Painting at Little Piney
Another thing I love about Little Piney is having a quiet, inspiring place to paint. I have been painting for about 5 years now. I’m inspired by nature and beautiful landscapes, and at Little Piney I am immersed in both.
Painting Pine Trees
The first day I spent painting landscapes at Little Piney was in early spring before the bluebonnets bloomed. I set up my easel in the shade to paint my favorite tree, the giant double trunked Loblolly Pine I fell in love with at first sight. This was the first time I had painted a pine tree. I discovered I had to adjust my usual approach to accommodate the airy structure of the pine, and focus equally on the shapes of the branches and of the sky between the branches. I also painted a favorite pine grove that leads to a wooded trail along the cliff above the creek.
Next I painted this landscape of a path through wildflowers and pines with a forest in the distance. I was getting better with the pine trees.
In the next painting I focused on simplifying the pine shapes to emphasize the beautiful negative space between the branches. The title comes from a John Muir quote: “Between every two pines is the doorway to a new world.”
Getting There
The latest painting says a lot about the way I feel at Little Piney. My painting mentor described the painting as “Loose, underworked, fresh! Very alive.”
He also said “You got there!!!” I knew exactly what he meant about the painting, and, for me, it’s also about Little Piney.
