Saturday, September 27, 2008

Virtual Sketch Date for September Tree Peony

Well here is my effort for the September VSD. It's a bit of a quick one, just for fun; I think I will feel rather embarrassed when I see everyone else's magnificent watercolours, pencil drawings and other creative works.
When I saw the photo, I somehow could not get past the idea of an Art Deco effect, with just the three colours (pink, 2 greens, and black and white. So I've reduced it to fairly geometric elements.
I was thinking enamel, (plastic/metal/glass/ a piece of jewellery perhaps).
In my sketch, I used oil pastels to get the colours I wanted, on fairly rough paper, which means I do not have quite as clean an edge as I'd like. Anyway, here it is - rather rough and ready!


It's Saturday here, though quite early in the morning. I've posted my VSD attempt now, as we may go down to our beach house at Yallingup for the rest of this long weekend, if we can get organised. It's a beautiful spot, in the SW of WA, near the famous Margaret River wineries, and with stunning forests and coastline. It's been hard to get there at all this yearand now is a lovely time, especially as spring wildflowers are still in bloom, and there is a good chance of seeing migrating whales close by. A 3 hour drive makes it a bit of an expedition , but it's always worth it.
35 years married on Monday!

24 comments:

laura said...

Happy Anniversary, Vivienne; sounds like a magical place to celebrate!
I hope you will see a whale.
Your interpretation of the VSD photo is so elegant! It would make a beautiful tile, I think.
Have a wonderful weekend.

Kari Gibson said...

Well, I love your peony interpretation! I think it is very sophisticated and would make lovely fabric indeed.

Have a lovely weekend (sounds fantastic) and happy anniversary for monday!

Melissa Muirhead said...

I really like your approach Vivienne, I see the art deco feel and I think you interpreted it beautifully.

Cathy Gatland said...

Well, now that you say it, it is a very Art Deco sort of image, the lines and curves and pinks - what a different and interesting take! I am struggling with my w/c peony and it's a relief to see this powerful version!
Happy anniversary to you both on Monday!!! Hope you can get to Yallingup and have a wonderful weekend with whales. Lots of love.

Gillian said...

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY P& V!! Yoh! 35 years nogal! Hope you have a "whale" of time at Yallingup.
Your bold peony is magnificent. The simple clean cut lines and black + white background. It would make a great card.

Stacy said...

Happy Anniversary Vivienne! I hope you had a nice trip. I enjoyed your simplified, art deco version of the peony. A creative take on a complex reference.

Andy said...

I think your piece does have a Deco feel about it, it was the first thing I thought of before I read your text. I like it. Strong and original.

(Happy Anniversary too!)

Jeanette Jobson said...

I agree with others, you've achieved that Art Deco look with the strong lines in your piece. Its wonderful.

35 years married? that must be a record these days! Congratulations.

cathyswatercolors said...

Beach house YES!I do see the art deco.

Jennifer Rose said...

nice strong shapes and lines :)

Happy anniversary!

Ann said...

I love this! I really like the art deco, abstracted quality.

Rose Welty said...

As others have said, you nailed it with that "Deco" idea. It's so wonderful to see all the different interpretations...I really like yours. Happy Anniversary!

Kathleen said...

Happy Anniversary I hope you had a wonderful day - I love the fact that you took the road less traveled and made this reference your own approach - it was very successful!

Leslie Hawes said...

How very different! I like it!
I "saw" Japanese watercolor when I first saw the reference photo.
Now that you say Deco, that is all I can see :)

Happy Anniversary!

joanieART said...

Very successful deco, indeed! Love the drama you've created here with an otherwise simple floral. Really nice.

Sharon said...

I love the bold, graphic quality of this. A very unique and wonderful interpretation. (And happy anniversary!)

Regina Calton Burchett said...

Very strong and bold drawing - kind of drawn to it's essence. Maybe a Japanese block print? Happy anniversary!

Gail Bartel said...

Happy anniversary!, no need to be embarassed though, I really enjoy your interpretation. I liked the way you did the crop and the neatness of the black pastel, we all know how difficult that is...I would have messed up my whites for sure!

Jo Castillo said...

Nice and different style. Cool. Happy anniversary!

Paulette said...

Love how you brought it down to basics and made a stunning piece!

Vivienne said...

Lovely to come home to all these warm greetings and the positive feed-back to my deco-style vase and flower.Thank you so much to everyone who has visited and commented.
And many thanks to Sharon for the great photo.
There are some wonderful, wonderful images out there!
I am so intrigued by the diversity of location of participants.

No we did not see a whale. But they were out there!
Lots of bluebottles on the beach.

The tile idea is interesting, Laura, because that is about the size I worked to ... I like square-ish. I'm interested in how scale changes the way one works. The kitchen table thing is pretty small.

laine lea said...

What an interesting VSD piece - love the idea of a tile or jewerly or fabric design from this stunning piece. Love the blogsite Vivienne...lots of great pieces.
Happy 35th!

Vivienne said...

Thanks so much Laine. I really really did love your version in oils.

Quilt knit said...

Happy Anniversary! Your interpretation is allowing me to think more out of the box. It is very elegant.

Sherrie Roberts