"Palm Trees" (unavailable)

(unavailable.....in the permanent collection of Dee Day) 


Visual symbols that help remind us of an important truth are great, especially if the symbol is something we see everyday. That's what I'm doing each day...selecting a contemporary icon to reveal an inspiring or humorous quote. I grew up in the Rio Grande Valley (southern tip of Texas), so palm trees are one of my favorite icons.

The palm tree was painted in oils over a paste paper background using acrylic paint. The palm tree branches were deliberately painted to the edge to create more shapes in unequal sizes. I have been playing around with oils "en plein air" (painting outside) in a very loose impressionistic style. It's fun and challenging simultaneously.

For my lettering artist friends, moon palace ink (diluted with water and a drop of gum arabic) was used for the quote. As you can see, it performs beautifully over dried oil paint. For the stamp in the lower rt. corner, I used Speedball Printing Ink (water soluble). Brayer a bit of ink over a glass or smooth surface....then brayer the stamp...stamp the image. This is truly a mixed media piece!