Sunday, December 6, 2009
Geiger Tree
Watercolor pencil again, over ink from a Pitt artist pen (small size). The Geiger tree has striking orange tubular flowers, and coarse, slightly disreputable looking leaves. Here in the USA, this tropical tree is found only in southern Florida because of its low cold tolerance.
In his book "Growing Native," Richard Workman relates the legend of Audubon's acquaintance and subsequent naming of this species for John Geiger, his Key West host and friend in the 1830's. However, Dick also points out that Mark Catesby made note of the same name, Geiger tree, in a book published over eighty years earlier. Interesting!
These sketches are from trees planted at Freedom Park here in Naples, Florida.
You can click on the image above in order to view it larger on my Flickr photostream.
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Beautiful painting Elizabeth.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful page, Elizabeth! Especially love the upper flower illustration!
ReplyDelete...that is interesting about the naming--like a traveling back in time thing! Your painting is beautiful. I'd like to try watercolor pencils. You were able to achieve such a brilliant orange!
ReplyDeleteThank you Linda, Pam, and Kelly!
ReplyDeleteI used yellow as the basecolor and then built on that with orange and red (and a bit of Inktense Fuschia)until it looked right. I was happy when that combination and order helped keep the brightness!