I'm travelling into a new way of working, a new country, a new language, and a new hobby which I'm passionate about. Come with me for some of the journey...

Saturday 23 November 2019

Orchard Fruit

Hello all!  I'm still a bit groggy from my cold, but getting there.  Sorry I've not been visiting much - I'm conserving my energy for recovery!  I'm here with some watercolour orchard trees today for the Fruits & Vegetables theme at Art Journal Journey.


Most of this page spread was done before I got ill, and it's been sitting on the craft table for two weeks waiting for me to have the energy to stick it all down.









The trees themselves were actually painted months ago - done with some of my Daniel Smith watercolours in an A4 watercolour sketch pad.
















For these pages, I tore around them and inked the torn edges with Vintage Photo and Gathered Twigs to give a nice framing effect.












I think they look pretty good against the simple kraft pages of this 8x6 inch Paperchase journal.  (As a double spread it measures 12x8 inches.)














I love the soft patches of colour creating the foliage...
















... layered and overlapping...















... and the intricate twining of the trunk, branches and twigs...













... done with dip pen and ink.

I'm also pretty pleased with the soft shadowy trees in the background, giving the scene a touch of depth.













The Art Journal Journey theme meant I needed some fruit to be hanging from the branches of my trees, so I used Fresco acrylic paints to add some green apples.














I applied the paint quite thickly to give them a bit of dimension.  But then I decided the green wasn't really doing it for me...














... so I gave all the apples a touch of Cherry Red/London Bus over the top.















And then on top of that each one got a blob of Glossy Accents to give them even more dimension and that glossy look of delicious ready-to-eat apples.














It also helps them stand out from the watercolour effects in the background...















... as well as fulfilling my favourite light-catching function.














The words are from my PaperArtsy EAB04 Autumn Edition.

They're stamped in Sepia Archival on one of the leftover scraps from the torn up watercolour page.











You'll have noticed in the green-apples-photo that I'd done some colourful splattering on the kraft background.  When I changed apple-colour I also decided I wasn't enjoying that, so I turned over a new leaf and tried again.













Now there's some watery brayering of Cloud 9 (a lovely soft white by PaperArtsy) as well as splatters and credit-card streaks of the same paint.













There are twisted tangles of thread and some of my much-loved ivory sequins.  Again, it's about catching the light I think - but in a nice subtle way.

And a trio of punched leaves cut with a Tim Holtz punch from some Distress Ink spattered cardstock add the final touch of autumnal colour.













I hope you like my watercolour trees and their glossy fruit, hanging low and ready to be picked.














I was a bit nervous about adding the apples, worried that I might just spoil my autumnal trees on the turn.









But I've ended up rather liking the effect.  And I do think it's quite a good way to give these trees something more to do, rather than having them tucked away in a sketch pad somewhere, never to see the light of day again!


Thanks so much for stopping by today.  I'm glad to have a bit more colour to share with you than for my previous watercolours Got the Grey-Blues!  I hope you're all having a lovely weekend, and I also hope to catch up with what you've been up to very soon.  Happy crafting, all!

...and so many orchards circled the village that on some crisp October afternoons the whole world smelled like pie.
Alice Hoffman

I'd like to share this at Art Journal Journey where Rike is looking for Fruits & Vegetables
At the Funkie Junkie Boutique Blog they are gathering up Lovely Leaves - since these trees are really all about the colours of the autumn foliage, I hope they will fit right in
I'd also like to join in with Week 38, Year 9 of the marvellous Paint Party Friday

48 comments:

Marjut said...

This is so beautiful!

My name is Erika. said...

Those watercolor trees are amazing. I really like this Alison. I think (and I already plan to) play with watercolors more in 2020. Have a great weekend and thanks for sharing this inspiration. Hugs-Erika

Valerie-Jael said...

Love the journal spread with the beautiful trees and shining fruits, gorgeous. Have a great weekend, look after yourself, hugs, Valerie

Elizabeth said...

Beautiful...

Helen said...

Sorry you are still not 100% hope you will fully recover soon Love your trees! the apples look fab.

Redanne said...

I hope you are feeling a lot better soon, it has gone on for so long it must be exhausting!

The green apples are lovely but when you changed to the red, the whole picture just came alive - love the glossy accented finish. Just beautiful! Anne xx

Meggymay said...

Fabulous journal pages Alison, the water colour paintings look beautiful, lovely quotes as well.
Yvonne xx

Lowcarb team member said...

