Tillandsia ~ a universe unseen

Tillandsia ~ a universe unseen, originally uploaded by Elizabeth Smith.

This is a quick freehand watercolor study of ball moss, Tillandsia recurvata. It’s growing on an oak branch that broke off in a recent windy thunderstorm. Not a moss at all, this air plant is a member of the bromeliad family. Air plants are epiphytes, growing on other plants or trees and obtaining their food from the water and debris in the air and around them. Contrary to some popular beliefs, they’re not parasites and do not harm the hosts.

The dense clusters of linear grayish-green leaves capture water from rain and dew, and create a habitat for all types of tiny living things. Caught between its wiry strands you can see live oak leaves that will decay and provide nutrients. I’ve often wondered at the small organisms that must make their homes around and on these types of plants, if we could only experience them from a microscopic point of view.

The haiku written by Issa connects me to the wonder I feel about a universe of life in a small space. If we were a tiny ant crawling along that branch and encountered this unexpected forest of life, what we experience? How far and deep would we travel; what would other worlds would we discover?

It is just a ball moss on a broken branch,
and yet…

Quick studies ~ drawing with a brush

Quick studies ~ drawing with a brush, originally uploaded by Elizabeth Smith.

When time is short, we can still take a few minutes to practice! Part of my ongoing practice is to find techniques that work well in Pentalic’s “Nature Sketch” sketchbook.

The paper isn’t as sturdy as the watercolor papers I’m used to using. Water is a bit of a problem, because I like to use multiple layers and sometimes lift color from the paper surface. This paper is really made for one or two washes, and no lifting. Anything beyond that and the paper starts to disintegrate. So - I’m attempting to streamline my approach.

On this page, I decided to draw directly onto the paper with my brush (a #3 round) and watercolor washes. I thought it best to limit the washes and any reworking, so I kept the colors simple (Sap Green, Burnt Umber, and Shadow Violet) and tried to use minimal colors and brush marks.

Starting with a simple suject,  I tried to capture the essence of it with just a few strokes. The more I painted, the more confident I became. By the time I finished with the various leaves, I felt that I could attempt a more complicated branch by painting free-hand (bottom right)!

It’s all in the name of practice, anyway, and what we learn  ~ happy painting!

You can click on the image above to view it larger on my Flickr photostream.