Wednesday, May 16, 2007

Petroglyph Ironwood


For a larger image, click on picture.

I managed to put the finishing touches on this piece this am. This piece was walk through memory lane as I have painted this scene before. This was a piece that was purchased for The Sonoran Desert Museums permanent collection. The piece they purchased was done in acrylics and this one is done in oils. A very different feel to this piece and more truthful to the location.

A friend of mine picked out a piece for purchase and then decided that he wanted to have two paintings. The second piece he picked out was this painting which was already sold. I couldn't have it work out to sell something from my already painted stock that is growing out of control. I retained the rights to the painting in the event I wanted to do a printing of the piece someday. My hope has been that after they get the collection of painting published that it would possibly have appeal for that. Might be a pipe dream. Anyhow, with owning the rights, I can paint a piece for his home.

This scene is from the Petroglyph trail in the Superstition Mountains here in Arizona. A group of us hiked up the trail to catch the sunrise and meditate next to the petroglyphs in the canyon they are located in. On the way up to the location, this ironwood tree caught my attention because of the interesting burl growth in the midsection of the tree. When I got home and developed the pictures, I noticed that the burl had the resemblance of a dragon head. I didn't paint the piece for a long time because I thought it might be a little too Bev Doolittleish. Oh well, I wasn't adding in something into the paiece that wasn't there.

The ironwood tree is an amazing speciman. It is a nurse species for over 650 plants and animals. A real central plant in out Sonoran Desert. They can reach ages of near 2,000 years old. With all of the urban sprawl, developers would go in and level the ground for homes and began destroying these magnificent trees on a grand scale. Congress finally passed a bill to make them an endangered species several years ago. A major milestone in desert conservation.

21 comments:

mick mcginty said...

Hello Les,
Thanks for the kind words about my work. I'm hoping to relocate in Arizona, as soon as our house sells in SD. I have to find a way to paint with you. You do amazing work! I don't know if I can continue the tagging string, but I'll ty. I've been on a mission this month to photograph and paint alot more. I've been trying to take the plunge into full time painting, instead of splitting the time...Takes alot out of me.

Mick

les lull said...

Good to hear back from you Mick. That would be a kick to get out and do a paint out. I appreciate the nice comments about my work. I would love to keep in contact with you. I have aspirations to make a full time gig out of my art as well. Understated about the amount of dedication it takes to pursue painting.

René PleinAir said...

Marvelous story about those trees.
Good to hear that. You painted it gorgeous the background feels a bit like airbrush, while the front branches are so nicely scratched that they almost stick out of the canvas/monitor.

btw. your linked!

les lull said...

Thanks for the link Rene'. Thanks for taking the time to check out my story about the ironwoods. No airbrush on this one, I used to play around with those little devices. I tried to play around with complimentary colors and values to make it pop.

Schuivert said...

Fascinating painting... the colours... reminds perhaps of romanticism .. for me it reminds me somehow of Philip Otto Runge, also because of the close up composition of the tree.
I can see why the museum was interested.

Still amazed you could produce such paintings after two years...

Great!

Robin Weiss said...

Interesting back story Less. This is an amazing specimen and an amazing painting! It has great abstract qualities for a realist painting.

les lull said...

Thanks Bart. Lot of purple and a soft morning scene. I can see where the romanticism notion came from.

The museum aquisition felt like being in the right place at the right time.

les lull said...

Thanks for popping in Robin. I appreciate the comment about the abstract qualities of this piece. That in my opinion is what makes realism interesting is how one expresses their voice in the paint.

Danny Griego said...

Wow Les! This piece is great. You are rapidly improving your use of color and compositions. This has a very nice vibrant touch to it. Great job!

Ryan Evans said...

Great painting Les

les lull said...

Thanks Danny. I really appreciate you taking a look at the recent stuff and commenting on seeing progress. I respect your eye.

les lull said...

Thanks Ryan!

Jennifer McChristian said...

Captivating story to go with a captivating painting!

Michael Pieczonka said...

Les... very inteteresting reading the history of the ironwood tree you posted. Your painting is a well designed piece... I like your palette.. and the cools of the tree branches especially.

cheers, MIke

Tom Brown said...

Just found your blog this morning. Love your work!

Tom Brown
http://tombrownfineart.blogspot.com

les lull said...

Glad you enjoyed the story Jennifer and the painting. Lots of character in these old ironwoods.

les lull said...

Thanks Michael. I have really been trying to concentrate on my cool colors. I have a bad habit of overheating the paintings.

les lull said...

Thans Tom. I checked out your blog and that is definately one I will be frequenting. I am going to put you up as a link if that is okay.

Mike said...

Stunning work, Les! I am in awe.

Would like to put your link on my blog, if you approve.

Best,
Mike

les lull said...

I would be honored to be included on your blog Mike. I took a peek at your work and was amazed. I would ask you the same if you would be okay being listed in my links.

rob ijbema said...

wonderfull painting less,such warmth! but somehow my favourte bits are the cool green leaves against the sky

that tree is a story in itself what a character!

glad i found your blog
going to link you too