First let me say that Big Ass Bonsai is not the official name of this painting, just a playful name I gave it as I moved it around the studio. Twist of Fate (the real title) measures 3' x 7' and is constructed from two American Easel birch wood panels that are bolted together and then wrapped in linen. It is not light weight!
I am so thrilled and honored to have been asked to create this painting for such fabulous people and their lovely home! Bonsai Trees are so elegant with their variety of twisting and often gravity defying trunks. Their composed foliage that can be gracefully sparse or bountifully full.
Here are some of the early sketches and one of the inspiration photos.
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Creating the custom canvas
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Just a light sketch on linen
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Basic composition established
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Chair needed to reach the top
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Working on volume
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Tinsel supervises the progress
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Delicate limbs entwined
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Defining the twist of the bark
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Grounding the roots
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Starting to block in color
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Glaze applied to trunk and rocks
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Digital sketch of wildlife narrative
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Painted animals onto linen
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Detail of bird
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Starting to add plants
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More plants and rock values
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Metallic blue up top
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Sketch of star
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Working on the floor, hot night
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Working on the floor makes Mr. Boo happy
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Silver foil
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Adding more details to tree and star
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Darkening the sky
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Iridescent blue helps bird "pop!"
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Friends in the woods
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Detail of deer
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Adding detail to the plants
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Added upholstery tacks and more detail to top
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Detail of faceted tacks
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Plants feel lacking and the scale seems off
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Bringing in new plants
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Much better!
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Detail of glitter lotus in progress
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Lotus with baby bud
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Finished?
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Checking out the space
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Placing on French Cleat
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Installation complete