I do like your watercolour trees, they look lovely :)

All the best Jan

Amanda said...

hope you soon shake your shocking cold off and feel better. Beautiful capture of autumn and those trees are ready to be climbed up to steal away one of those rosy apples, if only I was young enough to still do that lol. Beautiful
Love
Amanda x

Bleubeard and Elizabeth said...



Sorry to read you have not been well. I hope you are soon on the mend. As always, I am in AWE of your drawing and great watercolor skills. Your art always ROCKS. I followed along as the apples went from green to bright ready-to-eat red. This two page spread is fabulous. Thanks, too, for joining us at Art Journal Journey with a perfect spread for Rike's theme.

Craftyfield said...

Great use of the tree paintings, Alison, they make a wonderful page and I too like the neutral backdrop of splattered kraft… Get well soon, xx.

froebelsternchen said...

This spread is simply terrific. I love all about it. Thank you for supporting AJJ again dear Alison. Get completly well soon!
Susi xxx

craftytrog said...

A really beautiful Autumn spread Alison! I love your watercolour trees and those shiny apples.
Alison xx

Rike said...

WOW, your watercolor trees are magnificent! I like all of it, the craft background, the white splatters on it, the thread, the watercolor painting itself and these fabulous red apples (much better than the green version)! You are right the glossy fruit make a wonderful 3D effect! The quote on a rest of watercolor paper is fabulous too!
Thank you for linking such a gorgeous piece to my theme at AJJ, very appreciated!
Wish you a nice Sunday and that you soon feel better!
Rike

Felix the Crafty Cat said...

Hi Alison, sorry to hear you've been under the weather but feeling a bit better now so that's good. The pages are lovely and the painted trees look so good layered on the kraft card, perfect. Thank you so much for visiting me too and the lovely comment, just what I need at the moment. You're right trying to track stuff at the moment is just a bit difficult Lol! Have a lovely weekend. Big hugs, Angela xXx

Trillian As said...

I love your journal page with the apple trees. Hope you are well soon.

Monika Gulyas said...

When wonderful words meet beautiful pictures!!! Get better soon!!! xx

Chrissy said...

Beautiful Alison, I love your water colouring trees they are perfect and now I want try and make some. The added apples are just lovely, and with that touch of red any season is gorgeous..FAB-U-LOUS.

Luv CHRISSYxx

Dorthe said...

They are so lovely Alison , so looking like the autumn we have her , right now .the wood I walked in justvtoday, was a copy of this beautiful trees you painted , the red berries , the yellow and brown colors, all so beautiful . xoxo

Kasia said...

So beautiful! Love the trees :)

Anita Houston The Artful Maven said...

You are a fantastic watercolor'r...;0) and love the raised apples! Fabulous scene on these pages. Hope you are mending up.

Lagene said...

Absolutely gorgeous!!!! I love the watercolored trees and your added apples are awesome! (Your turning over a new leaf made me giggle)

Etsuko said...

I love your watercolor painting as always, this is very pure and fantastic, also lovely red apples. So sorry for your health hope to recover soon. xx

sarascloset said...

Ooooh! How fun to see how your crafty mind works and to see and read how this came together. I am loving your water color apple trees with the ripened fruit ready to be harvested and the drippy shadows. I do prefer the second background to the first, and all in all, your pages are gorgeous! Hopefully you are feeling back to yourself by now! I almost forgot to say thank you, too, for sharing your lovely artwork with us at The Funkie Junkie Boutique blog! Sending warm hugs!

Jenny Marples said...

Hope you are very much on the mend now Alison. Your journal spread is an absolute gem - lots of delicate details like the web like trails between the leaves and the glistening apples in amongst those dreamy watercolour branches. And yet when taken as a whole it is truly restful and contemplative. It's truly a measure of the talented artist you are. Thank you for joining us for The Funkie Junkie Boutique 'Lovely Leaves' challenge x

Rain said...

Hi Alison :)) I LOVE your journal! The trees are so beautiful and flowing and the way you did the apples works so well! Makes you want to reach in and pick one!!! :)

Sue said...

Oh I really like this Alison. The watercolour is just stunning, and those glossy red apples really do look good enough to eat. The kraft background is perfect for these earthy pages, and as you say this is much better than having your trees tucked away in the pad. I hope you feel better soon, and have a very happy week, Sue xx

ann barnes said...

