March 7, 2010

Yesterday was a very quiet, sunny, lovely day. We were able to take the dogs for the longest walk yet and they were ecstatic. Ft Ben State Park, where we usually walk, has a number of large trees that always draw my attention. When I see them a name always pops into my mind.  One of them is old, broken and weathered. It has a large hole where it has lost a large limb or part of the trunk. This area is decaying and falling away. I call this tree the old warrir because I envision an old, scarred warrior looking out of his cloak. His face is in deep shadow and full of wisdom, pain and knowledge. Last fall I took some digital photos of the tree which is still alive and covered with leaves and sits in the middle of smaller trees which protect it like an army.

Photo of the Old Warrior

I have always wanted to draw or paint this tree. Yesterday I finally did a drawing using my three recently discovered gray markers and a couple of black markers with differing tips. I don’t think I will paint this but I may do another graphite or charcoal drawing. Black and white seem to capture the age and dignity I feel when I look at my friend.

The Old Warrior

As we watched the pre-Oscar shows last night I was antsy and, while looking through a magazine published by the Indiana Historical Society, saw several reproductions of old sepia photographs. I liked the satisfaction in this woman’s rather unusual face. She was looking down at a violin in the lap of a husband or brother. All-in-all a productive day.

Looking Down - Colored Pencil Drawing