"Redwood Jewel"

Original oil by Jeri McDonald. Blessed to be able to paint these amazing trees right out of my own backyard! My home borders these great trees and I never get tired of their beauty. I decided to paint lighting just before sunset study. The actual photo I took is during the day so it was a challenge to create a totally different lighting effect and get the colors right. Blocked in all my basic colors, shapes and values then let it dry. Went back in with more texture on the foreground tree and built up the paint from there. My goal was to create light that draws you into the scene and down the path.

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Comment by Kenya Young on August 11, 2013 at 19:33: absolutely beautiful

Comment by Michael Chomse on August 4, 2013 at 7:18: Wow! Thanks, Jeri, for the in-depth response. I was wondering if it was the quinacridone or not. Beautiful color. I wanted to buy it in the Winsor & Newton range, but it was too expensive. So I settled for a Dioxazine Purple. I haven't tried it yet.

You are right, the bark really does pop.

Do paint another. I look forward to see how you advance on this one.

Comment by Jeri McDonald on August 3, 2013 at 12:09: Hey thanks guys and gals! I'm pretty happy with this one since my former attempts weren't so hot! Michael to answer your question about the violets: I made them with cobalt blue and Gamblin Quinacridone magenta and white. To grey them back in some areas, I added a little burnt umber. The Redwoods bark highlight was done with cad red light and naples yellow and some cobalt blue which really made the lit up part of the tree really pop. I will most likely, paint another one now that I'm getting the hang of them.

Comment by Silvana M Albano on August 3, 2013 at 5:14: You have got a beautiful backyard Jeri! You are very fortunate of having the capacity of enjoying it!!!!!

Comment by Michael J. Severin on August 3, 2013 at 4:46: Nice work Jeri! ...you have achieved a great deal of luminosity in this painting!

Comment by Stuart J. Gourlay on August 3, 2013 at 2:44: Very nicely done Jeri. I want to walk right in. I think you got the colors and texture just right and accomplished the effect you were after. Stu

Comment by Michael Chomse on August 2, 2013 at 18:49: Lovely, Jeri. It has a mythic quality to it. The light is soft and gentle coming around the trees in the background, and then those luscious violets getting deeper as they approach. Technical question: Did you mix the violet/mauve, or are they from the tube, and if so, what is the colour?