These trees are so beautiful, the watercolor flow just draws me in. I rather like the addition of the apples it adds a little something sweet and the sine is so good. Glad you are on the mend. The more posts of yours I see, the more I want to add some of your stamps to my collection and leave them on my desk for inspiration. xx

DVArtist said...

I just love your art. Wonderful colors and execution.

Nikki Acton said...

Love this! Sorry you have been unwell, so many horrible viruses this time of year. Stunning watercolour work and adore how you have journaled it. Love this style....xxx

Tracey@Hotchpotchcreations said...

These are stunning Alison, watercolour left to do it's own thing without interruption. The fruits look delicious, those that are rosy are so tempting. Watercolour is such a rewarding art but I rarely use it during the darker months. I hope you are now recovering from this virus? It sure has been a devil this year.
Creative HUgs Tracey xx

Elkes Lebensglück said...

I am excited about his painting !!! That is so wonderful!!!
greetings Elke

Roosterhead Designs said...

Dear Alison I'm overwhelmed by these pages~ Completely gorgeous! [I wish there was a 'favorite button' here because I'd be clicking it! :]

I just love to visit here and see your beautiful (multi textural) art work. The effect is true Autumn indeed, and a bit of sublime as well. : ) You've created an almost magical 'sky' and land around on the kraftboard; so pretty! I like your stamp too~ (and I love the smell of apple pie!) Have great week~ karen o

LA Paylor said...

it's just wonderful. From start to finish, and the lessons and descriptions tell me how you made decisions.
Don't be envious of snow... we're on a foot of it already and it's still blowing around and coming down. What a mess and it's dangerous to drive in so we're isolated. I'm sewing today, soothing. Headed out to shovel off the covered porch that has about 6" ick. LeeAnna

Christine said...

Lovely work!

carol l mckenna said...

what awesome artwork! Love your style and dynamic creations ^_^

Happy Day to You,
A ShutterBug Explores,
aka (A Creative Harbor)

Neet said...

So glad you decided to tear around those watercolour trees and add them to a journal. As you say, much better than to have them tucked away in a sketch book. What beautiful pages they have made and i too like the addition of the red, it is such a lovely touch and works so well. As do the flicks that I often think of as '"Alison's trade mark" when I use it myself.
Beautiful!
Hugs, Neet xx

peggy gatto said...

So so lovely!!! Beautifully created!!!

denthe said...

This is beautifully done! I love how you inked the torn edges. It's a perfect look to go with your gorgeous watercolour! Hope you recover soon!

Patty O'Malley said...

These pages are beautiful, Alison. I do hope you are feeling much better.

Mrs.B said...

The watercolour trees look good with their Apple's glistening in the sun.
Abgreat idea to use the sketches in your journal.
Hope you're feeling better now.
Avril xx

Cec said...

Your watercolour apple trees are fabulous,. I especially love the dimension you gave the apples themselves. Thanks for joining us at The Funkie Junkie Boutique Blog.
Hugs!
Cec

Suzanne C said...

Beautiful pages Allison! I love the intuitive painting you have done to create some gorgeous trees! Thank you for sharing them with us at The Funkie Junkie Boutique Lovely Leaves Challenge!

Ginny @ Polly's Paper Studio said...

Ohhhh love the watercolor trees! Simply gorgeous : ) Thanks for joining us for our challenge at the Funkie Junkie Boutique Blog. Crafty hugs from Ginny at Polly's Paper Studio.

sally said...

Such wonderful trees that have gone on to become a beautiful journal spread! Hope you are feeling better now, the cold going around this winter certainly seems to hang about a long time :-(

Sally xx

Cocofolies said...

Sorry to read that you have been ill, Alison. I hope you feel better now and everything goes well...
Your apples look delicious!!!! :D
I absolutely LOVE this spread, you trees made with watercolors and dip pen (so well done, even the shades, fabulous!), the colors, and your quote that sound really appropriate and great.
Thank you for this wonderful post and inspiration dear Alison xxx

Marci said...

You have made such beautiful apple trees!

Mary Elizabeth said...

So glad you shared your trees with us. They are beautiful. I grew up in the largest apple-producing county in NC. We have an Apple Festival every year. Your red apples on these trees are gorgeous. Love the Glossy Accents on them. Thanks for the reply to my questions about your craft desk. Be careful that those towers of crafty goodness don't fall :) . -- ME