Variation on a theme: Live Oak II
My recent work is for our good friend and superstar real estate agent, Christy Harris. She is in the processing of decorating her new home. As a native South Carolinian, she had always loved the famed Angel Oak on Johns Island. She has commissioned me to create a painting of the oak that would serve as the focal point on her office wall which also showcases a collection of antique maps. The only constraints she gave me on this project was the size (20 x 20) -how I choose to portray the oak was up to me!
Her home is a mix of the contemporary and antique pieces. In order to bridge the gap, I choose to create this piece in a traditional watercolor style but crop the view so from afar the interplay of positive and negative space take on a life of its own.
Here are a few snapshots i took as the tree came to lifeā¦.
This view still captures the sprawling tentacle like anatomy of the tree and the solid core from which the branches emanate... without just painting the entire tree as is.
The negative space speaks as loudly as the tree itself especially in dim lighting. It also mimics the maps that will surround it in much more organic spider like aggressive form. It gives it a bit of edge.
Thank you Christy!!!