TSoT = The Story of Trees
Have you ever sung in a choir? A choir is not the most popular pastime, but once you have sung in a choir, you would know why there is heavenly harmony there, even though you may have the occasional “off key” moment with a fellow choir member. I had the pleasure of being part of a choir at school and afterwards. Going to choir practice is obviously an irritation at times, but once the pieces had been drilled and the four-part harmonies are belting from the choir stands, a different sensation will fill the hearts of the choir members when the choir master smiles. The audience will add the applause, because the true sound of perfection will reach their ears. (If you think my idea about choral singing is a bit far-fetched, then you may want to click on this link: https://www.ox.ac.uk/research/choir-singing-improves-health-happiness-%E2%80%93-and-perfect-icebreaker.)
Let us concern ourselves with the focus of this blog post. I decided to give this little watercolour piece the title, Autumn Choir because when I photographed the scene, I worked from, I tilted my camera upwards to click the scene which was above me. It is a quiet landscape that is disrupted by only one large tree. The idea of choir members standing in rows with a choir master came to me.
It took some time for me to perfect this scene to my liking, because as you would know I was building it up slowly by adding a slight colour variation upon another. I became a little frustrated I remember, because the ochres and the mutated colours kept posing the next challenge as I was returning to the scene on my phone; enlarging it repeatedly, only to discover other nuances of a colour I thought I had accurately portrayed. I had become a little like the choir master, prompting his choir members to raise their voices a little higher to give him the correct note to achieve the overall harmony that would give every one goosebumps.
This painting works (in my eyes as the creator) because it is harping on that rule of thirds. The horizon line is on the first third tier and the “choir master” tree is almost on the vertical third on the left. So often as an artist I am pushing myself to create something different and “creative”, but very often the trusted methods such as using muted tones and employing the rule of thirds could provide the marvel I crave.
I trust you will find a choir to join near you soon and that you will keep on living creatively, as only you can. Remember there is art in your heart. I added a few links below where you can see Autumn Choir in other “attire”.
Exquisite art as always Pieter. Keep up with your master pieces.