Thursday, August 5, 2010

Birch Trees Need A Title

"untitled birch trees" / two 24x24 panels / ©St.Hilaire Nelson 2010

Once again I'm looking for some help with a title for this diptych. A departure from my normal style, I am enjoying creating these abstract landscapes. I did the sketch for this piece on the couch while watching TV back in the middle of June. I am so impressed with myself for not losing it before I actually put it on the wood panels and made it into a finished piece!

I painted the black outlines as part of the under-painting with black gesso and decided to leave them painted, not collage over them. I also have an under-painting of a gray blue that shows through some of the sheet music pieces that form the tree bark. This was an experiment with leaving the underpainting showing through, and using different colors under there. A departure from my typical style of painting the same color underneath that I intend to collage on top.

This diptych will be a part of my solo exhibition "Exquisite Harmony" at the Maitland Art Center. Show opens September 10, 6-8pm and runs through October 24.

What do you think?

18 comments:

  1. I like these trees very much and am hoping you'll do more of the same sort of landscapes. Forest Music, Tree songs. They make me think of the whisperings of branches dancing in the wind that I hear when I walk through the forest, songs that the trees sing for each other as they bow and sway to their own symphony of sound.

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  2. magnificent piece! It is bold, yet soft and flowing.
    Wind Song

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  3. I like them. Name perhaps could be 'Branch out' or 'Branching out into music', or something along those lines.

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  4. Splendid work...as you know I love trees! There are so many possibilities for titles. Maybe something about dancing in the wind or singing or harmony. It almost looks like the tree on the left wants to join with the other two... how about May I Cut In? : )

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  5. Life's a Birch and then you Leaf.

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  6. Love how they flow from one to the other. Maybe you could tie in the musical aspect of the piece? Birch in A Minor.

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  7. i love this, elizabeth! isn't it fun to try different things? for a title, how about "fall interlude", "birch symphony" or "branch symphony". i think wind song is the best suggestion!

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  8. Love the trees. How about "The Music of the Wind" or the "Rhythm of the Wind"? for a title.

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  9. "Piano with Woodwinds" Love it! Love all your work - you're just GOOD, Elizabeth!

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  10. amazing what you do with cut paper, absolutely gorgeous!

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  11. Lezlee, no cutting here!! Ha ha. my Rule number one is only tearing, never cutting. No matter how small. Organic edges help to make it look more painterly.

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  12. absolutely in awe here. brain has shut off, jaw is on the ground. Must remind myself to breathe.

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  13. Kimberly says that folks, because she has been trying her hand at collage and knows what a difficult medium it can be. Especially since she is an amazing painter, and it can be frustrating to go from being a master at one medium, to a beginner at another. But do not be fooled, her collage work is LOVELY!

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  14. I received many great suggestions on Facebook and here on the blog. I really liked WindSong and it was suggested by different people in both places. HOWEVER I came up with one out of left field; "Birch Keys" I like the play on words and had always wanted to include "birch" in the title as those trees have bark that is just like paper when you peel it. I can remember doing this a lot as a kid growing up in New England! Thanks for all your input. I am going to put the next landscape up soon.

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  15. I know you've received some good ideas on the painting, Elizabeth, but for me each time I view it, I hear Rodney Crowell's song, The Outsider! ha ha Maybe it's just me and my warped mind. Love the work - it definitely has got rhythm!

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  16. I see piano keys. But that's not what you're looking for.

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thank you for taking the time to read and comment! :)