And summertime is falling down and winter’s closing in – Watercolour with charcoal highlights in a Watercolour Moleskine
Driving home on Sunday, I saw this landscape of trees in a field. The setting sun was magnificent and it made the scene almost look like a summer’s evening -despite the very cold temperatures. It reminded me of a song from long ago:
I awoke today and found the frost perched on the town
It hovered in a frozen sky and it gobbled summer down
When the sun turns traitor cold
And all the trees are shivering in a naked row
I get the urge for going but I never seem to go
I get the urge for going, when the meadow grass is turning brown
and summertime is falling down and winter’s closing in
“The Urge for going” as sung by Joni Mitchell
Ziza 6:25 am on December 16, 2009 | #
Wonderful scene. Just a question: Is it appropriate to say “charcoal highlights”? I mean, it should be “lowlights” by definition of charcoal!?
plasma_girl 7:56 am on December 16, 2009 | #
This is lovely, Bob, thanks for sharing!
Rudat 8:23 am on December 16, 2009 | #
This is magical! Joni Mitchell is the wonderful accompaniment with this piece.
trebor61 10:17 am on December 16, 2009 | #
I think you may be onto something here, Ziza. I wonder what the proper term for adding value to parts of the scene with dark additions is? It was good fun doing this so thanks to the three of you for your comments which make all this worthwhile. Susan, I first heard this song in 1972. I cannot believe it was all that time ago.
Nuria 2:21 pm on December 16, 2009 | #
(Español):
Preciosa obra. Joni Mitchell muy buena cantante y bella canción.
—oo—
(English):
Beautiful work. Joni Mitchell very good singer and beautiful song.
j. stremikis 10:11 pm on December 16, 2009 | #
I suppose that white charcoal would be used for “charcoal highlights”, or to lighten the tonal values. And, I suppose that grey or black charcoal would be used to bring down the tone (darken the tonal values) in the scene. (That’s what I have been using the white charcoal pencil for…)
From the General’s Pencil package: “A new type of white medium that can be worked over black charcoal areas and can be used on all colored paper giving a brilliant white deposit. Can be photographed or photostated with amazing clarity. Work can be erased absolutely clean and washed with water and brush.”
anyway,
If using watercolour and charcoal together, I might say, “watercolour for the base tints, tones and shades, and charcoal for the shadows and details.”
however it’s said, this is a great scene, especially so when accompanied by Joni Mitchell !
Nikira 11:34 pm on December 16, 2009 | #
I like it too, it has such beautiful color relationships, don’t know the song, though.
trebor61 2:21 am on December 17, 2009 | #
Yes Nuria. Joni Mitchell is one of my all time favourite singers. I believe she is also an accomplished artist.
John. Must ask you about “White charcoal” – speak to you later on Skype. Sounds interesting
Nikira – here is a version of the song
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z3EofN3Flag
Thanks all for your comments – Bob
Andrew Spanoudakis 7:22 am on December 17, 2009 | #
beautiful dreamy landscape
trebor61 8:49 am on December 17, 2009 | #
Thanks Andrew
Margie 12:26 pm on December 17, 2009 | #
you and your GORGEOUS EVOCATIVE skies! I love this piece. And I am a Joni fan forever.
andrea joseph 3:40 pm on December 17, 2009 | #
Oh, very nice. And, one of the Joni tracks I’ve been playing in my car recently. Great stuff.
trebor61 5:38 am on December 18, 2009 | #
Kind of you, Margie and Andrea. Skies are the easiest pars of my stuff. I just wish the rest was a straightforward as I tend to fiddle with my scenes. No problem! Its just a hobby. Glad to hear that Joni Mitchell has two other fans.