image!
Once the tree appeared all that was needed was a bit of green, some outlining and highlighting and it was finally complete. Whew. I can’t imagine it looking like anything else now!
This piece is included in the “Mixed Well & Served Fresh” show that has been held over at Artistic Designs Gallery in Brownsburg, Indiana. You need to come see it in person to appreciate all the layers, depth and texture! I’ll be there with it tomorrow during the ArtsGo! event too, I’d love to meet you!
A Randomly Creative Blog 
This is a great blog, glad I found it. The writing reeled me in, but the artwork made me stay. I love that your grandson was creating some art with you. He’ll carry those special memories forever.
As will I, our time together is attached to several art pieces!
Well, old growth forests evolve over time in seemingly random ways. How fantastic that the eyes of a child took in the picture and brought out the magic. I’m sure there must be faeries who enjoyed having a little boy’s touch bring the idea forward.
Love it. Seriously. You can come set up a gallery in my living room any day.
Meredith
It did work out perfectly! I’m so glad you like it. 🙂